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ernie1's avatar
ernie1
Explorer II
Jan 03, 2016

Losing hubcaps for my 2005 Ford van

Over the years I've lost 5 Ford original dog dish type hubcaps and still haven't found a solution for this problem yet. I've also observed that other Ford vans of the same vintage seem to have all their hubcaps. I've tried a lot of different things with no success in hoping to cure this problem. This includes using silicone to try to "glue" the hubcaps in place. Anybody have any solution to this very expensive problem? Anybody know what causes them to come flying off? Anybody know of a reasonably priced source of replacement Ford hubcaps?

I want to add that the problem is related to wheels that are located at the rear axle and the hubcaps are all the shorter/shallower version and the wheels are original Ford chrome alloys.
Class B

7 Replies

  • ernie1's avatar
    ernie1
    Explorer II
    Jan 08, 2016
    Hmm! Thanks everybody for your input and they are all valid thoughts. Yes I drive a bit faster maybe than others and I hadn't thought about the unbalance of rotors. I've checked wrecking yards for replacement hubcaps without much luck but my goal is to find out why the darned things keep coming off. One thought is that I remove them after every trip and clean the wheel and caps and maybe wearing out the little plastic nubs?
  • Nagrompj's avatar
    Nagrompj
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2016
    We have 10 E250s where I work and the only guys that loose their hub caps are the ones that don't slow down for turns. Scares the **** out of me when I have to ride with them.
    My work E250 weighs 8200 lbs, I drive it about 30,000 miles a year and have never lost a cap.
  • bsinmich's avatar
    bsinmich
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2016
    Have you tried the junk yards? On 11 years old there should be some there waiting for you. They are a lot less than a dealer.
  • mkguitar's avatar
    mkguitar
    Explorer
    Jan 04, 2016
    maybe it's a Ford thing...but I'd look at wheel balancing first.

    usually we balance the wheels and tire together.


    a brake drum/disk which is out of balance won;t be fixed by this- older shop manuals sometimes required the drum/disk removed and the entire assembly balanced.


    Mike
  • Gene_in_NE's avatar
    Gene_in_NE
    Explorer III
    Jan 04, 2016
    ernie1 wrote:
    ....words deleted.... and the wheels are original Ford chrome alloys.
    Not sure what chrome alloys look like, but I would be satisfied with polishing them to shine a little and not cover them with caps.

    My Chevy only had painted white steel rims. Had to take the hub caps off to check the tire pressure. Decided to purchase some chrome wheel liners and put on longer and bent steel valve stems to check the tire pressure. Both problems solved.

    Something like these Pacific Duallies for a Ford on eBay.

    *Sorry, I did not look up what the wheels might look like on your Ford. You were merely concerned about the cap that covered the lug-nuts. I don't know if you can buy Chrome liners to cover the entire rim.
  • redwingfans's avatar
    redwingfans
    Explorer
    Jan 04, 2016
    I lost one hubcap after my first tire rotation. Then read that many were having the same problem. I wait to install the hubcaps until I get home. Then use a dab of silicone on each hubcap, and let it dry completely before moving the van. 40,000 miles no issues.
  • ernie1's avatar
    ernie1
    Explorer II
    Jan 03, 2016
    I forgot to mention that I did not experience the loss of hubcaps for the first maybe 27k miles or so. Could they be wearing out?

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