Accuride Aluminum Wheels

JamesOne · 04-24-2006, 10:17 AM

While in Forest City a couple of months ago I discovered one of my hub caps missing off an Accuride wheel. I asked to have it replaced and $100 later it looks like new.

hub cap It is the part of the wheel with the word, "Freightliner" on it.

I found they can come loose on their own. Another lesson learned. I check them for tightness regularly now.

JamesOne · 04-24-2006, 10:17 AM

While in Forest City a couple of months ago I discovered one of my hub caps missing off an Accuride wheel. I asked to have it replaced and $100 later it looks like new.

hub cap It is the part of the wheel with the word, "Freightliner" on it.

I found they can come loose on their own. Another lesson learned. I check them for tightness regularly now.

MNGolfer · 04-24-2006, 10:56 AM

How do you tighten them if they are loose? Do you have to remove the tire?

Cruzer · 04-24-2006, 11:40 AM

The front hub caps snap into the inside of the aluminum wheel rim. The stainless steel cap uses spring steel retainer clips that wedge in. Whenever you pry one off to check the front axle gear lube check thosde clips do make sure they aren't cracked. It's better to buy new clips than a whole new hubcap.

3huskies · 04-24-2006, 11:41 AM

I'm assuming your talking rear hubcap. There is a tool to tighten them. I just carefully use an oil filter wrench.

Just remember that the drivers side hubcap has a left hand thread.

JamesOne · 04-24-2006, 12:04 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I'm assuming you talking rear hubcap. There is a tool to tighten them. I just carefully use an oil filter wrench.

Just remember that the drivers side hubcap has a left hand thread. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This sounds right from what I remember at the factory. But we covered a lot at the end of a long day and I must admit this part didn't get much of my attention except for checking them periodically. Sorry.

CHIPPYSGT · 04-24-2006, 02:11 PM

I lost my rr hubcap, too. I think I remember Freightliner telling me that the lefthand threat goes on the right side and the right hand thread goes on the left.

Anyway the mounting brackets on mine were on the wrong sides. Call F'liner and make sure.

I'd go out and look at mine but its not here at the house.

Doug

3huskies · 04-25-2006, 01:50 AM

Left side...Left Hand Thread
Right Side ..Right Hand Thread

CHIPPYSGT · 04-25-2006, 03:57 AM

3 Huskies is correct, left on left, right on right per Freightliner. I just called them.

Doug

Cruzer · 04-25-2006, 04:26 AM

The fronts snap in. Those I could see losing. The rears are held on by that large Freightliner hex nut with the really long threaded rod. That would take a whole lot of spinning for that to fall off. I bought a nylon wrench to remove the spin-off nuts. I found out about it in the Freightliner Chassis Owner's Club newsletter sometime last year. It's a safe way to remove them without marring the flats. It sure beats a large channel lock pliers with a rag.

It even has a sticker on it reminding you that the left side is left hand thread.

smlranger · 04-25-2006, 04:29 AM

Cruzer, I got the same tool and it is nifty. Makes it very easy to remove those big caps when polishing the wheels.

3huskies · 04-25-2006, 08:11 AM

Wrench info and picture here:

http://www.discoveryowners.com/donwrench.htm

TOM A · 04-26-2006, 02:41 AM

I used the handle with rubber strap thingy tool but I think I'll get the nylon wrench. Now I know why I couldn't get the left side off - it's left hand thread.

smlranger · 04-27-2006, 12:05 PM

Hard to believe but my left rear nut and cap fell off today at 45 mph! I heard a clanging noise and just saw both the cap and nut heading to the side of the road. Found a place nearly 1/4 mile down the road to pull off...walked back but could not find either in the weeds and beer cans.

Called FL dealer in Richmond, VA (where we now are) and hub cap is $60 and FL logo nut is $35. Not sure why this happened since I checked nut tightness before we left.

JamesOne · 04-27-2006, 12:20 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Hard to believe but my left rear nut and cap fell off today at 45 mph! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

What a bummer. I am beginning to wonder if there is a way that the hubs could be put on the wrong side. I guess I need to loosen mine and see if the threads are as described in the posts above.

BTW, the factory charged me 1/4 hour labor to install my new hub cap. I'm not complaining, just pointing out how my bill came to over $100.