Center cap solutions for fitting newer rims over a 92's locking hubs

[giro]

I decided to put a set of 4th gen 17" 4runner rims onto my '92, mainly so I could move the new tires/wheels forward at some point. I'm only putting on about 3k/year these days, but figure I'll be buying a newer 4runner at some point...even 5 years out would only be 15k into these tires.

They look nice, but it turns out the center caps don't fit over the auto-locking hubs in the front.



There's lots of Toyota's around here, so I've looked at a few different center caps. Turns out they are rim-diameter specific, so the ones I have from 16" ones and ones from my stock 15" rims are close, but not quite. And even from a different 17" 4runner wheel engage in a different way.

(in the pic, the 2nd from the left is for this rim, and the left is for a different style (TRD? from my neighbor). On the right is stock from my 15's, and the worn one is a spare from some 16's)

I'm thinking of modifying the worn ones I have from a 16", maybe with taking off the center and putting something cupped there, and then a gasket around it to tie it all together.

Any thoughts? What have others done? Or is there a good set of universal ones out there? I've seen a set of caps on a ~2004 tacoma that looked like they might flare out enough for it, but with the caps I've tried it looks like it really needs to be from a 17" rim to work completely right.

...but I am probably going to get different tires anyways since these new bridgestone dueler H/L Alena Plus 265/70 R17's didn't pull as straight in 4-6" of snow as my wife and I expected this week. And the size is about 1" extra than stock, and seems to hit when at a full turn with some slope. Nothing too bad, but I'm just not loving them, and probably want to go with the "severe snow" rating of the General Grabber AT 2 (which also has a milage warranty, unlike the current BFG AT KO2).

Any suggestions, in case I keep these rims? I also have a pair of 17" studded winter tires I could throw on these instead and just put in the rear. But these ones do look pretty great, especially when the 4runner is somewhat clean.

 

[KidVermicious]

Um, take a hole saw to the middle of the center caps for the wheels that are on the truck so they fit. Then cut the face off another set of center caps with enough side depth that you can glue it over the existing caps.

But that's a damned lot of work, why not leave it like it is?

I came super close to getting a set of those Grabbers for my pickup, solid AT tires with the severe winter rating aren't common. I ended up getting Cooper ST Maxx instead because I don't see as much snow as you do.

 

[Ahlem]

Maybe Tulip City Wheel will have a hubcentric adapter that will solve your problem? You'd need to have the ID/OD information and see if they have a hub adapter that works.
If it were me, I would make a simple chuck for my wood lathe and spin the center cap and cut out the logo part and make an offset piece and glue it back together.
I need a center cap for a 1993 like the one on the right since one of the tabs broke off.

 

[theking11863]

Maybe try removing the dust shield. Not always the best thing to do but if there is hub cap over it maybe it wont be a problem.

Another option would be get some spacers. If you use them you should be able to create enough of an offset that you can use the hub caps without permanent modification. Hope this helps. If I think of anything else I'll let you know.

And [MENTION=119048]Ahlem[/MENTION] try looking on the internet like on ebay or maybe some junkyards. They're pretty easy to find. When I first got my '90 it was missing both of the front hubs but I was able to find 2 pretty easily.

 

[giro]

Um, take a hole saw to the middle of the center caps for the wheels that are on the truck so they fit. Then cut the face off another set of center caps with enough side depth that you can glue it over the existing caps.

But that's a damned lot of work, why not leave it like it is?

That's what I was thinking, of modifying the worn 16" ones, cutting out the middle, but maybe bumping it out and then gluing the cut-out back on.

I see a couple ones in the sacramento craigslist where they just cut or popped out the middle on those 16" caps, so it is done.

Cruising around the parking lot, I see a few aftermarket or toyota caps that might fit. We have a lot of snow wheels here which are often on black painted steel wheels, but the lack of caps blends in better with that.

But I still have to figure out what to do about the tires. We got another round of 4-6" of snow, and while the tires did ok they didn't do great. I'll be getting the Grabber AT's, but need to decide to put them on the new 17's, the old 15's, or pick up a set of 16's for them. I have a pair of studded snow tires I could throw on the 17's if they go unused.

I know a lot of newer 4runners or Tacomas need 16" or larger wheels to fit over upgraded brakes (my '98 did). What I don't know is how many need 17" ones. I'd probably be looking for the 2004-2010 range....wanting airbags and ECS/anti-spin, but keeping it old enough to lower the value and not make me cringe as much when I add a few scratches on the occasional trail run.


(ahhh, the best part was finding out my wife didn't care. I was worried the lack of center-caps was going to be the beginning of the end for the rig, making it look "too junky" or something, especially since this 4runner still shines when I wash it up. But I guess not, and she even said the lack of airbags doesn't worry her much since I'm not driving over the 8900' pass on a daily basis anymore. Sounds like I can keep it around a few more years

 

[giro]

Does anyone know of any toyota wheels with caps that fit on the stock 4x4 2nd gens?

Just wondering if there are any out there, or if with the 3rd gens they shrunk the locking innards, and so really no wheels after the 2nd gens would work.

I'd prefer to use 16" or 17" rims for the new tires so I have some chance of moving them forward if need be. And I might, even if that means I have to be cap-less on the front for now. It's a look...

 

[theking11863]

I'm pretty sure toyota shrunk the hubs. Big hubs were just normal for older cars because smaller hubs hadnt been designed yet. As with all things, the design improves with time and they can make them smaller. My 84 firebird has big front hubs and its RWD!

 

[T4R2014]

Try FZJ80 center caps. 96-97 T100 5-spoke alloy hub caps may work too.