Walking Wheel Covers

jollyjoker

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Has anyone found a good solution to this? No matter how I position them, or how tight they seem - they will "walk" until stopped by the valve stem. Always worse on the passenger side.
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I seem to remember that this was a peculiar problem with Chrysler wheel covers, even when new . . .
 
A small metal sleeve over the valve stem will help. Tweaking the "
grippers on the wheel cover may help also.
If your car was originally equipped with bias tires the wheels will be much lighter than wheels designed for use with radials. Radial tires on bias wheels changes the side load and can cause the wheel to "flex" causing this problem, and even worse, pop a wheel cover off.
Before driving, go around with a rubber mallet and gently tap the wheel covers.
 
Has anyone found a good solution to this? No matter how I position them, or how tight they seem - they will "walk" until stopped by the valve stem. Always worse on the passenger side. View attachment 291246 I seem to remember that this was a peculiar problem with Chrysler wheel covers, even when new . . .
One word - metal valve stems.

They make a good stopper and won’t bend like that. Paint them black for a stockish look.
 
Also, make sure you have the correct wheel width and tire size for your car. A narrow wheel will flex more under a load, especially on a heavy car.
 
Has anyone found a good solution to this? No matter how I position them, or how tight they seem - they will "walk" until stopped by the valve stem. Always worse on the passenger side. View attachment 291246 I seem to remember that this was a peculiar problem with Chrysler wheel covers, even when new . . .

My '68 Fury had that problem. I tried everything I could think of to stop it. Then early in 1975 a set of road wheels hit the classified ads, $100 later, problem solved.

Sorry I can't be anymore helpful, I gave up long ago.

Robert
 
If you can put your wheelcovers on with bare hands maybe they are sitting too loose. I need to sit down with my butt on the floor in front of each wheel and do a tap dance on the wheel cover (wearing sneakers and using a soft towel to avoid scratches) to set it. No wheel cover movement has been noted so far.

But you might as well check your wheel cover for tiny cracks (fc7_plumcrazy knows what I am talking about).
 
By chance do you have radial tires on the car that was designed for bias ply tires. I have never experienced what you describe on any of my old cars.
 
My ‘68 Polara was notorious for spinning the hubcaps back in the early 80’s. It could have been my driving habits causing some of the issues though. Not sure when I got my K-mart tires which were radials. I think I had bias on prior but I don’t know if I was running with hubcaps at that point
 
If you can put your wheelcovers on with bare hands maybe they are sitting too loose. I need to sit down with my butt on the floor in front of each wheel and do a tap dance on the wheel cover (wearing sneakers and using a soft towel to avoid scratches) to set it. No wheel cover movement has been noted so far.

But you might as well check your wheel cover for tiny cracks (fc7_plumcrazy knows what I am talking about).
I agree. Wheel covers should be kinda hard to snap in place.
 
Solving this particular issue is like pulling teeth..literally.
With a air of needle nose vise grips I pulled out the teeth on the hubcaps to keep them from moving.
Another trick is wrap the edges with electric tape.
 
I agree. Wheel covers should be kinda hard to snap in place.
Believe me . . . these things DO fit tight! I also have used the technique of sitting on the ground and pressing them in w/ my (padded) feet . . . then tapping w/ a rubber mallet. And they STILL "walk" . . . At least in the short run, I'll head out to the garage to see if I can find a small piece of metal tubing to slip over the stem . . . I don't want to end up by the side of the road with a flat tire and a cut stem. Thanks!
 
Thank you. y'all are making my case for Magnum 500s. I'll be sure to show this thread to the wife.
 
Magnums are nice but I still prefer the OEM wheel covers for sheer beauty.
I marvel at the complicated shaping and painting of them and that they consistently changed design from model to model and year to year.
 
Magnums are nice but I still prefer the OEM wheel covers for sheer beauty.
I marvel at the complicated shaping and painting of them and that they consistently changed design from model to model and year to year.
Honestly, I'm still torn between the two. The covers you have on your new 67 were on my 68. I swapped those mighty quickly but if I had to do it all over again, I might not have.

The ones I have on my 67 are also gorgeous .. I just worry about loosing one. I do tap them down before leaving the garage but it's getting that the prep to get the car out for a drive takes longer than the drive between warming it up, checking the fluids (transmission leaks a good deal) and tapping the wheel covers.
 
[QUOTE="GJS, (transmission leaks a good deal) QUOTE]





You might think about having the trans leak repaired before spending the cash on Magnum 500's. IMHO.
 
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