hub caps

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 3:11 pm

Ah yes a very boring topic.

I've had this varying rotational squeak mostly from the rear since I purchase the Neon back in mid-June that has been driving me nuts.

This morning I took the hub caps off and drove around for a coupla hours... no noise whatsoever. Put them back on and after a coupla miles the noise is back.

Anyone else had this problem? What was the fix?

Wenuden · Post by **Wenuden** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 4:19 pm

buy rims. problem solved.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 8:01 pm

~$800 CDN just to solve a squeak from hub caps... I don't think so.

However, I did find this...

TSB #2200501 -- EXPERIENCING RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL COVER OVER BUMPS. *TT (NHTSA ID #620934, JULY 13 2001

My noise is more of a squeak than rattle; however, perhaps the fix covered by this TSB will also fix my issue.

welchspro · Post by **welchspro** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 8:45 pm

It's just your hubcap moving around a little bit, my friends cavalier does the same thing, best solution i think is to just remove all the hubcaps...

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 8:47 pm

Cheapest (free in fact) fix is to remove them and place them casually in the nearest waste disposal recepticle.

And for a bit more, you can spraypaint the steelies semigloss black and look far better than before. Wheel covers FTL.

OverDrive418 · Post by **OverDrive418** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:34 pm

Do you have the 5-point star looking ones that "bolt" to your lug nuts?

I had those stock on my car and they had these little thin rubber pads on the inside around the very edge that kept them from rubbing on the steel rim. That and the tight fit to the center and I never heard any noise or had them fall off or anything unusual like you'd get with say a X-Mart brand. So maybe try something similar to that.

Pablodragon · Post by **Pablodragon** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:08 pm

I also had hub-caps on mine when I first bought it, no noise but wanted a different look and wasn't ready to drop the big bucks for rims... I went this route for a different look.... 14" chrome trim rings, $9.99 each here in the states....added red pinstiping to the inner edge for a touch of color...

Post by **jonnymopar** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:12 pm

My girlfriend's Camry does it. She just lives with it. As said before, buying wheels doesn't solve the problem when you'd rather have money in your wallet than have the noise gone!

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:25 am

Ah yes, mine are very similar to those pictured on the Cinnamon Neon above. The 5 fake lug nuts screw onto the 5 real lug nuts.

I've also noted that some of those pads on the outer edges of mine are missing. I'll need to see what I can put in place to perhaps keep the noise down.

I'm less concerned about it now that I know the source of the noise and that it isn't anything serious.

Fact is I'd love to put on a set of those stock Neon 'snowflake' rims, but have yet to see a set in decent shape at the junkyard.

Thanks for all the comments fellas.

JFTL · Post by **JFTL** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:39 am

I work for a dealer, here's what the TSB did.
Chrysler sent us some small foam discs, and we installed them on the caps. If you want to keep your caps, just get some 3M foam with adhesive on one side, and put some small pieces on your caps.
The noise will come back eventually as the foam rubs away, but it should last a while.
Kevin

Post by **occasional demons** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:32 pm

You could also try some silicone (gasket type) just put a small bead where the foam gaskets go and let it cure then install the wheel covers the silicone will outlast the foam I would think.

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:43 pm

I was going to go with foam pads, but the dab of silicone is a most excellent idea... thank you for that.

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:46 pm

OR.... you could get some of those AWESOME wheel covers that are also spinners

Or the silcone sound sgood... preferably, I would remove the covers all together.

OverDrive418 · Post by **OverDrive418** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:57 pm

The five star covers are probably the best I've seen in design and looks because they don't bulge out from the wheel like most others do. If you Krylon black the steelies under the covers you got a nice looking set of wheels IMO. I unfortunately curbed one of mine and broke it or else I'd still have them for my steelies. I wouldn't be so quick to get rid of them unless you upgrade to alloy rims (in which case I will buy your covers off you!)

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 5:27 pm

The hub cap rotational squeak issue is now resolved and I can now roll in relative silence with the Neon.

There are five equally spaced tabs on the back side outer edges of the hub cap where I applied silicone.

The first bead was applied directly on top of each tab, then the second bead was applied between the first bead and the edge of the hub cap.

A very simple fix for a very annoying issue.