Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyone?

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
Message
Author
User avatar
Steve Raucher
356 Fan
Posts: 770
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
Location: Seaside CA 93955

Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyone?

#1 Post by Steve Raucher »

Hi all,
Are these flat chrome disc hubcaps with painted center crests any good? Are they made inn China and do they hold up,fit right?
The kind Stoddard and Sierra Madre etc. sells.
Thank you,
Steve
 

Peter Chifo Jr
356 Fan
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2015 3:27 am
Location: Orange County, Ca

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#2 Post by Peter Chifo Jr »

Steve, I sent you off an email. I have recently purchased both Stoddard and Sierra Madre caps. They are quite nice on the external surfaces. Insides are nice but I noted two variations. First the profile which engages the wheel has a slightly different profile from OEM but doesnt pose a problem. Second issue is how the crest is held on which is with a speed clip that is also coated with silicone. Neither create any issue on steel wheels.

User avatar
Jon Schmid
356 Fan
Posts: 1797
Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:32 pm
Location: La Mirada, CA

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#3 Post by Jon Schmid »

The hubcaps on my C are polished stainless steel, not chrome.

User avatar
DonCichocki
356 Fan
Posts: 521
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:29 pm
Location: Lafayette, NJ

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#4 Post by DonCichocki »

+1 what Jon said.

User avatar
Jim Alton
356 Fan
Posts: 1772
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:11 pm
Location: Los Angeles County

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#5 Post by Jim Alton »

I bought some hubcaps from Stoddard, Performance, or Automotion back in 1997 or 1998 so I'm not sure they aren't NOS or OEM.

I can't tell the difference between them and the hubcaps which were on my 911 (essentially the same wheels as a 356C but 0.2 mm thicker steel) when I got the car in 1997 or the many swap meet hubcaps I own.

They tend not to fit 100% flush to the wheel but they aren't about to fall off either. They're difficult to remove. I could probably take some pliers to the hubcaps to get them to fit more tightly until I have to remove them again.

By the way, many chromers won't touch hubcaps. I have heard of one outfit that will:

Charles Sihilling Metal Polishing
1018 "C" East Chestnut Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701

(714) 543-7051

I have no personal experience with Charles Sihilling Metal Polishing.
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

User avatar
Dave Wildrick
356 Fan
Posts: 1953
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:10 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#6 Post by Dave Wildrick »

Original C hubcaps have a polished stainless steel outer skin.
Repros are chromed steel.
Dave Wildrick
Houston, TX
#10230
64C coupe
65C coupe

User avatar
Jim Alton
356 Fan
Posts: 1772
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:11 pm
Location: Los Angeles County

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#7 Post by Jim Alton »

Dave Wildrick wrote:Original C hubcaps have a polished stainless steel outer skin.
Repros are chromed steel.
Maybe, but...

The chrome shop I did ask about Porsche hubcaps identified them as "chrome-washed stainless." I should have asked for clarification but I took it to mean chromium plated directly over stainless as opposed to copper-nickle-chromium layers. It makes sense because stainless steel usually looks a bit different from chrome plating.

I checked all my hubcaps: 356A "Super" hubcaps with crest (reproductions), VW μbus hubcaps (reproductions), the hubcaps on my 911 and the all old 911 hubcaps. They are all ferromagnetic.

There are ferromagnetic stainless steel alloys (ferritic stainless steels); ferritic alloys may be preferred for hubcaps. At any rate, stainless versus non-stainless probably isn't a useful way to determine if a hubcaps an original or a reproduction.
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

User avatar
Dave Wildrick
356 Fan
Posts: 1953
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:10 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#8 Post by Dave Wildrick »

Jim Alton wrote:
Dave Wildrick wrote:Original C hubcaps have a polished stainless steel outer skin.
Repros are chromed steel.
Maybe, but...

The chrome shop I did ask about Porsche hubcaps identified them as "chrome-washed stainless." I should have asked for clarification but I took it to mean chromium plated directly over stainless as opposed to copper-nickle-chromium layers. It makes sense because stainless steel usually looks a bit different from chrome plating.

I checked all my hubcaps: 356A "Super" hubcaps with crest (reproductions), VW μbus hubcaps (reproductions), the hubcaps on my 911 and the all old 911 hubcaps. They are all ferromagnetic.

There are ferromagnetic stainless steel alloys (ferritic stainless steels); ferritic alloys may be preferred for hubcaps. At any rate, stainless versus non-stainless probably isn't a useful way to determine if a hubcaps an original or a reproduction.
Here's an item from Bruce Baker from 2004, which I based my proclamation on. I've seen others on 356talk say the same thing, but I honestly am no expert.
Maybe a metallurgist can weigh in? Maybe Ab Tiedemann knows or even Joris Koning in Europe?

[From: Bbspdstr@aol.com

Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 11:14:44 EST
Subject: [356Talk] disc brake hubcaps, cont'd
To: 356talk@356registry.org

<<Did anyone ever answer the question the other day about whether "C" hubcaps
are stainless or chrome? I've read they were stainless as well, but they
look like chrome to me.>>

Before any assumptions are considered facts, what I have found is they are a
stainless alloy with magnetic (ferrous) properties. 400 series stainless
alloys, (as used in cutlery etc.) are magnetic. 300 series alloys generally are
not. "Chromed" they are not either. I did some homework, having always believed
that they were "stainless" but confused by the magnetic test- having also
always assumed 'stainless' wasn't magnetic (thanks, Brett). I also polished some
nasty scratches out of some hard-to-find non-punched plain early disc brake
caps, so I knew there was no chrome plating. The parts book says nothing about
their composition as it will with DIN or specialty hardware but shows they were
assigned a 901 number. All this is for OEM; repro I don't know.
Bruce Baker]
Dave Wildrick
Houston, TX
#10230
64C coupe
65C coupe

User avatar
Steve Raucher
356 Fan
Posts: 770
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
Location: Seaside CA 93955

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#9 Post by Steve Raucher »

Hi guys,
I sourced four original KPZ flat hubcaps and five original colored crest caps but I need three metal clips to hold one crest to posts on hubcap.
Can anyone drop me three in the mail with a stamp?
Certainly appreciate it.
Regards,
Steve
Attachments
IMG_3478.JPG
 

User avatar
Jim Alton
356 Fan
Posts: 1772
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:11 pm
Location: Los Angeles County

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#10 Post by Jim Alton »

steve raucher wrote:Hi guys,
I sourced four original KPZ flat hubcaps and five original colored crest caps but I need three metal clips to hold one crest to posts on hubcap.
Can anyone drop me three in the mail with a stamp?
Certainly appreciate it.
Regards,
Steve
The 356B/356C and 911/912 parts catalogs both identify the hubcap as 901.361.301.04 hub cap with bores, but

The 356B/356C parts catalog identifies the nuts as 999.591.423.03 Tapping Nut which is available at:
  1. Stoddard: 999-591-423-03 Speed Nut... $2.64
  2. Sierra Madre Collection: Speed Nut Clip, $1.54, 999.591.423.03
The 911/912 parts catalog identifies the nuts as 999.591.339.02 Tapping Nut which is available at:
  1. Einmalig: 999.591.339.02 Porsche Tapping nut 26¢
  2. Pelican Parts: Speed Nut 999-591-339-02-OEM $1.00
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

User avatar
Steve Raucher
356 Fan
Posts: 770
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
Location: Seaside CA 93955

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#11 Post by Steve Raucher »

Hey all,
I misplaced the info from one of these threads regarding the right tool to use to pop off chrome caps off of chrome wheels without damaging anything. It was mentioned the a glass shop would have this tool, perhaps something long plastic and rigid? Whats is the tool called?
Thank you,
Steve
 

User avatar
Dave Wildrick
356 Fan
Posts: 1953
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:10 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#12 Post by Dave Wildrick »

steve raucher wrote:Hey all,
I misplaced the info from one of these threads regarding the right tool to use to pop off chrome caps off of chrome wheels without damaging anything. It was mentioned the a glass shop would have this tool, perhaps something long plastic and rigid? Whats is the tool called?
Thank you,
Steve
Sounds like a "glass stick", used by windshield replacement personnel. I use them for that and for prying rubber weatherstripping away from painted metal on the 356. Stoddard's sells them and you can also find them on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/CRL-Tapered-Wind ... B001M581A8)
Dave Wildrick
Houston, TX
#10230
64C coupe
65C coupe

User avatar
Sebastian Gaeta
356 Fan
Posts: 3047
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#13 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Dave Wildrick wrote:Sounds like a "glass stick", used by windshield replacement personnel. I use them for that and for prying rubber weatherstripping away from painted metal on the 356. Stoddard's sells them and you can also find them on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/CRL-Tapered-Wind ... B001M581A8)
Per usual, Dave is correct but I have a suggestion. If there are any good glass shops or body shops nearby that you know, they buy these by the bushel for about a buck a piece and I am sure you could finagle one or two from them if you ask nicely :-)
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

User avatar
Jim Alton
356 Fan
Posts: 1772
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:11 pm
Location: Los Angeles County

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#14 Post by Jim Alton »

steve raucher wrote:Hey all,
I misplaced the info from one of these threads regarding the right tool to use to pop off chrome caps off of chrome wheels without damaging anything. It was mentioned the a glass shop would have this tool, perhaps something long plastic and rigid? Whats is the tool called?
Thank you,
Steve
Steve, your profile photo shows what appears to be a drum brake car. The drum brake hubcaps (and most repro hubcaps) have little holes near the rim to allow you to stick something in.

The pre-A through T-5 lug wrench www.356tools.com/speedwrench.htm has a retractable handle that hides a pin to engage those holes.

The T-6 356Bs came with a hubcap puller www.356tools.com/Miscellaneous.htm

Sears sells a Cotter Key Extractor which has never worked well for me on cotter pins but but looks a heck of a lot like the 356B T-6 hubcap puller and does a lot of other good things. It works on the hubcaps on my VW bus!

Sadly, the repro hubcaps on my 356A lack holes so I put a shop towel over an old screwdriver--the same as I do for my SWB 911. Hasn't scratched yet.
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

User avatar
Steve Raucher
356 Fan
Posts: 770
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:58 am
Location: Seaside CA 93955

Re: Quality of reproduction disc brake chrome hub caps anyon

#15 Post by Steve Raucher »

Yes, I have what is pictured in the Amazon ad but it bends and I cannot get the leverage to pop off these tight disc brake wheel caps.
Maybe will try covering tip of screwdriver with a rag as suggested.
Thanks guys,
Steve
 

Post Reply