Guys need some advice here. I brought my stock 18" wheel to Wheels America last week to get refinished (curb damage). I pick it up, thought they did a nice job. However, when I get home and get ready to put my wheel back on, I notice that the center cap won't fit anymore. Now the cap isn't broken (I took off my other wheel to compare), but when they powdercoated the rim it must've thickened the center area. I call up Wheels America to explain the problem and they say to sand down the area. Just tried that and it still won't fit. I really don't feel like taking it back again, but I might have to. Any suggestions?

 

Can you grind down the OD of the center cap with a dremmel tool and a homemade fixture to hold the center cap? This would be cheaper to "mess up" than the wheel. The shop that powdercoated your wheel should be able to tell you their buildup (or increased thickness of powdercoat) to within =/-.001". They should be using controlled processes, so this should not be too difficult.

Better yet, you could also take a set of calipers and measure ~10 places on the ID of your wheel (the place where the center cap snaps in). After you know the smallest ID of the wheel you can grind down the OD of the center cap to allow ~.020" nominal clearance (on the diameter) and you'll be set.

<font color=blue>The above statements are only my take on the issue. If you disagree with anything I typed then you are 100% right!</font color=blue>

 

Thanks for the advice. I ended up just bringing it back and letting them do it (I paid enough). They dremmeled the inside of the wheel and now it seems to fit.