So I bought a front-axle grease cap (actually dust cap in E31s, 31206777789) because one was missing last time I swapped snow tires&wheels. But it fit so loosely it just dropped out into the wheel center -- which is probably why there was none there, because some tire shop tech had it drop out on him too. Anyway, I was going to swap to the other side but I couldn't get that one out! Sooo...
Does anybody know if these caps are supposed to have an O-Ring, or maybe held in by hammering on the center to expand the rim into a super-tight friction fit? I don't want to ruin the hub rim on the other one prying it off. Or is it supposed to be a perfect, firm fit from the factory and my "URO" aftermarket from ECS was just mis-manufactured? After looking at the hub and nut, I also wondered if it made any difference whatsoever? The bearing nut looks pretty tight; it's not like brake dust can actually get to the bearings here! So does anybody know if it's as useless as the shock mount protection caps under the hood (31331133729)? They aren't even present on the rear axle... TIA!
URO is Chinese junk, never buy anything from them
(Yeah, I got a couple URO windshield washer pumps (61661380068) too, because the OEM intensive washer sits around until it freezes and cracks anyway; the price differential was just too silly. Didn't figure they would mis-measure a diameter on the cap, more likely Fields's repairs on my suspension & axle were done with mis-fit parts. Still hoping for any advice on the caps from someone who's popped one; tnx.)
They just pop in there. There’s not much to it. It’s just a press fit.
Just a follow-up in case anybody finds this thread by searching: Yes, the URO brand grease caps fell out because they were too small in diameter. Nothing wrong with the vehicle -- an OE cap pressed in yesterday held just fine. (Note the top O.D. of the cap could look OK, but that's not the same as the O.D. of the "bulge" around the underside of the ring, which must fit the I.D. of the hub.)
Last edited by ORL; 12-31-2018 at 03:33 AM.
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