Wheel Cap question

[Mark John Harris]

Hi all.

Does anyone else suffer from the paint flaking from the wheel centre caps, spreading from the edges?

Although the overall condition of my car is pretty good, including the road wheels by and large, the centre cap (the plasitic part with the Suzuki logo on it) looks quite tatty, those and the wheel nuts.

Has any one bought replacements/reconditioned their originals?

[George Glew]

Hi Mark

Mine look the same as yours sound
I have been thinking of spraying them after a rub down with wet and dry paper, but this will mean loosing the logo.

George

[Nicholas Logothetis]

Hi Mark,

I just bought 4 brand new caps, the cost was 490 yen each. They and the wheel nuts are apparently well stocked in Japan. I bought mine direct from Japan. I am sure Dany Gagnon at CappuccinoSPORT.com will be able to obtain them for you.

Part numbers:

43250-64B70-27N CAP, wheel center (silver)

09159-12043 NUT, wheel

Nick

[Mark John Harris]

Thanks Nick.

I didn't expect them to be quite so cheap...that's if I've got the exchange rate right!

I'll check CappuccinoSPORT and my local dealer who seem quite good at getting parts.

As a further question....

Does anyone know if there is something one can use to protect the caps from this deterioration in the first place?

[Murray Betts]

I would have guessed that the caps are a standard Suzuki part common on many alloy wheels.

Might be worth considering aftermarket nuts since the plating doesn't seem brilliant on the standard parts. Custom goodies type retailers ought to stock something suitable, need correct thread (obviously) and correct cone angle.

For protecting them, I'd suggest a clear aerosol lacquer available from car accessory shops, but try it on an old one first just to make sure it doesn't "argue" with the silver paint.

[Karl Taylor]

Regarding the wheel nuts - I've just ordered some from a company called Rallyesport at a very reasonable £1 each.

When they arrive I'll let you know if they are OK and see if he will offer a discount to SCORE members.

[Brendan Molony]

One other thing that may not seem obvious with replacement wheels nuts is the actual depth of the nut, i.e. how far it sticks out from the face of the wheel. I have seen a set of nuts used on a Cappuccino that came from a Suzuki dealer but were unfortunately too long, therefore protruded out of the wheel hole and did not look as aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

The Suzuki locking wheel nuts have the same problem, especially when the covers are fitted as these protrude by about 15-20mm and look even worse because there is one on each wheel.

[Andrew Milne]

My caps are the same. The problem with the flaking coating is probably down to an acidic alloy wheel cleaner. If you are going to use such a product it's best to keep it away from these parts. It's the same problem on all cars. The chromed entre caps and nuts on my Escort look exactly the same. Luckily the ones on my BMW haven't gone the same way as I've now learnt my mistake and remove them before cleaning.

[Brendan Molony]

I have been considering removing the wheels one at a time in future after washing the car when it is the intention to use a cleaner on the wheels - makes it easier to pop the centres out from behind and allows access into the nut recesses with a toothbrush

[Andrew Milne]

Well it has been known

Does make them far easier to clean as I always tend to miss places when I do them on the car. Means you can clean the inside of the rims thoroughly too!

[David Regan]

I bought a new set of wheel nuts at great expense from Suzuki.

Within the first month they's rusted. What a waste of time!!!

(and money)

[Jay Kerr]

Hello, is there any chance someone could measure the centre caps across. I see a repro set on eBay I’d like. Thank you.

[Ian Linden]

Outside diameter 71mm.

[Murray Betts]

Just measured the spare wheel I have, the bore diameter for the cap is 60.0mm if that helps?