Dust Cap Coming Loose - Again

[AZ_JOE]

Hi All -

For the second time a dust cap has come off one of my hubs and dislodging the EZ Lube cap from the center cap. It happened when I towed my new trailer home to Phoenix, AZ after purchasing it from Holiday World of Las Cruses, NM in January. And again yesterday when coming home from Las Vegas. Were the dust caps not installed correctly at the factory? Is there too much grease? Should I clean and repack the bearings? If so, both the inner and outer bearings? Your insight is appreciated.

 

[Calbar]

If you had the rubber plug in the wheel cap I would not be concerned about the bearings. If you want to make sure pull the tire and have a quick look for any debris on the grease that you can see. If not I would not re-pack just because of the dust cap coming off. I have had this happen and no debris was seen so just repacked per my maintenance timing. I use a pair of vice grips and bend out slightly in one area the part of the dust cap that fits into the hub to make sure it is good and snug. Never had one come off after doing that.

Rob

 

[AZ_JOE]

Thanks Rob. I appreciate your insight. I will use it when I pull and inspect the wheel. Joe

 

[dryfly]

I have had good luck by taking a punch and making dimples in the dust cap. Punch from the inside of the cap so the dimples will be on the outside diameter of the dust cap and make for a tighter fit when placed in the hub.

 

[traveldawg]

I thought we had seen this before. Here is another thread in case it helps:

New Curt Axle Grease caps coming off while in motion

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

Just a thought: make sure your wheel bearing is not loose. I had a similar issue on a boat trailer hub. Once I tightened the adjusting nut the problem went away.

 

[AZ_JOE]

I thought we had seen this before. Here is another thread in case it helps:

New Curt Axle Grease caps coming off while in motion

Thank you. I have the aluminum grease caps. I sense it is time to contact GDRV for the stamped steel caps.

 

[huntr70]

Yes, look for the "old style" dust caps.

These aluminum ones expand and contract too much....

 

[tcfulmer]

I've had this happen to our new Imagine twice, a friend's new Momentum once and have seen it on several forums. I asked my dealer about it and they say they are seeing it all the time. It's either caps that are a little small or hub inner diameters that are machined a little too large.

The fix is to take a pair of pliers and put a very minor bend into the part of the cap that inserts into the hub, effectively making the cap a little bigger diameter so it wedges tighter into the hub. Had that done last time mine came loose and it hasn't been a problem since then.

 

[AZ_JOE]

I've had this happen to our new Imagine twice, a friend's new Momentum once and have seen it on several forums. I asked my dealer about it and they say they are seeing it all the time. It's either caps that are a little small or hub inner diameters that are machined a little too large.

The fix is to take a pair of pliers and put a very minor bend into the part of the cap that inserts into the hub, effectively making the cap a little bigger diameter so it wedges tighter into the hub. Had that done last time mine came loose and it hasn't been a problem since then.

I appreciate your advice; unfortunately, my axle caps are made of what appears to be cast aluminum. I sense bending will crack or break the aluminum. Thanks again.

 

[tcfulmer]

Just to clarify. I'm not talking about any major bending. Literally less than a millimeter and it doesn't have to be all the way around. Just enough to make the fit a little tighter.

 

[BewareTheLamb]

This just happened to me on this trip. Now I have to find a replacement for that little cover disk.

 

[tcfulmer]

I haven't test fit them yet but I bought these just to have some spares.

Amazon

 

[DWGERLI]

Hi All -

For the second time a dust cap has come off one of my hubs and dislodging the EZ Lube cap from the center cap. It happened when I towed my new trailer home to Phoenix, AZ after purchasing it from Holiday World of Las Cruses, NM in January. And again yesterday when coming home from Las Vegas. Were the dust caps not installed correctly at the factory? Is there too much grease? Should I clean and repack the bearings? If so, both the inner and outer bearings? Your insight is appreciated.


View attachment 869950

I had the same problem on a new 23LDE, those caps are junk. I bought the all metal replacement caps from Lippard. Have had no issues since. Hope this helps

 

[Randy Beasley]

Hi All -

For the second time a dust cap has come off one of my hubs and dislodging the EZ Lube cap from the center cap. It happened when I towed my new trailer home to Phoenix, AZ after purchasing it from Holiday World of Las Cruses, NM in January. And again yesterday when coming home from Las Vegas. Were the dust caps not installed correctly at the factory? Is there too much grease? Should I clean and repack the bearings? If so, both the inner and outer bearings? Your insight is appreciated.


IView attachment 869950

I would try some blue lock tite.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

I would try some blue lock tite.

Blue Lock-tite is a thread fastener, not an adhesive. But they do make adhesives that might work. Or maybe a ty-wrap?

 

[Steven@147]

I wonder if a guy could use a little permatex around the dust cap? But don't go crazy with the permatex as some of it might find its way into the outer bearing.
Dimpling the cap sounds like it might work.

 

[Dennis Lavigne]

Hi All -

For the second time a dust cap has come off one of my hubs and dislodging the EZ Lube cap from the center cap. It happened when I towed my new trailer home to Phoenix, AZ after purchasing it from Holiday World of Las Cruses, NM in January. And again yesterday when coming home from Las Vegas. Were the dust caps not installed correctly at the factory? Is there too much grease? Should I clean and repack the bearings? If so, both the inner and outer bearings? Your insight is appreciated.


View attachment 869950

I had the same issue with my "23" Reflection 337rls, seems the caps were not fitting properly, got a hold of GD and they replaced all four with new, I installed myself and could definitely tell they were a better fit, good luck

 

[Dennis Lavigne]

I had the same issue with my "23" Reflection 337rls, seems the caps were not fitting properly, got a hold of GD and they replaced all four with new, I installed myself and could definitely tell they were a better fit, good luck

 

[Dennis Lavigne]

Also to add to this, drove 1500 miles after and none came off, I think Lippert knows of this issue and you shouldn't have an issue getting replacements