Plastic caps on wheel nuts coming off

F6_Ute · 10-05-2012, 12:56 PM

My missus has a 2008 Focus & we've found the wheel nuts have got these plastic caps (presumably to convert from imperial to metric?) which have started coming off (as shown at 9 o'clock & 4 o'clock in the photo below)

I showed it to the local Ford dealer & he'd obviously seen it before but said it was due to the use of rattle guns (hello, I've never seen a tyre store not use rattle guns ... and yes, they use them too) and not covered under warranty.

A quoted price at $25 per nut (WTF!!!) to replace them with the same crap doesn't excite me, so can anyone help with where I can get some aftermarket wheel nuts/lugs to suit, and at some more realistic prices?

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Yellow_Festiva · 10-05-2012, 07:23 PM

I think they are just cosmetic.....

Come off due to rattle guns?? Doubt it.

I would just try and find a non genuine set and do the whole car over. Would be cheaper than 1 genuine one from Ford I would imagine.

Before putting them on, clean the wheel nuts really good and put a thin bead of Blu-tac on each stud to hold them in place.

As I said, I'm pretty certain they are purely cosmetic. If you were really particular about them you could also get aftermarket wheel lugs that have the chrome looking nut built in... but make sure they match your wheel brace or you won't be able to change a tyre!

Franco Cozzo · 10-05-2012, 07:26 PM

Mine have done the same thing, probably 4 or 5, also these wheel nuts are made out of wet paper bags, I managed to shear one badly with just a cross brace trying to undo it.

Also, they have a really large taper on the other side of the nut, I couldn't find anything with the same size taper.

rand0mn00b · 10-05-2012, 07:30 PM

yeah pretty sure they're purely cosmetic

going purely from memory with them on it needs a 19MM socket and without it's 18MM and a real pain to get them on/off

i've left them permanently off and it doesn't look noticeably worse for it

Russ · 10-05-2012, 07:30 PM

I found these ones on eBay from the UK, you may need to remove one of yours and check that they are definitely tapered and match with the size listed but they should do the trick

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/20-x-ALLO...-/220910728444

F6_Ute · 13-05-2012, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

I found these ones on eBay from the UK, you may need to remove one of yours and check that they are definitely tapered and match with the size listed but they should do the trick

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/20-x-ALLO...-/220910728444

looks like you've nailed it Russ - pulled one off today & they're exactly what I'm looking for, perfect match ... order has been placed

and btw you've just saved me a packet (& a bit of grief from the spouse) thx mate ... love to buy you a beer sometime if ur ever in the area, cheers

Franco Cozzo · 13-05-2012, 10:00 PM

Those are exactly it.

Russ · 13-05-2012, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F6_Ute

looks like you've nailed it Russ - pulled one off today & they're exactly what I'm looking for, perfect match ... order has been placed

and btw you've just saved me a packet (& a bit of grief from the spouse) thx mate ... love to buy you a beer sometime if ur ever in the area, cheers

No worries mate, glad I could help

DeKa · 30-07-2012, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

I found these ones on eBay from the UK, you may need to remove one of yours and check that they are definitely tapered and match with the size listed but they should do the trick

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/20-x-ALLO...-/220910728444

Has anyone bought these and fitted them to an LV Zetec?
They look to be slightly narrower at the overall width. I don't have calipers to measure the factory wheel nuts, but holding the factory nuts on a ruler, they look to be closer to 27-28mm wide. The taper looks ok though.

Russ · 30-07-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeKa

Has anyone bought these and fitted them to an LV Zetec?
They look to be slightly narrower at the overall width. I don't have calipers to measure the factory wheel nuts, but holding the factory nuts on a ruler, they look to be closer to 27-28mm wide. The taper looks ok though.

In the eBay advertisement it states that they are suited to MKII Focus from 2005 - 2010 so I'd say they should be fine

WILDB · 31-07-2012, 03:15 PM

They are cosmetic only, rattle guns do play a part in the caps coming off.

The caps are only pressed on...

Foconatic · 31-07-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WILDB

They are cosmetic only, rattle guns do play a part in the caps coming off.

The caps are only pressed on...

Unless a 1st year apprentice doesn't realise they are caps and uses a rattle gun on them. I have seen this happen

WILDB · 31-07-2012, 11:29 PM

I've seen experienced techs and wheel/tyre fitters do it too.

I have a

moment every time I see a rattle gun being used on a Focus or Mondeo.....

Even worse when they get used to undo/do up lock nuts!

leakey · 01-08-2012, 09:43 AM

A tip for Ebay UK. Be persistent. A lot of the sellers dont want to sell to OZ. Just press them for why? Our money is just as good.

But ask them to use Royal Mail small packets service. Cheap as, and like OZ post, they have a tonne of standard bags and boxes, that you can check up on the price for. They can also affix a sticker to a non standard box.

I've never had an issue, a part from one that took 12 weeks to get here!

Even had a rear bumper insert sent down in a tube once. (over 1.2m) No issues.

- reminds me, I must get that on the car....