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View Full Version : Help: Center cap flew off - can't find replacement!



soobad
07-15-2009, 08:54 PM
While regularly driving, I started to hear a slight "clank"ing noise and within a few seconds before I really had time to do anything, the center cap of one of my rims flew right off (technically not just the cap, the whole center piece). I looked for a few hours and wasn't ever able to locate the pieces.

Now my car looks silly, with over 5k+ worth of rims and tires, and the front driver's side rim with a big gaping hole in it.

After making plenty of phone calls and searching everywhere I could think of, I can not figure out where I can (hopefully quickly) get a replacement center cap:

Rim is an 18' Racing Hart M5, pictured below:

http://www.andrewkicksass.com/rim.jpg

http://www.andrewkicksass.com/rim2.jpg

I may update with pictures of what it looks like now with the circled piece missing later.

If anyone knows a shop in town that will actually go to the trouble of helping me solve this annoying problem, they would get all my business in the future -- or if any one person can help me acquire a matching piece, I would be happy to repay you somehow!

edit: decided to post this on here after seeing this picture :
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/belly232/006.jpg

in this thread: http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?s=&threadid=271308&perpage=40&highlight=&pagenumber=2

Looks like a very similar center piece? Help please if you have any ideas.

2EFNFAST
07-15-2009, 09:11 PM
Call the rim manufacturer directly?

soobad
07-15-2009, 09:14 PM
Originally posted by 2EFNFAST
Call the rim manufacturer directly?

They're based in South Africa ( and I was hoping to get this fixed quickly, so I can enjoy the car the rest of the summer ), and the rim is discontinued. First email I sent them over a month ago I haven't received a reply to. I'm hoping someone knows someone that makes a same or similar center piece (like I pictured near the bottom of the OP) or knows of a guy/shop that would be willing to help.

Manufacturers website: http://www.rhc.co.za/RacingHartConceptsSite/racinghart_index.html

spikerS
07-15-2009, 10:13 PM
might also want to try these guys.

http://www.viprims.com/CenterCaps/CenterCaps.asp

I also checked ebay, but didnt find anything looking even remotely close to yours.

soobad
07-15-2009, 10:48 PM
Originally posted by spikers
might also want to try these guys.

http://www.viprims.com/CenterCaps/CenterCaps.asp

I also checked ebay, but didnt find anything looking even remotely close to yours.

Thanks! Looks like I can order the center cap I need off of that site ( http://www.viprims.com/WheelDetail2.asp?Link=760 )

Only thing is I haven't yet because the site looks very sketchy, you can't make an account without providing a CC #, their is a ! over the little "secure" icon in firefox for their security certificate, and, they don't provide any contact info unless you're a member and log in (it wants to charge you 20$ to get access to anything, basically). Any one have any experience with this site / company or know if they can be trusted or not?

soobad
07-15-2009, 10:52 PM
Hmm...

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/302/RipOff0302393.htm

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=283362

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/358/RipOff0358326.htm

http://houston.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=148&bbb=0915&firm=13003319

http://www.clublexus.com/forums/the-tire-racks-tires-wheels-and-brakes-forum/370912-this-site-for-real.html

Damn. :( :banghead:

spikerS
07-15-2009, 11:22 PM
my bad, didnt check up on them, glad you did. sorry about that bro.