Hub covers

[mtnpush]

When I lost my latest hub cover I orderd one from Spartan.
This went well, but when it got here it was too big or so I thought.
The ones that came with my 2005 Mtnair 4304 were larger for the drive axle and smallr for the tag. Well I found out that the cmpany that made them for Spartan went out of biz, lucky me. So Spartan got a new mfgr and they decided to make one hub cap fits all. So what I needed to do was order another hub cover to match the new one. The point is this change is not made obvious at order time. Oh yea the design that keeps them on leaves something to be desired, since I have lost 3. I will say here that the securing bracket or mounting bracket has been altered. I'll let you know if the change works. I'm looking at my own design to put ss screws in the hub caps to hold them on. Or what one needs to do is at every rest stop get out and kick the hubs this is not a bad thing but looks a little silly.
What are your thoughts or have you had this problem????
MTNPUSH
ps: Is there an icon of a guy kicking hub caps?

[Lug_Nut]

I lost the front cap, the drive high hat and the tag high hat all on the passenger side driving from the west coast through Canada this June. I figure the right side gets more pot holes as it is closest to the road edge.

I took it to Spartan in July, and among other things, had all the caps replaced. While it did add quite a bit to the bill, it was done by their people, so should stay on. They have, in fact, changed the mounting lugs on both the front caps and the high hats, and as you said, they only have the deep drive axle high hats now.

I have had know issues to date and have just returned from a 2500 mile trip which included some pretty rough roads. Only one appears looser than the rest, the left tag axle. So I tried to rework it without it seeming any tighter. So I applied a little silicone to the edges of the drum like cap. It seems good now.

I have spares for all now. Advice, carry spares.

Peter

[Airtool]

You might be able to find one here !

http://colawrvsalvage.com/UsedParts/tabid/57/Default.aspx

Dick.

[ottffss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtnpush When I lost my latest hub cover I orderd one from Spartan.

Not the cheapest answer!

Head to the chrome shop at most large truck stops with your hubcaps in hand. Your hubcaps, front and rear are likely standard sized hubcaps. You won't get the Spartan/Freightliner logo, but who needs that at 5 times the cost? Perhaps not standard are the newer Spartan "locking" ones.

I buy 5-tab chrome baby moons (front) in chromed stainless steel (yes in stainless steel) for about $8 each and (cheap instant rusting) regular chrome steel for about $2ea. Gently pry the tabs outward very slightly only as needed so they make a solid seating into the wheel.

The high hats on the rear, both tag and drive run about $25/ea, typically happen to have a very small lip on the edge allowing the lug nut covers to help pinch the high hat down. Here, also gently pry the hub mounted "friction tabs" so you actually make scratches in the inside of the high hat. Note, the "short" high hat on some tags is not a standard cap and but the regular high hats fit and look perfect.

I would not silicon either the front or rears in any way. Frankly, no need.

BTW, the lug nut covers are a whopping 80cents or so each as well. Take them in and compare, or go wild with an all new design lug cover. There are some pretty freaky lug nut covers out there.

BTW - Have never lost one of these replacement caps since doing the "tightening the mounting tabs" when I installed them over 70,000 miles ago (and as needed if removed for wheel service).