Center wheel caps on '05 Sierra fall off

CHX · 10-23-2006, 08:19 AM

Have an '05 2w/d Sierra (work truck). The plastic center wheel caps are held in place by 6 plastic nuts that thread on over the regular lug nuts. The plastic nuts keep stripping and coming loose and then the center caps fall off along road. Problem worsens after these are "disturbed" during routine service - though tire dealer takes pains to hand-tighten the things. GMC has replaced them all 3 times in first year and now the dealer wants me to have all wheel work done only in his shop so he can "monitor" the problem. (think rotation, alignment, mounting winter snows, etc.) A problem since there is no local gmc dealer plus the added cost. (1) has anyone had this problem and how has GM handled it? (2) Is there an inexpensive solution short of my having to purchase all new wheels for this thing? Appreciate any insights into an agravating problem. Yes --- Have spoken to their customer reps but they keep kicking me back to the dealer. Thanks

bradrhale · 10-23-2006, 10:46 AM

have same prob on a pontiac with those cheap caps. i have not figured out how to solve the problem short on running them without the caps until i get enough pocket change to get new wheels. sorry

mudseeker · 10-24-2006, 06:27 AM

get your self some thread lock, don't know if it works on plastic though. or you could try using some teflon tape.

bradrhale · 10-24-2006, 10:04 AM

thread lock might not work too good on that since periodically you want to takethe wheels off

CHX · 10-24-2006, 03:49 PM

Appreciate the ideas. Have used glue, duct tape, even coat-hanger wire on 10 year old trucks before. Hate to resort to that stuff on a nearly new one. May have to.

gmtech · 10-24-2006, 05:13 PM

Hand tightening them is the trick. Once they have been overtightened they are no good they are only plastic. I make a point to just turn them on by hand with the same torqe extension i use on my impact for the lug nuts. If you try to use any kind of ratchet or wrench you will overtighten them.

10-23-2006, 08:19 AM	#1
CHX Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	Center wheel caps on '05 Sierra fall off Have an '05 2w/d Sierra (work truck). The plastic center wheel caps are held in place by 6 plastic nuts that thread on over the regular lug nuts. The plastic nuts keep stripping and coming loose and then the center caps fall off along road. Problem worsens after these are "disturbed" during routine service - though tire dealer takes pains to hand-tighten the things. GMC has replaced them all 3 times in first year and now the dealer wants me to have all wheel work done only in his shop so he can "monitor" the problem. (think rotation, alignment, mounting winter snows, etc.) A problem since there is no local gmc dealer plus the added cost. (1) has anyone had this problem and how has GM handled it? (2) Is there an inexpensive solution short of my having to purchase all new wheels for this thing? Appreciate any insights into an agravating problem. Yes --- Have spoken to their customer reps but they keep kicking me back to the dealer. Thanks Last edited by CHX; 10-23-2006 at 11:39 AM.

10-24-2006, 06:27 AM	#3
mudseeker Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 6,374	get your self some thread lock, don't know if it works on plastic though. or you could try using some teflon tape. __________________ i'd rather be hunting

10-24-2006, 03:49 PM	#5
CHX Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	Appreciate the ideas. Have used glue, duct tape, even coat-hanger wire on 10 year old trucks before. Hate to resort to that stuff on a nearly new one. May have to. Last edited by CHX; 10-24-2006 at 04:07 PM.

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10-23-2006, 10:46 AM	#2
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,025	have same prob on a pontiac with those cheap caps. i have not figured out how to solve the problem short on running them without the caps until i get enough pocket change to get new wheels. sorry

10-24-2006, 10:04 AM	#4
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,025	thread lock might not work too good on that since periodically you want to takethe wheels off

10-24-2006, 05:13 PM	#6
gmtech Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: farmville Va Posts: 348	Hand tightening them is the trick. Once they have been overtightened they are no good they are only plastic. I make a point to just turn them on by hand with the same torqe extension i use on my impact for the lug nuts. If you try to use any kind of ratchet or wrench you will overtighten them.