centre cap thing falling off on front drivers wheel

Post by **kathyshack** » 28 Oct 2008, 09:27

Driving back from anglesey yesterday, after about an hour of driving we hit a lot of traffic. I hear a funny tapping noise when wheel going round slowly. Sounds like something is rattling inside the hubcap. I pulled over and took off the hubcap, and the black centre cap thing fell off from the middle of the wheel. Is this there just to protect the centre of the wheel?
I pushed it back on, but it is a bit loose. Wondered what its purpose is really, and how I can stop it falling off. would it perhaps need more grease? (It is quite greasy just wondered if more might act as a kind of suction or glue) I think its worse after a longer drive as the grease gets warm and so its easier for it to fall off... Once i'd knocked the centre cap thing back on, the noise did seem to go away, so pretty confident that what was making the noise... anything else i should check? As a side note, had a binding brake last week so had to get AA to take wheel off and stuff... coincidence?
thanks,
kathy

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 28 Oct 2008, 09:47

I lost one the over week, this is due to having no hub cap or centre cap.

They keep the end of the stub axle protected/covered with grease.
They are normally a tight fit and require a mallet to fit them correctly.

Maybe the people who did your brakes failed to seat the cap correctly.
Mine cost me 9 euros.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 28 Oct 2008, 12:37

Titus A Duxass wrote:I lost one the over week, this is due to having no hub cap or centre cap.They keep the end of the stub axle protected/covered with grease.They are normally a tight fit and require a mallet to fit them correctly.Maybe the people who did your brakes failed to seat the cap correctly.Mine cost me 9 euros.

Doesn't one of them have a square hole in it to drive the speedo cable? If they do get loose you can find something sort of pointy and fat and bash it on with a hammer (or stilleto heel) so as to open it up a bit. You can also squidge it a bit so it is difeicult to fit and therefor won't fall off. Damned messy business though as the grease is very necessary. Blokey stuff grease!
Regards
Smiffy

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 28 Oct 2008, 13:00

Doesn't one of them have a square hole in it to drive the speedo cable?

Yes, the NSF (UK) or passenger side has the square hole for the speedo cable.
The guys who replaced my disc "glued" the speedo cable in with silicone and thereby providing a secondary retainer for the cap.

My replacement cap has the hole in it. It is on the other side (OSF) so the hole is superflous but it does allow the injection of grease.