TRD Center Caps on 17' FJ Wheels

[JustSomeName]

Let me start off by saying, yes, I've already searched for this topic, and yes, I know that it's been done already. But all the information out there on this mod is nothing more than a couple pictures and a few sentences, so I thought I'd share my attempt at installing these TRD Center Caps on a set of stock FJ 17s.

First, you'll need:
4 TRD Center Caps
4 FJ Wheels
Dremel
Low Grit Sandpaper (I used 180)
Exacto Knife
Sharpie

For this mod, I chose to go with the Black TRD Center Caps (Part #PTR20-35081)

For the other colors:
Gray: Part #PT904-35071-CC
Silver: Part #PT904-35070-CC

I got these about a month ago and finally was able to install them this weekend. I bought 5 from toyotapartszone.com for around $55 shipped. I purposely got an extra one to "experiment" with.

The first two days was actually used to prep & paint the wheels a flat black. The third day was when I started trying to get these center caps installed.

1. Take off the retaining rings from the new TRD Center Caps.

2. Take the sharpie and mark off where you'll be cutting. You're essentially trying to line the rim of the center cap up with the inside tab that's perpendicular to where you'll be cutting.

Here's where I marked mine off at.

3. Once you have the lines all marked, use the dremel and start cutting. Remember, go SLOW, I went a bit fast and actually hit the tabs, which you DON'T want.

Here's how it looks after cutting, notice that it is now level with the inside tab.

4. Using the knife and sandpaper, remove all the excess plastic and make the surface as smooth as possible.

5. Reinstall the retaining rings.

6. Using a flat head, pry off the original center caps.

7. Install the TRD Center Caps onto the FJ Wheels. This step is wayyyyy easier said than done. It took me an average of half an hour per wheel to get the center caps on. These center caps simply were not made for these wheels, but if you go at it hard enough, you can (eventually) make them fit.

The tabs on the center caps actually get looser and looser the more you keep trying to push at them and try to force them in, and they'll eventually get just loose enough for you to snap them in.

They should go in pretty tight and would take a strong pull to get them off. I don't plan on taking them off and a bit too scared to pull too hard or else I'd have to go through all the trouble of getting them seated again, so I'm planning on leaving them alone and pray they don't fly off on the freeway.

Here's a couple pictures of them with the wheel, one off the car, one on the car.

Here's some more pictures of comparison

 

[berettashot117]

lol here i was, about to swoop in and say it couldnt be done without some crazy dremel work, and you already made it happen. kudos. btw those center caps are bamf

 

[Mytoy4]

Looks great!

 

[JustSomeName]

lol here i was, about to swoop in and say it couldnt be done without some crazy dremel work, and you already made it happen. kudos. btw those center caps are bamf

Yeah, cutting with the dremel was the easy part, getting them to seat properly was a PITA

 

[SUP3RJEFF]

Nice job!

 

[JustSomeName]

I am happy to report that several months later, the center caps are STILL on the car!

I even tried removing them and after sitting on the wheels for so long, the tabs perfectly snap into the wheels and taking them on/off is alot simpler than when I first put them on!

 

[TOY2G]

I am happy to report that several months later, the center caps are STILL on the car!

I even tried removing them and after sitting on the wheels for so long, the tabs perfectly snap into the wheels and taking them on/off is alot simpler than when I first put them on!

I have read that using the retaining rings off of the factory wheel make it easier, do you happen to know? Also, do you think this mode will work on the TE 4runner wheel? It's the same wheel (except color) as the 17" FJ.

 

[JustSomeName]

I have read that using the retaining rings off of the factory wheel make it easier, do you happen to know? Also, do you think this mode will work on the TE 4runner wheel? It's the same wheel (except color) as the 17" FJ.

I used the retaining rings that came with the TRD caps. Not sure if the regular retaining rings work, but these have worked fine and I've driven 10k+ miles on them without any trouble.

Not sure if it'll work on the TE wheels but I don't see why it wouldn't. The whole point of getting these to fit is to try to get the "walls" of the TRD center caps to match with the "walls" of the stock center caps, relative to the tabs.

For this one, the oem walls were below the tabs, while the TRD walls were above the tabs. I just tried to match the walls/tabs to the stock ones, they should fit as long as you follow that same theory with the TE center caps.

 

[NuclearN8]

I used the retaining rings that came with the TRD caps. Not sure if the regular retaining rings work, but these have worked fine and I've driven 10k+ miles on them without any trouble.

Not sure if it'll work on the TE wheels but I don't see why it wouldn't. The whole point of getting these to fit is to try to get the "walls" of the TRD center caps to match with the "walls" of the stock center caps, relative to the tabs.

For this one, the oem walls were below the tabs, while the TRD walls were above the tabs. I just tried to match the walls/tabs to the stock ones, they should fit as long as you follow that same theory with the TE center caps.

someone over on the FJ cruiser forum made it work, looks like slightly more modification is necessary. Black TRD centercaps mod for stock FJ wheels - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

 

[JustSomeName]

someone over on the FJ cruiser forum made it work, looks like slightly more modification is necessary. Black TRD centercaps mod for stock FJ wheels - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

That thread was actually the inspiration for this project of mine! I didn't realize I could use the OEM retaining rings, maybe I'll try it out if I can ever find the original center caps...

 

[oljedi11950]

That's a great job ! Very clean & oem looking

 

[Mudyrunner]

Any pics of how flush the caps are to the face of the rims? Just trying to figure out if it can be cut a little bit more then what you did to try and flush the face of the cap up with the face of the rim. If that make any sense?

 

[JustSomeName]

Any pics of how flush the caps are to the face of the rims? Just trying to figure out if it can be cut a little bit more then what you did to try and flush the face of the cap up with the face of the rim. If that make any sense?

they sit just about flush with the spokes on the wheel. no picture of it, but i'll try to snap one tomorrow

 

[Mudyrunner]

Is this at all possible with the trd steel rings as i dont have the original centre caps ?

 

[Stuck CAPS]

Do you have any idea on whether or not these would work on the factory 17" rims for the 4R? If no idea, could you grab a few measurements of the center cap and the hole in the FJ wheel for me to compare?

 

[JustSomeName]

Is this at all possible with the trd steel rings as i dont have the original centre caps ?

I used the trd retaining rings and they worked fine. driven 10K+ miles on them without any problems

 

[Mudyrunner]

Ok thanks.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

I have read that using the retaining rings off of the factory wheel make it easier, do you happen to know? Also, do you think this mode will work on the TE 4runner wheel? It's the same wheel (except color) as the 17" FJ.

Never got an answer, but would the same apply for the factory 17" SR5 wheels?

 

[JustSomeName]

Never got an answer, but would the same apply for the factory 17" SR5 wheels?

as long as you apply the same concept as I explained earlier, this could probably work on any wheel. only difference is some wheels would require more cutting/modding than others.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

as long as you apply the same concept as I explained earlier, this could probably work on any wheel. only difference is some wheels would require more cutting/modding than others.

Alright, thank you!