Roush Applying Center caps on Saleen Speedline Magnesium Rims

[olesch]

Hello all!

I am having problems in applying the centercaps on my Saleen Spedline magnesium rims.

They are really hard, I have tried pushing them in by myself and my dad helping me to apply even presure. I have also tried applying som liquid soap for an more easy slip. But it seems hard and I dont want to damage the rims or the center caps. The center caps are authentic Saleen ones.

Any help would be greatful!

 

[Saleen87-65]

have they been refurbished? new paint/powdercoat ect? My friend powdercoated some wheels white, and it was so think the centercaps didnt fit anymore. Just throwing that possible idea your way

 

[Bill Fisher]

I had the same issue when I switched to the Mags from the lemans style wheels. I have not solved this yet but people have told me I am using the wrong center caps. Apparently the ones fromt eh Lemans style don't work. I have "the ones" Saleen says work that I just ordered in route.

Are you trying the flat silver backed ones or the black backed ones with the feet? My mags came with one with feet on the back and they are much different then the ones in the Lemans style rims.

Good Luck, I will post the results when I get mine in...

Bill

 

[marcus95]

Bill,

The center caps for the magnesuim wheels are totally different. They are black.

 

[olesch]

The rims have been refurbished. But all the original paint has been cleared before they was refurbished.

I have three original Saleen Speedline center caps, the black ones. But they are all brocken on the back.

I have had a real hard time regarding theese wheels. First i aquired new caps from Speedline themselves, but one of theese fell of during driving. (theese where also a pain to install and broke during it) Then now I bought the Saleen original ones. I have compared them to the original Saleen Speedline (black ones) and they all measures the same. Are they supposed to be that hard to apply?

Here is a pic of the wheel with the cap from speedline:

 

[s351rspeedster]

I have had a real hard time regarding theese wheels. First i aquired new caps from Speedline themselves, but one of theese fell of during driving. (theese where also a pain to install and broke during it) Then now I bought the Saleen original ones. I have compared them to the original Saleen Speedline (black ones) and they all measures the same. Are they supposed to be that hard to apply?

...the center cap should, literally, snap and lock in place with ease! Not sure why you're having a difficult time installing them. If you bought a set from Saleen, I'll bet you a quarter they are not the correct ones. They haven't offered center caps for the Le Mans or Speedline wheels for quite some time. Even when they starting reproducing the Le Mans wheels in 99/00, they didn't have the correct set of center caps for them... I have a spare one off the car, I'll take a few pictures of the cap when I get home tonight and post them for you....

 

[marcus95]

...the center cap should, literally, snap and lock in place with ease! Not sure why you're having a difficult time installing them. If you bought a set from Saleen, I'll bet you a quarter they are not the correct ones. They haven't offered center caps for the Le Mans or Speedline wheels for quite some time. Even when they starting reproducing the Le Mans wheels in 99/00, they didn't have the correct set of center caps for them... I have a spare one off the car, I'll take a few pictures of the cap when I get home tonight and post them for you....

You have spare caps? Huh

 

[Bill Fisher]

Since you posted a picture of the rims........I am more curious how the heck you got those lug nuts to work? I had to come out of pocket $200 for lug nuts and you got plan ole two dollar nuts that work.

Alright Robert lets see the picutre....inquiring minds want to know.

Bill

 

[s351rspeedster]

You have spare caps? Huh

...No, I said I have A (one) spare cap!! I know of a very close friend that has a few additional caps..

Since you posted a picture of the rims........I am more curious how the heck you got those lug nuts to work? I had to come out of pocket $200 for lug nuts and you got plan ole two dollar nuts that work.

Alright Robert lets see the picutre....inquiring minds want to know.

Bill

...Sorry Bill, I completely blanked on the camera and pictures of that center CAP. I was busy installing new mirrors in the bathrooms at home last night. I'll attempt to remember tonight......

....I'm with Bill, that's the first time I've seen Mag wheels running different lug nuts. Did you install a different spindle or something to make those work??

 

[mrvids]

To get my Saleen caps to fit I removed the wheel, laid it on it's side, placed the cap in the center, placed a wooden baseball bat on it's end on the cap and hit the other end of the bat with a rubber mallett....I moved the bat around to even out the cap, and since the bat was wood it didn't mark the cap. Plus I left the plastic covering on the cap for more protection.
Trying to attach the cap while the wheel was on the car was impossible.
Mine is a 97 Saleen and I bought actual Saleen replacement caps...they just didn't want to go where they belong.

 

[olesch]

...No, I said I have A (one) spare cap!! I know of a very close friend that has a few additional caps..






...Sorry Bill, I completely blanked on the camera and pictures of that center CAP. I was busy installing new mirrors in the bathrooms at home last night. I'll attempt to remember tonight......

....I'm with Bill, that's the first time I've seen Mag wheels running different lug nuts. Did you install a different spindle or something to make those work??

What does the original lug nuts look like then?

Theese fits on with no problems at all. I buyed them including locking lugs at summitracing.

They look like this:

Regarding fitting the center caps, I came up with an idea last week. But I have only had the time to do it on one rim and it turned out perfect.

On the back of the cap, I removed the steel ring expanding the teeths on the cap. I used a heater gun to soften the teeths up. Afterwards i pushed in the center cap. Afterwards i attatched the steel ring on the center cap from the back of the rim. When applied I used the heater gun on the applied center cap from the back of the rim to allow the steel ring to expand the teeths. And woila, they fit and locks perfectly in place!

It is a bit hard to explain the procedure, but I think you guys get the point?

 

[s351rspeedster]

What does the original lug nuts look like then?

Theese fits on with no problems at all. I buyed them including locking lugs at summitracing.

They look like this:

....that explains the mystery!!! Those lugs have a longer neck on them that catch more of the thread on the spindle then the lugs provided by Saleen for the Alloy LeMans wheels. I didn't know that summit had lugs that would work on the Mag wheels. I'll bet they are cheaper then the lugs that Saleen used. I guess you learn something new every day!!!

 

[mrvids]

On the back of the cap, I removed the steel ring expanding the teeths on the cap. I used a heater gun to soften the teeths up. Afterwards i pushed in the center cap. Afterwards i attatched the steel ring on the center cap from the back of the rim. When applied I used the heater gun on the applied center cap from the back of the rim to allow the steel ring to expand the teeths. And woila, they fit and locks perfectly in place!

It is a bit hard to explain the procedure, but I think you guys get the point?

Wish you had posted this two weeks ago...

 

[Bill Fisher]

Wow, those lugs look nice and I am sure they are cheaper then the ones I bought. I was actually able to get 3 of the center caps on my wheels today without having to remove them from the car. One of them went in crooked and I had to remove the wheel. They do go in easer when you have access to the back.

 

[s351rspeedster]

Wow, those lugs look nice and I am sure they are cheaper then the ones I bought. I was actually able to get 3 of the center caps on my wheels today without having to remove them from the car. One of them went in crooked and I had to remove the wheel. They do go in easer when you have access to the back.

.....pictures please!!