My 2003 Hilux 4x has factory aluminum rims. When I bought the truck the center caps for the wheels were missing. I priced a set at the dealer, but they were way too pricey (135,000 Colombian pesos - $35 USD each). Couldn't find an aftermarket set here, so ordered a set from a China seller on Ebay for $13.99 USD/set of 4. Trouble is ... the only ones available are for 4x4s with auto locking front hubs and mine are manuals. So I had to mod two of the center caps to make them fit. Finished caps look factory and really cleaned up the look of the wheels.
I decided to post a how-to in case someone else wants to give this a try.
The wheel rim w/o the centercap
The stock cap. Free shipping from China to Colombia only took a week!!
I used a tool for cutting sheet plastic to make a deep score around the center of the cap
Then I drilled a hole pattern in the center, removed it, cut it into pie-shaped sections and CAREFULLY snapped each piece out
The cap with its center removed. The rough edge needed to be cleaned up and enlarged to fit over the manual hub.
Installed center cap fits perfect and looks as good as the factory cap at less than 1/4 of the price.
This mod was fun and pretty easy. Only took about 2 hours to do both sides.
- JAMES
FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEEL CENTER CAP MOD
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FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEEL CENTER CAP MOD
Last edited by JAMES399 on Sat Sep 16, 2017 6:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEEL CENTER CAP MOD
looks good great job
Martin
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Re: FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEEL CENTER CAP MOD
We don't get caps for the manual hubs here AFAIK and we're used to the look as in your "before" pic. A neat enough job, James, but I'm still trying to decide which looks better, with or without.
When your road comes to an end ...... you need a HILUX!.
Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers ... what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers ... what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
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Re: FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEEL CENTER CAP MOD
MUDDOG -
To tell you the truth, I really don't think they look that much better myself. But cleaning the wheels around the lugs was a PITA without the caps.So for that, it's worth it to me.
- JAMES
To tell you the truth, I really don't think they look that much better myself. But cleaning the wheels around the lugs was a PITA without the caps.So for that, it's worth it to me.
- JAMES
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Re: FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEEL CENTER CAP MOD
No I like the look. Looks more finished. Nicely done!!
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Re: FACTORY ALUMINUM WHEEL CENTER CAP MOD
nice Job James