Wheel center caps on a track ?
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From: Czech
Wheel center caps on a track ?
Can the wheel center caps (the small plastic piece with "H" on it) on my OEM wheels be lost when running on a race circuit? Many of my friends have lost their caps beacuse of the heat generated by brakes, so I have always removed the caps for track sessions. Is it needed to remove them or Honda made them heat resistant so I will not lose them? Do you run on track with or without the caps ?
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From: USA
Re: Wheel center caps on a track ? (sscguy)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sscguy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've never had a problem running with them still in the wheel.</TD></TR></TABLE>
same here. but that was a long time ago when I was slow
same here. but that was a long time ago when I was slow
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From: Warning, gRand Return imminent,, NY, USA
Re: Wheel center caps on a track ? (sscguy)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sscguy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've never had a problem running with them still in the wheel.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Sell me your tail lights.
Sell me your tail lights.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
Re: Wheel center caps on a track ? (sscguy)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sscguy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've never had a problem running with them still in the wheel.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yep. Never heard of a problem, either.
Yep. Never heard of a problem, either.
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From: Chicago
Re: Wheel center caps on a track ? (petrv)
Well, ... I guess my opinion and experience on this is different.
I'll admit that I don't have a lot of experience driving on the track with the center caps on. I have track tires mounted on a separate set of wheels, and I leave the center caps off those wheels, all the time.
However, I have a lot of experience with another Honda/Acura car, with similar plastic center caps on the stock wheels. On that car, it is VERY common for the center caps to fall off on the track. What happens is that the brakes get very hot, and as a result, the wheels get very hot. (If you've ever tried removing lug nuts immediately after a hard track session, you know this already.) The wheels expand, and the heat allows the plastic of the center caps to soften. It is quite common for the stock center caps on that other car to fall off when used on the track. Based on that experience, I can only believe that it's a distinct possibility for the ITR stock wheels as well.
My advice would be to remove the center caps before going out on the track. (Better still, leave them home.) There's very little reason NOT to do so, and given how much they cost, you don't want to risk losing them.
It's VERY easy to remove the center caps if the wheels are off the car; just tap lightly on the back side of the caps and they pop out easily. If you are using the stock wheels on the track, so you're not removing them anyway, then you can remove them with a screwdriver; put a shop rag around the point to avoid scratching the caps or the wheels (although that makes it tougher to get the caps off). Because they have a lip which protrudes from the wheel surface, it's actually easier than on that other car, on which the edge of the center cap is flush with the surrounding wheel surface.
I'll admit that I don't have a lot of experience driving on the track with the center caps on. I have track tires mounted on a separate set of wheels, and I leave the center caps off those wheels, all the time.
However, I have a lot of experience with another Honda/Acura car, with similar plastic center caps on the stock wheels. On that car, it is VERY common for the center caps to fall off on the track. What happens is that the brakes get very hot, and as a result, the wheels get very hot. (If you've ever tried removing lug nuts immediately after a hard track session, you know this already.) The wheels expand, and the heat allows the plastic of the center caps to soften. It is quite common for the stock center caps on that other car to fall off when used on the track. Based on that experience, I can only believe that it's a distinct possibility for the ITR stock wheels as well.
My advice would be to remove the center caps before going out on the track. (Better still, leave them home.) There's very little reason NOT to do so, and given how much they cost, you don't want to risk losing them.
It's VERY easy to remove the center caps if the wheels are off the car; just tap lightly on the back side of the caps and they pop out easily. If you are using the stock wheels on the track, so you're not removing them anyway, then you can remove them with a screwdriver; put a shop rag around the point to avoid scratching the caps or the wheels (although that makes it tougher to get the caps off). Because they have a lip which protrudes from the wheel surface, it's actually easier than on that other car, on which the edge of the center cap is flush with the surrounding wheel surface.
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From: Chicago
Re: (Splat)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">given how much they cost, you don't want to risk losing them.</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Splat »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IIRC, Honduh centercaps are not cheap.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yup. For the stock USM wheels:
'97-98 (white): Part number 44732-ST7-R00 - List price $36.64
'00-01 (gunmetal): Part number 44732-ST7-A60 - List price $34.83
That's EACH (per cap)...
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Splat »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IIRC, Honduh centercaps are not cheap.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yup. For the stock USM wheels:
'97-98 (white): Part number 44732-ST7-R00 - List price $36.64
'00-01 (gunmetal): Part number 44732-ST7-A60 - List price $34.83
That's EACH (per cap)...
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: kuidaore
Re: Wheel center caps on a track ? (nsxtasy)
Guaranteed NASA requires removal of center caps, hubcaps and beauty rings.
It is an item on their Tech form.
How much it is enforced, region by region is another matter.
It is an item on their Tech form.
How much it is enforced, region by region is another matter.
Suspetise...
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Burninating the peasants yo
Re: Wheel center caps on a track ? (opie)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by opie »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Sell me your tail lights.</TD></TR></TABLE>
My taillights? Mwah?
Sell me your tail lights.</TD></TR></TABLE>
My taillights? Mwah?
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From: Warning, gRand Return imminent,, NY, USA
Re: Wheel center caps on a track ? (1GreyTeg)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GreyTeg »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Guaranteed NASA requires removal of center caps, hubcaps and beauty rings.</TD></TR></TABLE>
This is true.
I did LRP with the caps off. I had no over heating issues at all because it was cold and snowing while I was on track
Plus my instructor was a douche bag.
However, I did do Expo last year on my stcok CW's and had my caps on. It was hot and I was having very hard sessions. I had no issues.
IMO it's not worth losing one for the 5 minutes it takes to take the wheels off and pop the caps off.
This is true.
I did LRP with the caps off. I had no over heating issues at all because it was cold and snowing while I was on track
Plus my instructor was a douche bag.However, I did do Expo last year on my stcok CW's and had my caps on. It was hot and I was having very hard sessions. I had no issues.
IMO it's not worth losing one for the 5 minutes it takes to take the wheels off and pop the caps off.
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From: Czech
Re: Wheel center caps on a track ? (nsxtasy)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nsxtasy »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, ... I guess my opinion and experience on this is different.
I'll admit that I don't have a lot of experience driving on the track with the center caps on. I have track tires mounted on a separate set of wheels, and I leave the center caps off those wheels, all the time.
However, I have a lot of experience with another Honda/Acura car, with similar plastic center caps on the stock wheels. On that car, it is VERY common for the center caps to fall off on the track. What happens is that the brakes get very hot, and as a result, the wheels get very hot. (If you've ever tried removing lug nuts immediately after a hard track session, you know this already.) The wheels expand, and the heat allows the plastic of the center caps to soften. It is quite common for the stock center caps on that other car to fall off when used on the track. Based on that experience, I can only believe that it's a distinct possibility for the ITR stock wheels as well.
My advice would be to remove the center caps before going out on the track. (Better still, leave them home.) There's very little reason NOT to do so, and given how much they cost, you don't want to risk losing them.
It's VERY easy to remove the center caps if the wheels are off the car; just tap lightly on the back side of the caps and they pop out easily. If you are using the stock wheels on the track, so you're not removing them anyway, then you can remove them with a screwdriver; put a shop rag around the point to avoid scratching the caps or the wheels (although that makes it tougher to get the caps off). Because they have a lip which protrudes from the wheel surface, it's actually easier than on that other car, on which the edge of the center cap is flush with the surrounding wheel surface.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
thanks nsxtasy, your replies and explanations are always perfect . Thanks to everyone else too.
I will rather remove the caps onthe track. I always did, so it's no problem.
I'll admit that I don't have a lot of experience driving on the track with the center caps on. I have track tires mounted on a separate set of wheels, and I leave the center caps off those wheels, all the time.
However, I have a lot of experience with another Honda/Acura car, with similar plastic center caps on the stock wheels. On that car, it is VERY common for the center caps to fall off on the track. What happens is that the brakes get very hot, and as a result, the wheels get very hot. (If you've ever tried removing lug nuts immediately after a hard track session, you know this already.) The wheels expand, and the heat allows the plastic of the center caps to soften. It is quite common for the stock center caps on that other car to fall off when used on the track. Based on that experience, I can only believe that it's a distinct possibility for the ITR stock wheels as well.
My advice would be to remove the center caps before going out on the track. (Better still, leave them home.) There's very little reason NOT to do so, and given how much they cost, you don't want to risk losing them.
It's VERY easy to remove the center caps if the wheels are off the car; just tap lightly on the back side of the caps and they pop out easily. If you are using the stock wheels on the track, so you're not removing them anyway, then you can remove them with a screwdriver; put a shop rag around the point to avoid scratching the caps or the wheels (although that makes it tougher to get the caps off). Because they have a lip which protrudes from the wheel surface, it's actually easier than on that other car, on which the edge of the center cap is flush with the surrounding wheel surface.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
thanks nsxtasy, your replies and explanations are always perfect
. Thanks to everyone else too.I will rather remove the caps onthe track. I always did, so it's no problem.
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