Normal Wheel Covers Don't Fit The Steel-Look Aluminum Wheels. Ugh! - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

vstech · #16 01-24-2016, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

I've been talking with ScooterABC about it, and I think that the problem is that all my wheel covers are from the 1960s. Apparently the old steel ones have a different, more shallow shape. I have some stainless steel hubcaps on the way that should work with my Teflon clips.

So I'll be keeping my clips to use on the stainless wheel covers I'm getting from ScooterABC.

And the problem hasn't been the wheel covers standing out; it's been that they won't go on at all no matter how hard I force them.

Sadly, this means I'll have to paint the stainless wheel covers black to match my car. But it shouldn't be too hard with a stencil.

so, I get points for the correct guess... cool.

Squiggle Dog · #17 01-24-2016, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

so, I get points for the correct guess... cool.

Yeah, I think that's what it is. Odd, but I suppose they may have needed a different die for the different metal when they switched to stainless steel.

gatorblue92 · #18 01-24-2016, 09:16 AM

I wonder if the covers for this style steel wheel are different than the later ones that look identical to the light alloy wheels posted above. Both wheels were fitted to the W123 but I have only seen these on a 77 and possibly a 78 in a junkyard. I have another set of hubcaps floating around the basement somewhere I can try and see if I have the same gap.

These are the wheels that were originally on my 240D and I sold them to JB3 as his winter wheels.

Scrappy · #19 10-30-2017, 06:59 PM

I know this is an old thread but I was satisfying my curiosity about hub caps when someone mentioned stencil...

Where can I find a stencil?

t walgamuth · #20 10-30-2017, 11:14 PM

I don't know but if you take masking tape and trim carefully with an exacto knife you can do it yourself.

steamboatsykes · #21 10-30-2017, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrappy

I know this is an old thread but I was satisfying my curiosity about hub caps when someone mentioned stencil...

Where can I find a stencil?

Here is one option;

Lackiersterne

Squiggle Dog · #22 11-07-2017, 05:31 PM

I have a plastic stencil for the star. When I use it, I'll probably wipe some grease on it first so the paint won't stick to it. Using a stencil helps avoid those sharp edges that are had when masking tape is used. But, then the outer rim still has to be masked, or the paint wiped off while it's still wet. I don't know about that.

The stencils in the ad linked above look nice, and I think they are silicone, so paint won't stick to them. Looking back, I'd rather have one of those since it also includes the outer rim stencil.

The matching black wheel covers that I had before won't fit the steel-look alloy wheels, so I have to paint some that a friend sent me.

vwnate1 · #23 11-11-2017, 12:07 PM

Thank you for this thread ~ my '82 240D's hubcaps have always been hard to install, I now have the correct light alloy disc wheels that you have thanx to a nice Diesel head in Bakersfield ! .

I've tried both types of clips , the teflon ones are maddening to install .'

t walgamuth · #24 11-11-2017, 02:17 PM

The clips are not always interchangible. there are small differences in the actual hubcaps which make the interchange wrong in some combinations. I don't think i have ever seen any with teflon on them. Rubber snubs i believe.

MTUpower · #25 11-11-2017, 03:19 PM

If someone dents or cracks one of the 5.5 aluminum wheels I have two extras in my garage in perfect shape. I also have 15 or so hubcaps and both the regular and teflon clips.

t walgamuth · #26 11-11-2017, 03:33 PM

I have one of those 5.5" aluminum wheel cover wheels with a lovely factory spare tire. I'll sell cheaply.

Squiggle Dog · #27 11-11-2017, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The clips are not always interchangible. there are small differences in the actual hubcaps which make the interchange wrong in some combinations. I don't think i have ever seen any with teflon on them. Rubber snubs i believe.

Yeah, that's the issue--wheel covers for steel wheels and wheel covers for alloy wheels are different shapes and you can't interchange the clips between the two. The clips for the alloy wheels have Teflon on them so they don't gouge the alloy wheel. If the Teflon falls off, the clips won't hold.

Squiggle Dog · #28 03-08-2018, 03:09 AM

Hopefully this sheds some light on the non-fitment issue:

These are the aluminum wheels that take wheel covers, which I installed on my 1980 W116 300SD as they are extremely lightweight and absorb jolts better than steel wheels.

Today, I inspected my collection of wheel covers. I have 12 plated steel ones and 6 stainless steel ones (not counting the ones currently on my car). I found it interesting that I had more plated steel ones than stainless steel (as plated steel are supposedly a 1968-only item?). These are the plated steel wheel covers I used to have on my 300SD, which replaced the bundt wheels:

I was perfectly content with them as they matched the paint color of my car and were in decent condition. I really wanted to keep them on my car but I could not get the aluminum wheel clips to fit them, nor could I get them to fit the aluminum wheels with the original clips. The clips all look original:

I checked the plated steel wheel covers in several places. All 12 were the same dimensions. When I place an old-style clip from a plated steel wheel cover on them, notice how the end of the clip lays flat against the wheel cover edge.

But, when I place a clip for aluminum wheels on a plated steel wheel cover, the end of the clip floats well above the edge of the wheel cover, and I can't even force it on with a screwdriver.

Squiggle Dog · #29 03-08-2018, 03:11 AM

When I placed one of the plated steel wheel cover's clips on a stainless steel wheel cover, it fit--but more loosely than it did on the plated steel wheel covers.

When I lay down an aluminum wheel clip on stainless steel wheel covers, the end of the clip touches the edge of the wheel cover, unlike on the plated steel ones where there was a large gap.

But see, placing an aluminum wheel clip on a different plated steel wheel still shows a large gap, in every possible position on every single plated steel wheel cover. The aluminum wheel clips just don't fit the plated steel wheel covers.

No matter how much I would try, I could not force them on.

Seriously, I am using all my strength, but the clips simply won't compress enough to fit the plated steel wheel covers. They bottom out and deform, but don't go on.

Squiggle Dog · #30 03-08-2018, 03:12 AM

In contrast, the original clips from the plated steel wheel covers fit on them with only light hand pressure. That's a big difference from the aluminum wheel ones that couldn't even be forced into place.

I did notice, however, that some of the plated steel wheel covers had what must be updated version clips. They were wider, had a hole in them, and had a larger loop. They were a tighter fit than the older style clips, and they actually did fit on the stainless steel wheel covers also, though the fit was looser. They also seem to have more give to them, so this might make installing them on aluminum wheels possible--which wasn't possible with the older clips--which I could not force into the aluminum wheels no matter how hard I tried, and I actually almost broke the wheel covers trying to do so.

Looking at a newer style steel wheel clip and an aluminum wheel clip, the aluminum wheel clips set slightly lower and the nylon also facilitates installation on a thicker wheel. I think that the newer style steel wheel clips could probably be forced into an aluminum wheel due to the extra spring in them because of a larger loop in the profile.

On the left side is the updated type of clip. It fits plated steel wheel covers tightly, and stainless steel wheel covers loosely. On the right is an aluminum wheel clip. It fits stainless steel wheel covers tightly (look how much more tension it is under compared to the clip on the left), and won't fit at all onto the plated steel wheel covers.

My conclusion is:

1. Plated steel wheel covers are about 2mm shallower than stainless steel wheel covers.

2. Nylon-tipped clips for aluminum wheels do not fit plated steel wheel covers.

3. Plated steel wheel covers will not fit aluminum wheels if they have the old style clips, as they are not flexible enough to fit a thicker wheel.

4. Plated steel wheel covers MAY fit aluminum wheels if updated, more flexible clips are used (at the risk of gouging the wheels).

5. The updated clips for steel wheels will fit all wheel covers (but tightly on the plated steel ones).

6. Old style clips for steel wheels will fit all wheel covers, but will fit loosely on the stainless steel ones.