Front dust cap keeps escaping!

[MattC]

Any tips on keeping a dust cap from wiggling loose? After replacing front bearings last week, I have a dust cap that likes to pop off after driving a few miles. Then it falls behind the hub cap and makes a horrendous clanging at low speeds. Very embarrassing at stop lights. I have tried cleaning the inner lip on the hub of as much grease as possible without starving the bearing of its fair share. Maybe needs a little stickum along the edge?

[theunz]

How about wrapping a layer of electrical tape around the lip of the cap to increase the interference fit. Maybe just a couple of small pieces on two sides

[MattC]

Possibly. The cap fits quite tightly so a wrap of tape around the outside might be the answer. Hmmm...I wonder if I have some shrink tubing that would be big enough. Thanks!

[Linda]

If the dust cap is full of grease it can wiggle off. Might have to take some out of the cap if you have it packed.
Linda

[redroadster]

Certer punch the inside of the hub and / or the cap
Or I used to take a brake lathe cone that would spread the cap slightly tapping on it
Vinyl tape turns to jellow with that heat

[MattC]

Here’s a question...if the bearing is a little too tight, could excess heat in the hub be a contributing factor to this cap falling off?

[keith0alan]

The dust cap is quite likely worn out and loose. Check with Sin City Datsuns, on the vendor list, for new ones.

[C.Costine]

As Keith said it has probably just been off and back on too many times. I doubt that you will have enough room for any tape of any sort in between. Be advised that there have been a number of comments here about new ones that are available being a challenge to install.

[Linda]

I don’t think heat would be an issue. You have just changed the bearing and packed it with grease. Think of all the people who haven’t looked at their bearings, or have noise for years. Their caps aren’t falling off and there is probably more heat, relative to your situation.
Since I just did this job I noticed some “looseness “ as well, but think it is from the grease and too much in the cap. Cleaning that out helped. Slightly bending the cap edge out a bit could help perhaps, as mentioned . Redroadster has a lathe to do it but some vise grips or something might work.
Did you measure the diameter of the cap? That might help find a substitute.
Linda

[zippy67roadster]

Any tips on keeping a dust cap from wiggling loose? After replacing front bearings last week, I have a dust cap that likes to pop off after driving a few miles. Then it falls behind the hub cap and makes a horrendous clanging at low speeds. Very embarrassing at stop lights. I have tried cleaning the inner lip on the hub of as much grease as possible without starving the bearing of its fair share. Maybe needs a little stickum along the edge?

I have new replacements that are good and tight. Find them on my website here: http://sincitydatsuns.com/store/p135/Da ... _caps.html