View Poll Results: Where are the dust caps on your max?
On the front wheel hubs
2
9.09%
On the rear wheel hubs
17
77.27%
I don't have them
3
13.64%
Voters: 22. You may not vote on this poll
Dust cap on which hub? Please vote if you know
04-02-2004, 11:02 PM
#1
Dust cap on which hub? Please vote if you know
Is it on your front wheel hubs or the back or do you have none at all?
Here's a pic of what I'm talking about...
I need to know if I remove these things if I'll be screwing something up. I figure if a bunch of you guys don't have the caps anyways, I might as well take it off to make my rims fit.
Here's a pic of what I'm talking about...
I need to know if I remove these things if I'll be screwing something up. I figure if a bunch of you guys don't have the caps anyways, I might as well take it off to make my rims fit.
04-03-2004, 03:26 PM
#4
Originally Posted by Maxima10to1
the are only on the rear, and i think you need them
04-03-2004, 04:24 PM
#5
Originally Posted by DAREN
i dont have them on my car. you dont really need them. when you pul them off you will see why. all i did was pack a little silicone in there and put my wheel on.
04-10-2004, 06:57 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,836
Originally Posted by looslip
Is it on your front wheel hubs or the back or do you have none at all?
Here's a pic of what I'm talking about...
I need to know if I remove these things if I'll be screwing something up. I figure if a bunch of you guys don't have the caps anyways, I might as well take it off to make my rims fit.
Here's a pic of what I'm talking about...
I need to know if I remove these things if I'll be screwing something up. I figure if a bunch of you guys don't have the caps anyways, I might as well take it off to make my rims fit.
04-10-2004, 04:09 PM
#8
YOU NEED DUST CAPS ON YOUR REAR HUBS!!!!!
they do NOT use a sealed bearing on the back. Don't believe me? pull the cap off and spin the hub. see the grease and those shiny little metal things rolling around in there? those are bearings. they MUST stay clean. get dirt in them and you can kiss your rear wheel hubs goodbye. they're about $100 each, btw.. not something you want to trash.
they do NOT use a sealed bearing on the back. Don't believe me? pull the cap off and spin the hub. see the grease and those shiny little metal things rolling around in there? those are bearings. they MUST stay clean. get dirt in them and you can kiss your rear wheel hubs goodbye. they're about $100 each, btw.. not something you want to trash.
04-10-2004, 06:06 PM
#9
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
YOU NEED DUST CAPS ON YOUR REAR HUBS!!!!!
they do NOT use a sealed bearing on the back. Don't believe me? pull the cap off and spin the hub. see the grease and those shiny little metal things rolling around in there? those are bearings. they MUST stay clean. get dirt in them and you can kiss your rear wheel hubs goodbye. they're about $100 each, btw.. not something you want to trash.
they do NOT use a sealed bearing on the back. Don't believe me? pull the cap off and spin the hub. see the grease and those shiny little metal things rolling around in there? those are bearings. they MUST stay clean. get dirt in them and you can kiss your rear wheel hubs goodbye. they're about $100 each, btw.. not something you want to trash.
04-12-2004, 09:58 PM
#13
So what does it sound or feel like when you have a wheel bearing going out? I do have some slight grinding noises coming from my car prior to taking the caps off. I'm afraid that I might have got some water into there when I was washing the car and I don't have center caps for the rims... I feel like I need to shape the caps a bit and put them back on... Thanks for sharing, guys.
04-12-2004, 10:14 PM
#14
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
YOU NEED DUST CAPS ON YOUR REAR HUBS!!!!!
This cracks me up, take off the dust caps and use silicone? Dust caps, dust...they're on there for a reason to prevent debris from eating away at the bearings. Silicone will not hold up over time. What is the reason behind the need to take them off? If its a matter of wheel fitment, get some spacers, don't remove the dust caps. Your car might look nice with the new wheels, but it won't be driving very nicely in a few months or even weeks if you get crap in there.
04-12-2004, 10:15 PM
#15
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: San Bruno, CA (SF Bay)
Posts: 3,747
they are built as a removable way to pack in the grease. rebuild and matinence on those bearings is needed...and those caps have a purpose. silicon seems like it would be back for the bearing, not saying it wouldnt keep stuff out, but think how hot breaks get. you know silicon dries out, cracks, wears out. what is keeping it in there with all the heat, water, wear and stress? its a good question bob, but you arent getting good advice....do it RIGHT
04-12-2004, 10:45 PM
#16
okay, I'll be re-fabricating the dust caps this weekend to put back on. I don't think spacers would work b/c the wheels are already at the edge of the wheel well. Thanks again.
04-13-2004, 06:55 AM
#17
I've seen on many 4th and 5th gens that you can just tkae a ball peen hammer and tap the ridge off the dust cap and the wheels will fit.
If not, try buying some dustcaps at autozone or whatever parts store. they often fit differently. I I had to remove the dust caps on my car once when I tried to install some MHT wheels... I pulled them off long enough to drive the car home, then I bought some other caps from the parts store that fit under the wheel. total cost.. about $5 and an hour of time.
If not, try buying some dustcaps at autozone or whatever parts store. they often fit differently. I I had to remove the dust caps on my car once when I tried to install some MHT wheels... I pulled them off long enough to drive the car home, then I bought some other caps from the parts store that fit under the wheel. total cost.. about $5 and an hour of time.
04-13-2004, 07:46 AM
#18
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
I've seen on many 4th and 5th gens that you can just tkae a ball peen hammer and tap the ridge off the dust cap and the wheels will fit.
If not, try buying some dustcaps at autozone or whatever parts store. they often fit differently. I I had to remove the dust caps on my car once when I tried to install some MHT wheels... I pulled them off long enough to drive the car home, then I bought some other caps from the parts store that fit under the wheel. total cost.. about $5 and an hour of time.
If not, try buying some dustcaps at autozone or whatever parts store. they often fit differently. I I had to remove the dust caps on my car once when I tried to install some MHT wheels... I pulled them off long enough to drive the car home, then I bought some other caps from the parts store that fit under the wheel. total cost.. about $5 and an hour of time.
10-03-2006, 05:28 PM
#20
EDIT: Oops, didn't read Matt's post first, so I basically repeated everything he said...
Ok...
There is some terrible advice and logic being thrown about in this thread. This question does not need a poll....it is not a popularity contest. There is one right answer and one wrong answer. Period.
Wrong answer: "you don't need the dustcaps"
Right answer:
The front wheels do not have dust caps on the maxima - the fronts are a SEALED bearing which will not allow any debris to get in. That's why it takes a 3-ton press to get them out.
The rear wheels DO have dust caps, and need to have them because they are not sealed bearings. With no dust cap, the ball-bearings are open to the elements, and all it takes is one little grain of sand getting in there to ruin your bearing. A new hub costs about $100 with bearing. Is it worth $100 to you to take the dust cap off?
Since most people here only believe something if they see a picture of it, here you go:
Here is the rear hub/bearing assembly with dust cap removed. See the shiny silver things? Those are the ball bearings. See how they are open to the elements if there is no dust cap? Yeah....
So, to all of you who know what you're talking about, right on. To the rest of you, stop giving out terrible advice unless you have more to go on than "I took mine off and my bearing is fine."
Ok...
There is some terrible advice and logic being thrown about in this thread. This question does not need a poll....it is not a popularity contest. There is one right answer and one wrong answer. Period.
Wrong answer: "you don't need the dustcaps"
Right answer:
The front wheels do not have dust caps on the maxima - the fronts are a SEALED bearing which will not allow any debris to get in. That's why it takes a 3-ton press to get them out.
The rear wheels DO have dust caps, and need to have them because they are not sealed bearings. With no dust cap, the ball-bearings are open to the elements, and all it takes is one little grain of sand getting in there to ruin your bearing. A new hub costs about $100 with bearing. Is it worth $100 to you to take the dust cap off?
Since most people here only believe something if they see a picture of it, here you go:
Here is the rear hub/bearing assembly with dust cap removed. See the shiny silver things? Those are the ball bearings. See how they are open to the elements if there is no dust cap? Yeah....
So, to all of you who know what you're talking about, right on. To the rest of you, stop giving out terrible advice unless you have more to go on than "I took mine off and my bearing is fine."
10-03-2006, 05:32 PM
#21
also...
That's two bad ideas in one post....wheel bearings get very warm and silicone is not appropriate for several reasons:
1. it is not made to handle heat
2. it does not stick to grease. And there should be grease on the bearing facing.
3. it will not stop debris from getting into the bearing. In fact, depending ont he chemical properties of the silicone you used, it could actually foul the bearing ITSELF!
If silicone was an effective sealant in this application, Nissan surely would have used it in the first place - since a bit of silicone is alot cheaper than a shaped metal dust cap. And we all know Nissan is cheap.
Originally Posted by DAREN
i dont have them on my car. you dont really need them. when you pul them off you will see why. all i did was pack a little silicone in there and put my wheel on.
1. it is not made to handle heat
2. it does not stick to grease. And there should be grease on the bearing facing.
3. it will not stop debris from getting into the bearing. In fact, depending ont he chemical properties of the silicone you used, it could actually foul the bearing ITSELF!
If silicone was an effective sealant in this application, Nissan surely would have used it in the first place - since a bit of silicone is alot cheaper than a shaped metal dust cap. And we all know Nissan is cheap.
10-03-2006, 05:59 PM
#22
Quick question in regards to dust caps:
My new wheels don't have center caps, so my front wheels have an ugly rusted part with a cotter pin sticking out. Would a dust cap serve as a makeshift center cap for the front wheels?
My new wheels don't have center caps, so my front wheels have an ugly rusted part with a cotter pin sticking out. Would a dust cap serve as a makeshift center cap for the front wheels?
03-22-2007, 04:32 AM
#23
Originally Posted by Colossus
Quick question in regards to dust caps:
My new wheels don't have center caps, so my front wheels have an ugly rusted part with a cotter pin sticking out. Would a dust cap serve as a makeshift center cap for the front wheels?
My new wheels don't have center caps, so my front wheels have an ugly rusted part with a cotter pin sticking out. Would a dust cap serve as a makeshift center cap for the front wheels?
A little rattle can action would work...
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