This would be for a daily driver...

I want Enkei RPF1's, but the center caps that are available for them are hideous (my opinion only) and they should be run sans center caps anyhow.

So the question:

What potential issues would I be facing if I just painted my hubs and went without center caps for my daily driver?

Any benefits, aside from a club-racer look?

 

no benefits and no issues. do it

 

What about if the car will be facing Omaha winters? It's a no-brainer in SoCal... Lucky...

 

No one will steal them in a bad neighborhood..,thats a good thing

You can't grab one and toss it at a neerdowell that snatches an old ladies purse in a crowd knocking him out and you being a hero....

 

valid points...

 

haha, didnt think about rust issues. hmmm... rustoleum high heat black paint. helps prevent rusting too. i dunno what else to tell ya.

or measure the hole and run to the hardware store and buy a plastic cap?

 

IMO that must be one ugly center cap. I've never seen a center cap uglier than not having one at all.

 

Bleh...

 

Now that's much better...

 

How large is the logo on the cap? It might help if you cover it with an OEM wheel plaque, which is 50 mm diameter. Pretty cheap: http://www.minicarparts.net/Parts/36_13_6_758_687.cfm. Or you can get custom vinyl stickers from a variety of vendors.

I have them on my SSR Comps. Still not attractive (center caps stick out too far) but gives it a stealthy look so you notice them less.

 

There shouldn't be an issue with no center cap and bad weather. The hub and nut will get rusty, but its only on the surface.

 

I wouldn't want MY nuts getting rusty!

 

get a set of custom centercaps from http://www.aestheticreations.net/centercaps.htm like i did! mine are the 3d domed mini wings; they've got a lot to choose from. they are very nice, professional, helpful, and quick shipping. quality of their product is awesome too. just tell them the diameter of your centercap and you're good to go.

 

I went the Aesthetic Creations route with my winter set-up, but they are only decals. I would still have a center cap that sticks out almost an inch from the wheel. Looking for flush-mount center cap if possible, since that is the only way I can image center-caps looking good on RPF1s... or a good enamel paint for the hubs.

 

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/r...r-p-52701.html
blank flat rays centercaps...


http://www.americanmuscle.com/black-...enter-cap.html
plain black centercaps


but i don't know what the diameter of your centercap is... anyways good luck!

 

LINKS!!! Excellent! Now to find that diameter...

 

My center caps are ugly as sin - chromed plastic on gray wheels - so I've had them off since September. The rears are rustier than the fronts. I'll have to take 'em off in the spring and sand the rust off. I'll definitely paint the rears in the summer. Pics to come. Wheels are Kazera KZ-B.

 

Just paint the hubs (any paint will do, you just want to cover the surface) and lube up the mating surface with anti-seize.

No rust problems and it will look great.

 

well said...


Seriously though, what exactly do you mean by said "mating surface?" Where the wheel is touching the hub? Or elsewhere?

 

#1

 

Here's the rust from about three months, ungaraged, in North Carolina:









A strong brass wire brushing should remove all of the rust come warmer weather. I have hubcentric rings, too, so your wheels might look different.

 

Hmmm, I wonder if enamel paint would prevent that...

 

How about some black plastic or shiny plated hole plugs?

Go to mcmaster.com and search for hole plugs. You will find several metal or plastic varieties, none of which stick out further than 1/8".

 

That's what I did about 3 years ago and still haven't seen any of that ugly brown rusty poop.