| Modern Materials In Hubcaps And Wheel Covers |
21 May |
Our fathers and grandfathers wheel covers were gleaming orbs of chrome plated steel, glittering wire spoke patterns, or flat chrome Frisbee look-alikes. Before 1980, chrome plated steel was the only material light and strong enough to do the job. Unfortunately, plated steel thin and light enough for hubcaps was easily dented, and if scratched or driven in winter, i.e., in salt conditions, was likely to rust.
ABS plastic (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) was introduced as a standard material in plumbing pipe in the 1970s, and became the universal material in hubcaps by the mid 1980s. ABS has the attributes of rigidity, strength, and high resistance to salt, chemicals, heat, cold, pressure, and impact. It has excellent resistance to breaking, scratching and chipping, even at low temperatures.
Parts made of ABS plastic weigh only a fraction of their steel counterparts. They can be painted or chrome plated to produce a range of visual effects. Scratches or dings on the surface of plastic are stable, and look the same years later as they did the day the scratch occurred. Whereas, when chrome plated steel is scratched, it will then rust. These qualities make ABS plastic an ideal material for hubcaps, wheel covers, and many other automotive parts.
Today, nearly all wheel covers for passenger vehicles, including original equipment and aftermarket replicas, are made of ABS plastic. In fact, the majority of non-structural auto trim items, including company logos, lettering, grills, cowlings, bumpers, frames, light reflectors, bezels, etc, have been made of (chromed) plastic for nearly 20 years.
One category of modern hubcaps still made of metal is known as Wheel Simulators, which are made of highly polished stainless steel. Wheel simulators are designed primarily for the larger wheels supporting heavy utility vehicles, dual wheel trucks and RVs. A few models are available for single wheel trucks and trailers. Simulators are so named because they look like, but they are much less expensive than, chrome plated wheels. Further, stainless steel is highly corrosion resistant, which can not be said for chrome plated wheels.
Tags: Auto Trim, Chrome Plated Steel, Chromed Plastic, Cold Pressure, Company Logos, Cowlings, Dual Wheel, Flat Chrome, Hubcaps, Light Reflectors, Look Alikes, Mid 1980s, Modern Materials, Plumbing Pipe, Polished Stainless Steel, Salt Conditions, Stainless Steel Wheel Simulators, Steel Counterparts, Steel Wheel, Wheel TrucksRelated posts
read comments (0)| Hubcaps Need Replacing, Too |
11 Apr |
Did you know that your cars hubcaps also need to be replaced?
They may seem to be just decorative disks but they also do get worn out. Scratches could also be inevitable after your car trudges through various kind of roads and gets splattered with many types of elements.
You may find your hubcap looking very dirty and not like the decorative accessory you bought. So you may now decide to buy a new set of hubcaps from stores that also offer spare parts for Mazda MX6 that would show off the beauty of your car. But your dilemma now would be how to take out the old ones and put in the new set. It is not important for you to go rushing to a mechanic or automobile expert just to have this task done.
The first thing you need to do would be to check the wheels of your car. Find out how the current hubcaps of your car are attached to the center of the wheel. You see, there are some hubcaps that can come off by just a simple push on it. However, there are also some which need you to loosen up some screws that attach it to the wheel.
When you have discovered just how your hubcap is attached to the wheels of your car, your next step would be to actually remove the hubcap. But make sure that when you remove the hubcap off each wheel, you do not damage the wheel. When you have successfully removed the hubcap off one wheel without damaging the wheel of your car, do the same to all the remaining hubcaps that are still attached.
With the old hubcaps off, you can now put in place the new hubcaps that you have bought. You can use a rubber mallet to strike the edge of the hubcaps to make sure that they are placed just right. If you need to screw anything to keep the hubcaps in place, do that. Now, you have a car that sports a new set of hubcaps.
Tags: Automobile Expert, Cars, Current, Decorative Accessory, Dilemma, Elements, Hubcap, Hubcaps, Mazda, Mazda Mx6, Mechanic, Scratches, Screw, Screws, Spare Parts, Trudges, Wheel, WheelsRelated posts
| Hot Cars Take Time and Effort |
30 Mar |
Auto show hobbyists find themselves meting new challenges as they begin the process of preparing their entries, whether they are working on an antique, a classic, or a new vehicle. Finding how to use the best automobile detailing supplies to achieve the wanted results is a matter of trial and error. Proper planning helps find the logical sequences for the best results. Also, the hobbyist must become an expert in many areas, knowing how to detail the tires and wheels of their cars as well as knowing how to clean automotive upholstery. (See the article, Automotive Detailing: How to Clean Automotive Upholstery.)
Preparing the wheels, wheel wells, tires, spokes, and hubcaps of a vehicle for a show demands consistent time and effort and the proper auto detailing cleaning products. Detailing on a regular schedule (for instance, once a month) prevents a final detailing before a show from being an overwhelming task. Working on this area first also saves time and effort. Tires, wheels, etc., should be detailed before the rest of the car because the products that are most efficient for this job can be harmful to the finish of the cars paint and can, at the least, spoil the polish job. You wont be accidentally splashing the just waxed body of your car with the tire cleaner. Perfection in the tire area truly gives the look of showroom condition.
Be sure to work in the shade and not in the heat or full sun. This is not the kind of hot car you are aiming for. Full sun can cause streaks. Have your automobile detailing supplies laid out and ready. Remove your hubcaps or any other part of your wheel area that can be taken off. This way, you can really get at the tires, and also wash all sides of the removable parts. Some serious detailers will even remove the tires. Take the time to wash, rinse, and dry each tire before moving on to the next one. Completing each in turn will prevent any water spots from drying on the surface of the wheel.
Begin by carefully rinsing away any dirt or mud that might have coated the underbelly of the car or wheel wells. A second type of soil that is found on the tire area is brake dust. This material is gray in color and caused by the wear and tear on the brake pads. Do not use an excessively forceful water stream to rinse your tire area, since small rocks or sand could spin with the force of the water and scratch the surface of the car. You may use a soft brush to dislodge soil as you rinse. Try a soft bristled brush like Fuller Brushs Vehicle Wash Brush. Mix a mild degreaser with water in a large bucket. Gently wash each tire and wheel with a soft wash mitt (or sponge. Each time you are ready to dip your mitt in the bucket of degreaser, remember to first rinse off your mitt so any particles of rock or sand will be removed. That way, you wont be simply moving the soil around, and you wont risk scratches to the wheel surfaces. (Also, to avoid scratches to the finish on the body of the car, use a different mitt for that area.) Finish with a detailing brush like Fullers Wheel and Spoke Detailing Brush. You will be able to thoroughly clean every bit of dirt from your tires without a scratch, and you will be ready for the next step, dressing and polishing the surfaces. Pay special attention to your manufacturers directions when you choose a treatment or polish for this part of your car. The wheel area and hubcaps can be painted or non-painted, and be made of a variety of different materials. Choose automobile detailing supplies that will be most effective for the materials in your car. Dont worry about treating the tread of the tire. It will just rub off. Treating it may also affect your warrantee.
As soon as the tire area is completely detailed, you are ready to move on to work on the rest of the car. Before you know it, others will be noticing your hot car.
Tags: Automobile Detailing Supplies, Automotive Upholstery, Cleaning Products, Consistent Time, Detailers, Hobbyist, Hobbyists, Hot Car, Hot Cars, Hubcaps, Logical Sequences, Overwhelming Task, Proper Auto, Showroom Condition, Spokes, Streaks, Tires And Wheels, Tires Wheels, Water Spots, Wheel WellsRelated posts
| Do More Than Just Cover Your Honda Wheels |
18 Feb |
Out in the market today are many types of wheel covers specifically made for your beloved Honda. Honda wheel covers actually do more for your Honda than just cover your wheels.
Wheel covers are commonly mixed up with hubcaps. However, looking more closely at these two, wheel covers cover the entire wheel of your vehicle, while, on the other hand, hubcaps, cover only the hub, or the center of your wheel. These wheel covers are made from tough material they are created and manufactured using plastic or metal retainers, so as to facilitate better and easier fastening to your Honda wheels. They are clipped on your vehicles wheel to accentuate your wheels and, at the same time, protect it from mud, grime, snow, dirt, water, and other elements that could prove to be damaging or corrosive to your wheels.
Honda wheel covers are not necessarily considered a requirement for your car, however, they can actually improve your wheels appearance greatly. You see, wheel covers have been created to cover your entire wheel and conceal from view the ugly bolts that attach your wheel to its axle. And along that line, it adds distinction and uniqueness to your Honda wheels to your Hondas overall appearance.
In choosing your wheel covers, you may opt for those that have been especially manufactured and created to be durable, lightweight, able to withstand really extreme and excessive temperatures, and also created to be resistant to corrosion. Wheel covers that had been made just merely for decorative purposes may actually damage easily and damage your wheels as well.
Tags: Appearance, Bolts, Decorative Purposes, Dirt, Distinction, Elements, Excessive Temperatures, Fastening, Honda, Honda Honda, Honda Wheels, Hondas, Hub, Hubcaps, Mud, Retainers, Uniqueness, Wheel, Wheel Cover, Wheel CoversRelated posts
| 2008 Chery QQ: Sneak Peak! |
26 Nov |
Chinas Chery Automotive Group is getting set to import as many as five vehicles into the US starting in the summer of 2007. These 2008 models are reportedly going to be cheaper than competing models in their respective classes, undercutting some models by as much as $10,000 per car. I have been doing a little investigating and have learned more about the Chery QQ, the three door compact that will retail for just $6995. Hold onto your hats as I read off the long list of standard features for its incredible, low price.
Just when you think you have seen everything, along comes the QQ. Reportedly, QQ stands for Quality and Quick as the car is made from remnants of destroyed Soviet tanks that battled with China during a protracted border skirmish in 1970. In addition, the car zips from 0 to 48 before the engine craps out. Oh, well zero to sixty would have been nice, but alas…
Standard features for the QQ will include:
Doors, hood, trunk and roof are all standard; body side moldings will likely be extra. Engine, transmission, radiator, exhaust, and countless other parts will also be included once they are removed from junked Yugos and retrofitted for the QQ.
Optional equipment will likely include a radio, comfortable seats, air conditioning, and perhaps even a rear window defroster. Oh, by the way, General Motors has sued and won a judgment against Chery declaring that the Chery name sounds too close to their Chevy name. Chery has agreed and will likely adopt the Forg name for all cars imported to the US. Stay tuned!
Tags: Air Bags, Automotive Group, Body Side Moldings, Chery Qq, Hubcaps, Keyhole, Lug Nuts, Optional Equipment, Plastic Molding, Rear Window, Retrofitted, Rubber Gaskets, Seatbelts, Skirmish, Soviet Tanks, Steering Wheel, Window Regulators, Yugos, Zero To Sixty, ZipsRelated posts
