General Dumb Uno hubcap question!!

[rawill]

I have a 1990 45 Sting. It has the plastic hubcaps that cover the whole rim and are a "PLASTIC MAG LOOKALIKE!!"

I just went to try and take one off to find that the one I went to take off was held on by 3 wheel studs and that one hole in the hubcap was big enough to go over the stud.

Is this right, that the "hubcaps" are held on by the wheel studs!

Seems slightly dodgy to me, I must be wrong!.

/R

 

[Louie Bee]

Yup - I've had 3 Unos which had the wheel bolts holding the hubcaps on and had some Punto hubcaps that mounted the same Alloys are a bit diferent LOL.

Saves on having them stolen or falling off after going over roundabouts or other bumps

 

[rawill]

Thanks for that, I thought I was going slightly crazy!!

Now at least there is a modicum of doubt about the above statement!

/R

 

[a73uk]

They were a good idea, I dont know why Fiat stopped doing it... well, I do actually, the more trims people loose, the more they sell @ £30+ each...

 

[alexGS]

I just went to try and take one off to find that the one I went to take off was held on by 3 wheel studs and that one hole in the hubcap was big enough to go over the stud.

Is this right, that the "hubcaps" are held on by the wheel studs!

Seems slightly dodgy to me, I must be wrong!

Know what you mean but actually the bolt seats on the wheel, the wheel cover doesn't interfere with the metal-metal contact of bolt to wheel, so not dodgy. Plastic is flexible too so doesn't break easily (unlike the nasty wheelcovers available aftermarket that look OK on a Punto but are wrong for an Uno).

Actually FIAT did a nice bit of mounting design for what is basically a crap-looking result There were a couple of those full-wheel cover designs; one was flatter than the other and looked even worse, think it came on the Panda 1000. Suspect you have the same as fitted to the Uno 70SL in this country.

My favourite was on the 60S: centre-only silver caps that leave the steel wheel to look like, well, a steel wheel. As seen on https://www.fiatforum.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=21413
What a superb example that is, bargain price really for such a tidy car.

-Alex

 

[rawill]

My favourite was on the 60S: centre-only silver caps that leave the steel wheel to look like, well, a steel wheel. As seen on https://www.fiatforum.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=21413
What a superb example that is, bargain price really for such a tidy car.

-Alex

Yes - I am looking for 2 of those, or a set, my 60s only has 2 of them.
One of my 70s has Repco aftermarkets, I think they look better than no hubcaps, the other 70s will have full plastic ones that I got off a 40s 1990 Sting, not a fire engine.

Funny thing about all these cars, they were bought only for the parts, but were all better than my original 70s which we have had for a long time! So I thought they were too good to junk, pity they all have dreaded rust sunroofs (except the Sting-which has no sunroof). The two I bought for parts have no rust in the doors like my original, and one of the 70s cars only has 88000km, a 1983 (or 4) model

Sadly the Sting is not good enough to keep on the rod though, rust and under the tail door, and on the front suspension turrets, and it has been de-reged. So too costly to get back on the road.

 

[Tipo4]

They were a good idea, I dont know why Fiat stopped doing it... well, I do actually, the more trims people loose, the more they sell @ £30+ each...

I know Honda and Hyundai commonly do the same hubcap idea. I like the fact that you don't need any horrible cable ties showing but what I don't like is when having to do a wheel alignment and having to jack up the vehicle to take the wheels off just to take the hub caps off to clamp the sensors on to the rim for the alignment camera. Maybe that could've been one of the reasons why Fiat stopped it.

 

[alexGS]

It's worth noting that, with the steel wheel a good fit on the hub, it's quite safe to remove three of the bolts with the weight on the wheel (i.e without jacking up the car). The bolt you leave in (and tight) is the one the wheel cover slides off.

Likewise when fitting the wheel, fit one of the bolts first (it's either the one nearest or opposite the tyre valve, I can't remember). Then slide the wheel cover over that bolt, and fit the remaining three bolts. Easier than putting on a wobbly sandwich of wheel and cover and then trying to line up the bolt holes.

-Alex

 

[a73uk]

I know Honda and Hyundai commonly do the same hubcap idea. I like the fact that you don't need any horrible cable ties showing but what I don't like is when having to do a wheel alignment and having to jack up the vehicle to take the wheels off just to take the hub caps off to clamp the sensors on to the rim for the alignment camera. Maybe that could've been one of the reasons why Fiat stopped it.

Ah right, I didnt think about that, although I still think it was done more to make money from lost wheel trims! Maybe I`m jaded

 

[johorridoh]

Yes,when you´re mounting the wheel , you´ll have to put the first screw closest to the valve.

 

[Tipo4]

with the steel wheel a good fit on the hub, it's quite safe to remove three of the bolts with the weight on the wheel (i.e without jacking up the car). The bolt you leave in (and tight) is the one the wheel cover slides off.

Likewise when fitting the wheel, fit one of the bolts first (it's either the one nearest or opposite the tyre valve, I can't remember). Then slide the wheel cover over that bolt, and fit the remaining three bolts. Easier than putting on a wobbly sandwich of wheel and cover and then trying to line up the bolt holes.

-Alex

Yea I have done that before on my own vehicle but in a workshop situation the lovely health & safety guys tend to take a dim view on the practice.

They really knock the safety stuff into your head at Wintec

 

[rawill]

I am astounded my "dumb Uno hubcap question" created so much response.

But I am not complaining.

 

[alexGS]

I am astounded my "dumb Uno hubcap question" created so much response.

But I am not complaining.

Just goes to show, no such thing as a dumb question...

I'm just trying to remember who 'Paul T' is
In Hamilton!

-Alex

 

[edessex]

it's quite safe to remove three of the bolts with the weight on the wheel (i.e without jacking up the car). The bolt you leave in (and tight) is the one the wheel cover slides off.

I've never liked the idea of doing that! But then mine is probably heavier than the average as its the 1.7...

I've got to move one of the rear ones on mine, as it was put back on wrong, and hides the tyre valve, not sure if it was me of my brother that put it on wrong...

 

[Tipo4]

I'm just trying to remember who 'Paul T' is
In Hamilton!

Auto Airconditioning Limited ring any bells?

 

[alexGS]

Auto Airconditioning Limited ring any bells?

Ahhh yes, of course, THAT Paul.
So what are you doing in the Uno forum, lol...

-Alex

 

[Tipo4]

Ahhh yes, of course, THAT Paul.
So what are you doing in the Uno forum, lol...

-Alex

I got lost haha

I'm thinking of getting an Uno to match my Tipo anyway lol