Alcoa wheels and stock center caps?

[Cooker]

I tried searching to find a definite answer to my question and I was unable to do so.



Will the OEM Dodge center caps fit with the stock lug nuts on Alcoa wheels (non-Dually)?



I found a pic of a member that has the stock centercap on Alcoa wheels, but I do not know if he had to do anything special to get them to fit properly (I tried emailing him, but no luck).



Thanks for your help,

Ryan

 

[Extreme1]

Good question!

It is also the reason I went with the Dodge aluminum wheels for my chariot, the caps fit.



As I was able to determine, the Alcoa wheels need the different lug nuts because they are "lug piloted", not "hub piloted" like the stock wheels are. The center hole on the Alcoas are the same for all 3 brands so it relys on the lug nuts to center them as well as clamp them.



If the nuts have the same size hex as stock and the same height above the wheel as stock, it should work.



Hope this helped.

 

[MDKram]

You probably saw the picture of my truck posted in a tire forum. The answer to whether Dodge center caps fit Alcoa wheels is both yes and no. The early caps will not work, the later ones will.



My truck is a 1997 (early caps). The caps have an inner steel ring which is designed to "snap" over the shoulder on all 8 lug nuts.



The Alcoa wheels are much thicker, in the center section, than the stock steel wheels. The countersink for the lug nuts on the alcoas is quite deep which results in less distance between the factory lug nut shoulder and the outside plane of the center section. Hence, not enough shoulder is available on the lug nuts for the early ring-type center caps to snap over.



Luckily, dodge changed the center caps at some point in history. The newer style of center cap utilizes four individual "steel snaps" to grab only four lug nuts. Each of these four "steel snaps" have four fingers which effectively surround an idividual lug nut. Confused yet? Not only do these new style stay on, they provide more resistance to removal than the early style-a good thing. I do have the part number but will have to locate it tonight. I hope this helps.

Marc

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[BOMB Squad]

MDKram,



Do your wheels have an offset similar to the stock alloys? Do they stick outside the wheelwells like most aftermarket wheels? What size are they? Do you happen to have the part number? Price? Thanks.



Brian

 

[Cooker]

MDKram,



Thanks! This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. BTW - It was your truck that I had seen the pics of.



What lug nuts did you use? Your OEM lug nuts off your 97, or did you have to go to the newer version of lugs also.



Thanks again for all the excellent information!



-Ryan

 

[MDKram]

The wheels are 16x7. I bought these wheels used last year so I don't have the Alcoa part numbers on hand. I will confess, these wheels came off a 1994 PSD. These are the factory FORD wheels made by Alcoa only they are better?!?!? How, you say? Well, the factory Ford version is clear coated whereas the plain Alcoa version is not. I did lots of homework before I bought wheels and it took about 1 year of looking to get my hands on these babies. These wheels are in high demand as they fit all makes.



The offset is slightly more (negative) than with the Dodge factory chrome steel wheels. Meaning the wheels may stick out at most 1/2" more. But, these wheels are also 1/2" wider than the steel wheels. You would be hard pressed to visually notice this effect.



I used the stock lug nuts which came on my 1997. F. Y. I. , I scooped a new lug nut (2001 version) from the dealership to compare and it was identical to my 1997 version.



I spun each wheel on the balancer before mounting tires. They required no weight and were perfectly true. Try that with a steel wheel! Each rim weight was about 18 pounds (on a bathroom scale). As an aside, a factory chrome steel wheel with 245/75R16 Michelin A/T weighs about 11 pounds more than the Alcoa Classic 16x7 with 235/85R16 BFG A/T.



I will try and find the part number for the newer center caps I bought. I was able to do this research because a relative was the finance manager at a Dodge dealership. Thus, walking around the new truck lot with a tire wrench only drew a few weird looks L. O. L. !



If I missed anything, I will try and fill you in tomorrow.



Regards, Marc

 

[Cooker]

I really apprecaite your help.



Now it looks like I am shopping for a set of new style center caps, anybody have a set for sale



Thanks,

Ryan

 

[Roger rodbolt]

I tried to put '98 stock center caps on the spoked model Alcoa aluminum 16x7 wheels without any success. HTH's

 

[Cooker]

Roger,



Thanks for confirming that the old style centercaps will not work (I also have the spoked Alcoas). I guess I will continue to look for a set of newer style caps, and hopefully those will work as suggested.



Thanks to all for your help,

Ryan

 

[MDKram]

The information below was copied from the invoice for the newer style center cap:



Part NO. Description

52106283AB12M06 CAP-WHEEL



The price varies between Dealers for these center caps so shop around. If you buy 4, you should be able to get a much better price than list.



Regards, Marc

 

[drawson]

I want to do the same thing with my Mickey Thomsons wheels. I am thinking of having some custom lug nut made. 4 per wheel should hold the old center caps in place.

 

[Cooker]

drawson,



I have been checking into the custom lug nuts. I got the idea from "rballard" and he sent me a drawing of the lug nuts he had produced (he used them on his previous gasser 2500 but not his Cummins).



The cheapest I have found a shop to produce them is $11. 97 each for 303/304 stainless. 17-4 stainless was $16. 97 each. I am waiting to hear back from one more shop for informaiton on pricing from them. I will let you know what I find out.



At $12 a pop I sure won't be buying any. I was thinking $3 or $4 would not be to bad (In defense of the shops, maybe $12 is reasonable for what needs to be done I don't know I'm not in the industry). If the newer caps will fit w/o any modifications that may be the way to go. Salvage yards around here want ~$15 for each center cap.



-Ryan



EDIT: I just received the other quote I was referencing above, $20. 30 per piece of 304 stainless. Looks like the custom lug nuts are not going to work out, unless someone (a machinist) on the TDR wants me to send them the drawing so they can bid it

 

[MDKram]

New caps will probably cost you around $50 each. Not cheap, but better than messing around with new lug nuts.



Regards, MDK

 

[pdrew]

I have factory caps on MT wheels. Only have had to clip wings off

the outside of the clip that goes over the nut. Works great and looks better.

 

[Cooker]

pdrew,



What year caps did you use? Are they off steel wheels or the alloy wheels.



Did you use the stock center caps?



Thanks,

Ryan

 

[pdrew]

Have 2000-2500 CC 4x4. Used the caps that came with the factory wheels, on MT Challenger wheels with factory lug nuts. The only thing that doesn't fit perfect is the cap sets out from the

wheel 1/4 inch. You would not notice this unless I told you and you look at it up close. As I drive alot of rock roads the small spacing allows for easy washing with power washer. I run factory

wheels in the winter time with the same caps.

 

[redram]

Re: Good question!

Originally posted by Extreme1

It is also the reason I went with the Dodge aluminum wheels for my chariot, the caps fit.



As I was able to determine, the Alcoa wheels need the different lug nuts because they are "lug piloted", not "hub piloted" like the stock wheels are. The center hole on the Alcoas are the same for all 3 brands so it relys on the lug nuts to center them as well as clamp them.



If the nuts have the same size hex as stock and the same height above the wheel as stock, it should work.



Hope this helped.

I have a set of Alcoa "HUB CENTERED" rims for my 96 3500. Did not check into the 2500 series wheels but my Alcoa's for my dually are definitely hub centered. With these wheels, you can use the stock OE lug nuts and stock dually center caps. I believe this is how the Mopar aftermarket rims are setup. I chose to use McGard Chrome two piece lug nets with McGard two piece locks and Alcoa center caps. The chrome lug nuts on the front wheels really cast a neat reflection when clean and hit by any type of light... sun or headlight.



RedRam.