Better secure hubcaps? Also, paint flaking.

[cheese007]

Hi, I have a 04 Aveo LS with the standard steel wheels, and currently have done away with the hubcaps because one flew off and the others are in various stages of flaking. 2 questions:
1. Is there a way to make sure these things don't detach themselves from the car?
2. Is there a way to stop replacement caps from flaking until they look like a miserable mess?

Thanks in advance.

[petrified.rabbit]

try and buy rims?

you can use a discrete wire, a screw, or some other thing you'll be swearing at next time you have to take them off.

painting them and waxing them with appropriate waxes etc.. they are usually single stage, and plastic bonded, sanding them lightly, etch primer, resand, and paint with a top cat of uv proof clear will make them look new, so you could even just refinish your current ones if you fine a 4th.

[daug1502]

My 08 has the hubcaps that screw onto the outside of the lug nuts. They are solid color gray, I think the color is all the way through so not going to chip.

[cheese007]

Sadly, I've got a set of these things:and I'd need 3 as one is missing and the other 2 have flaked pretty badly, one is even missing all of the paint! :O

[exodus0784]

I've lost like 8 sets on my '04. Bare steel is the way to go.

[daug1502]

Steelies do seem to be the in thing right now. Painting them is always an option too. My only issue with steelies is the lack of protection for the axle nut. . . that thing is enough of a pain without it rusting on.

[cheese007]

I've lost like 8 sets on my '04. Bare steel is the way to go.

Yeah but you rally. :P Ironically, your car looks quite a bit like mine right now lol.
EDIT: Added quote.

[MoneyMike]

The '04 has 4 lugs per wheel, right? If so, you could order a set of the newer ones, which is what I'm sure daug1502 was talking about. Here's a pic of mine if you haven't seen them before.



PS, I'd have done what daug & exodus said, just going bare steel, but my wheels look like crap! The first time I pulled off the wheel covers, I saw that a couple of my wheels looked pretty rough, kinda like they missed sanding parts of the wheel and went ahead to paint it. Next time I pull off the wheel covers, I'll have to post a pic of the screwed up wheels.

[petrified.rabbit]

those "rough" spots are where the wheels was exposed through the hubcap most likely.

i dont think the lugs should rust on, but if that is a concern, go buy a car of antiseize, its a silver brush on compound that prevents threads from rusting together.

[daug1502]

Not the Lugs, the axle end That really damn big nut.