Center Caps - Question for the experts

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Caniac, Apr 14, 2016.

  1. Caniac

    Caniac Active Member

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    I have finally decided to remove my hubs and I bought some center caps for the stock wheels. I am undecided on panting them but I do need to install them to make sure they fit. If I put them on the wheel can I get them back off for painting later?
     
  2. trip1027

    trip1027 Member

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    Well if you can't get them off then how would you get your wheels balanced?


    SM-N920V ?
     
  3. Caniac

    Caniac Active Member

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    Ok let me rephrase. Can I take them back off myself, without removing the wheel to do it?
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You're talking about hub caps, the small diameter covers for the hub openings on the rim? You're going to get Toyota, or reasonable facsimile on eBay? And paint them? Black to match black rims?

    My 2 cents for esthetics: I'd leave them as-is, chrome finish.

    To pop them off it's best to have the wheel off, then just push them off with the butt of a hammer, 'round the back. You might be able to pry them off from the front, with the wheel on, but it's wear-and-tear on the rim, and really no point.
     
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  5. Caniac

    Caniac Active Member

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    Yes, that's what I'm referring to. Like I said, so undecided about even doing this but I figured I would try them out, unpainted and decide. It is finally going to be warm enough to wash the car this weekend so I was going to put them on and see how I felt about it.

    I found some you tube videos that show people removing them, but not sure it will work with these because of the raised logo on them.
     
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  6. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    I got mine from the dealer (because I knew they would fit) and left them original. If I had a lighter color car, I would paint them to match the car. But the chrome color seems to work.
     
  7. Caniac

    Caniac Active Member

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    Thanks for the input. I think I'll go ahead and throw them on as is and if I just can't take it I guess I could plastidip them in place. My husband doesn't want me to remove the hub caps at all so this may be a short lived experiment anyway.
     
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I would avoid taking them out once installed, the covers are plastic, and the tabs might break. You can test fit them without putting them in all the way. See if the lower tab part of the centercap goes into the hub bore, since that is the part of the centercap that has the largest diameter, but don't put it in all the way down so that the tabs engage the groove inside the hub bore.
     
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