Keeping hub caps on

bigd1101

bigd1101

Senior Member
I've had the front hubcaps come flying off more than once when I hit a bump. Bent the 'teeth" out a tad after sharpening them for a better bite on the rim, used double sided Gorilla Tape on the hub where the cap edge contacts the rim. So far they are holding but do loosen up after a drive. Any other ideas as damage to the cap will result in anymore launchings off the rims? I was thinking maybe silicone?


Don
 
I only have one surviving full wheel disk for the 52 Merc and I won't drive with it anymore. It just won't stay on and as some say it might be because I'm using radial tires. I use the small "dog dish" caps instead. Never lost one of them yet.
 
I've lost my share of caps with bias plys too, so I'm not sure I dig that whole argument. But I've found bending the tangs out until they have to be tapped on with a rubber mallet keeps them on tight.
 
Automotive Stud said:
I've lost my share of caps with bias plys too, so I'm not sure I dig that whole argument. But I've found bending the tangs out until they have to be tapped on with a rubber mallet keeps them on tight.
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I have radials.......smooth ride compared the hard ride bias tires give you, which one would think, would shed caps even more. I bent the tangs also as I explained above and that seems to have solved the problem (so far) but I was fishing for additional holding ideas. Yes, bending as well as sharpening the tangs does require a rubber mallet application :)
 
338521


338648


This is what the Dog Dish hubcap for the Mercury looks like. It was introduced in 1952 and continued on during the fifties.
I believe that the centres on the 52 to 54 Mercury were painted Red. This 1953 Mercury Convertible has these small hubcaps on and they look good.
Not sure about the colour for 1953, but I do know that in 1956, it was White. Also not sure of the last year for this shape hubcap. Maybe, someone can fill me in?
 
The small Merc caps with a trim ring look as nice as the full caps in my opinion. Not likely to lose the small caps.
 
A bit of insurance with a sharpie print your name and phone number. If lost maybe a kind hearted sole we I'll find it and call you 7
 
bigd1101 said:
I have radials.......smooth ride compared the hard ride bias tires give you, which one would think, would shed caps even more.
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I feel just the opposite on radials vs bias. The steel belted radials seem to feel every little rock in the road. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention 50+ years ago when riding in the Merc with my dad driving. It seemed a very smooth ride on bias ply blackwalls back then. Even with the pressure down in the 25 pound range now it seems like a hard ride with radials. Not bad on pavement of course.
 
mercman from oz said:
338521


338648


This is what the Dog Dish hubcap for the Mercury looks like. It was introduced in 1952 and continued on during the fifties.
I believe that the centres on the 52 to 54 Mercury were painted Red. This 1953 Mercury Convertible has these small hubcaps on and they look good.
Not sure about the colour for 1953, but I do know that in 1956, it was White. Also not sure of the last year for this shape hubcap. Maybe, someone can fill me in?
Click to expand...

You are correct the 53's were Red. Put them on 10 years ago, and they have never come off. I do run radial tires. They do stay on! You will also need a set of the "beauty rings" if you are going to use the dog dish hubcaps.
 

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RalphG said:
I only have one surviving full wheel disk for the 52 Merc and I won't drive with it anymore. It just won't stay on and as some say it might be because I'm using radial tires. I use the small "dog dish" caps instead. Never lost one of them yet.
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I still have a full set of the original 53' Merc hubcaps. When I finally got tired of picking them up from the side of the road, I used them for wall art.
 

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Merc Cruzer said:
I still have a full set of the original 53' Merc hubcaps. When I finally got tired of picking them up from the side of the road, I used them for wall art.
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I seller on eBay wants $800 for a set of the dog dish caps like yours. Does that seem high?


Don
 
bigd1101 said:
I seller on eBay wants $800 for a set of the dog dish caps like yours. Does that seem high?


Don
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I saw those too. It was the only set I could find currently though.

I bought my original set of for for $100 back on 1/19/10. A friend of ours bought a set for her car, off of e-bay, a couple of years ago and paid just over $230. It took her a coupe of months to find them. Yes I do think that is outrageous. Keep searching e-bay and try to get out to a few swap meets this summer and I think you will do allot better. They are out there. They usually get listed as 55'-56' Mercury. That might help your search.

Good luck in oyu search
 

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Merc Cruzer said:
I saw those too. It was the only set I could find currently though.

I bought my original set of for for $100 back on 1/19/10. A friend of ours bought a set for her car, off of e-bay, a couple of year ago and pain just over $230. Yes I do think that is outrageous. Keep searching e-bay and try to get out to a few swap meets this summer and I think you will do allot better. They are out there. They usually get listed as 55' Mercury. That might help your search.
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Yeah.....they are in great condition, but 8 bills is insane.
 
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