2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Steel wheel caps and lugs on aluminum wheels

[DBCooper]

Can I use the caps and lugs off of my steel wheels on stock aluminum wheels? Just workin bugs out.

 

[redram]

ON a dually with the Alcoa style wheel, if you use the stock lug nuts, the stock center cap is held in place by the lug nut "flange" so the answer would be yes.



I chose to get the Alcoa caps but I have seen and Mopar recommends using the stock lugs and caps with the Mopar after market dually rims.



The dually rim uses a two piece lug nut with a flat face.

As long as you used the correct type of lug nut for the type of wheel, you should not have a problem.

 

[DBCooper]

Well, its a lug nut for a steel wheel on an aluminum one... anyone done this on a 2500?

 

[illflem]

Steel nuts and caps are fine, been using them for almost eight years. I had two sets of steel caps destroyed by the road ice melter chemical they use in WA before I wised up and went with stainless. The stainless were only $12ea from Les Schwab. It is always recommended with new caps that you retorque the bolts after at most 100 miles as the cap lip smashes down. You'll be surprised how loose the nuts get in that time.

 

[DBCooper]

The center caps look different between the ones for the steel wheels and the ones for the aluminum wheels (both being factory). Are you running center caps from steel wheels on aluminum, Bill?

 

[illflem]

I bought all my sets from Schwab, only choice was chrome or stainless, no problem. I was surprised they had them right in stock, there really aren't many choices. Sizes are the same. Seems if the caps were made out of aluminum that your torque would never hold.



on edit Now I think I know what you're getting at. My caps on Al wheels are pushed in from the rear of the wheel and a lip is squeezed in-between the wheel and rotor/drum to hold them in place. You must be talking about the type that are held on by the edge of the lug nut. In that case all I've ever seen are plastic caps and can't really help you.



One of those things where a picture is worth a thousand

 

[DBCooper]

Let me try to explain this better. I currently have the factory steel wheels. I'm looking to buy a set of factory aluminum wheels that don't come with the hub caps or lug nuts. Will I be able to use the hub caps and lug nuts off the steel wheels on the factory aluminum ones? Sorry I didn't explain it well the first time. It's been a long day. Thanks for the help.

Dan

 

[Scrappy]

steel caps with alum. whls.

They both use tapered lugnuts so they will interchange the caps are held on by clips to the lugnuts so they should still work only possible issue is outer dia. of the caps being different.

 

[cpollard]

I have a set of 33's on 589 American Eagle Alloys 16. 5 x 9. 75 8 bolt wheels. I use the factory caps from my 95 as the center caps on my alloy wheels. The 589's have a set of nuts to tighten them up then I throw the factory nuts on top of the aftermarket lugs so the factory centers can be used. They look factory in that you can not see the lugs.

 

[Bigramguy]

It should work. You may have to get the newer style centers as they are slightly smaller in diameter. The lugs nuts will work fine too.



I was really planning on using my factory centers,with my Alcoa's,but they were too big in diameter,and they would not go on far enough to snap over the lug nuts.

 

[DBCooper]

Well, I just tried to put a set of hub caps from a truck with factory steel wheels onto a truck with factory aluminum wheels and they do NOT work at all. So, anyone have a set of aluminum wheel hub caps they want to sell??? By the way, the lug nuts will work. Thanks for all the replies.

Dan

 

[Cooker]

I have a set of 2001 aluminum wheel center caps that will not fit on my Alcoa wheels with my 1996 lugs. I'm thinking the newer lugs may be a bit different. I started to check this out a little last year, but i got side-tracked with other projects. I am about to put my Alcoas on again and I will get this all sorted out soon so I can put the factory centers on my Alcoa wheels.

 

[Bigramguy]

That sucks Cooker. That was my plan was to try the newer factory aluminum type wheel centres on with my Alcoas. I know the lug nuts haven't changed. I was really hoping they would fit,so they would look factory.

 

[jolyman]

Have any of you worked this problem out



I have a set of Alcoa LTS aluminum wheels for my truck



I would like to use my factory hub caps. I think they look better than the Alcoa Hubs and less expensive than buying the Alcoa hubs with 32 lug nuts and 32 nut covers for $170.



I'll be watching for the latest developments.



Thanks in advance...

 

[Cooker]

Dl5treez,

Are the lug nuts exactly the same (as far as physical size) between the 01 and 99?



Thanks,

Ryan

 

[Thomas]

"Are the lug nuts exactly the same (as far as physical size) between the 01 and 99?"



My guess is yes.



The Mopar parts book for model year 2000 shows a single lug nut for Ram 2500's:



P/N 6034727 NUT, Hex, . 516-18, with WDV,WDZ



WDV is the 16 X 7. 5 steel wheel used on Ram 2500's.

WDZ is the 16 X 8 forged aluminum wheel that first appeared on Ram 2500's in model year 2000.



Also, the trucks that came from the factory with the forged aluminum wheels have a steel wheel for the spare.

 

[Cooker]

Thomas, thanks for the info.



Althought he 00 lugs are the same between 00 steelies and 00 alloys, I still question if this lug is the same as the older lugs (when alloys were not available).

 

[Thomas]

I have the 2000 lug nut in hand. It should be the same as 2001. What measurements are you intereste in?

 

[Racechaser]

'01 lug on the left, '96 lug on right. They are identical in size.

The '01 is off an alloy, the '96 is off a chrome steel wheel.

Hope that helps,

Matt

 

[Racechaser]

Here's another.....