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Discussion Topic:
1953 Mercury Hubcaps
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Dobie |
05-30-2017 @ 2:41 PM
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Member
Posts: 33
Joined: Nov 2010
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OK! What's the secret to keeping the full disc hubcaps on? They always seem to come loose, even had one pass me! Any help would be good. Stock 15"X5.5" wheels and Coker radials Stock hubcaps.
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Kens 36 |
05-30-2017 @ 8:27 PM
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Member
Posts: 339
Joined: Oct 2009
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Dobie, Full discs tend to walk, then pop off, whenever radials are used. There are many old tales on how to fix, but the only fix that I have seen work is steel valve stems, like used on some trucks. The wheel cover will move against the stem and stop. It should not come off. Several guys I know have had success. Ken
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Merc Cruzer |
06-17-2018 @ 9:05 AM
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Member
Posts: 66
Joined: Nov 2013
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Radial tires on my 53' Mercury is the reason I now have the Mercury Dog Dish hubcaps on mine
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carcrazy |
06-17-2018 @ 12:30 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1585
Joined: Oct 2009
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One thing you can try is to bend each of the little fingers that retain the wheel cover to the rim out a little bit with a needle nose pliers. This will make the wheel cover a little harder to install but will hopefully keep it in place when you drive.
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sarahcecelia |
08-21-2018 @ 2:35 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1169
Joined: Mar 2013
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To keep full disc hubcaps on, put a "little" silicone between each gripping tab and the main part of the cap. They will be harder to get on, because your compressing the silicone, but they won't fly off! I learned that from a Ford mechanic in the 50's that had a crestliner with factory full discs. I had gotten two to put on my front wheels, and soon after one flew off! I was talking to him one day and told him about it, and he told me how to fix the problem. I did it on my present '50 Crestliner too. Haven't lost one yet!!! Regards, Steve Lee
This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 8-23-18 @ 1:03 PM
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sarahcecelia |
11-23-2018 @ 1:38 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1169
Joined: Mar 2013
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The "Trick" as I have said before, is to put a little silicone behind each tab on the back of the hubcap; I had one come off on my crestliner one day, and I took all four off And did the silicone, and none have even "moved" and it's been about 2 years!! They will be a little harder to install with that rubber mallet, because your compressing the silicone; but they Ain't comin' off until you take them off!!
Regards, Steve Lee
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Dobie |
02-13-2019 @ 7:55 PM
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Member
Posts: 33
Joined: Nov 2010
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I fixed it I sold the car! But the real trick is to use steel valve stems. Someone wrote that and it really works. Same problem with my '53 Ford, changed the valve stems, no more problem!
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TomO |
02-14-2019 @ 7:50 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7243
Joined: Oct 2009
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Now I have a dilemma, which solution do I use, buy new bias ply tires, buy new radial tires with steel valve stems or sell the car.
Tom
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37RAGTOPMAN |
02-28-2019 @ 12:31 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1940
Joined: Oct 2009
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HI as I understand it, the stock wheels are flexing, which I think will lead to a accident, when the wheel come apart this is not normal, if the hubcaps stayed on with bias tires, and now with radials are flying off, should tell there is something wrong' very wrong, this might be something to condsider' I would buy 4 new wheels that are for radial tires, or buy bias ply tires and use the original wheels, I just bought 4 new FIRESTONE WW for my 1937 at HERSHEY PA in OCT my 2 cents 1937 RAGTOPMAN
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TomO |
03-01-2019 @ 8:00 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7243
Joined: Oct 2009
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Radial tires flex the rim in a different area than bias ply tires and also in a different manner. All wheels flex when the vehicle is driven, the full disc wheel covers walk and loosen because the radial tire force is concentrated more at the area where the wheel cover grips are. IMHO the most like failure with radial tires on old rims is sudden deflation from an under inflated tire. The radial tire rims are designed to hold the tire on the rim under low pressure and the bias ply designed rims from the the 1930's through the early 1950's, may not have this protection. Here is a link to an article that explains the force differences and what you need to watch out for when you change to radial tires. https://www.sema.org/files/attachments/wtc-2011-05-bias-vs-radial-tire-wheel-fitment.pdf
Tom
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