M8CKN Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Volkswagen-Golf-Scirocco-Passat-Polo-GTI-valve-DUST-cap-anti-lock-/321234732355?pt=UK_Cars_parts_Vehicles_Wheels_tyres_trims_Valve_Caps_ET&hash=item4acb150543 I'm looking at getting some of these since my tyres were let down a few months ago, but I'm just wondering if they'll affect the wheel balance? Anyone have any experiences of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Unlikely. I bought some of the pressure-sensing ones once, they were much bulkier but the instructions said they would be within tolerance for wheel balancing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8CKN Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Great,ta. I didn't think I'd be able to feel them as presumably they are aluminium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 I had them on my M3's - until a pair of scrotes nicked them. The little sods (kids) were hanging around the car and I thought nothing of it - until I noticed at the next weekend when I washed it. They'd done a good job of buggering the thread on the valve up too, so the next set I bought I didn't bother using the tightening screw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Those are an utter pain in the ass with the locking grubs. This type is far more better-er. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Richbrook-Car-Van-Anti-Theft-Locking-Spinning-Valve-Tyre-Dust-Caps-silver-NEW-/261359055231?pt=UK_Cars_parts_Vehicles_Wheels_tyres_trims_Valve_Caps_ET&hash=item3cda36b17f Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 From experience, once thing to not about the metal caps is that they can sieze onto the valve stem requiring to be cut off. Probably due to disimilar metals reacting together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8CKN Posted January 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Touch of copper grease then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max_b Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Those are an utter pain in the ass with the locking grubs. This type is far more better-er. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Richbrook-Car-Van-Anti-Theft-Locking-Spinning-Valve-Tyre-Dust-Caps-silver-NEW-/261359055231?pt=UK_Cars_parts_Vehicles_Wheels_tyres_trims_Valve_Caps_ET&hash=item3cda36b17f I've got these on my M3 and they work completely fine. They hardly weigh anything so shouldn't affect the wheel balancing in anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 The ones Mac posted are way better, and they don't have the silly logo on them to attract the thieves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 I'd rather someone nick them than rip the valve out trying. I just use the cheap metal caps from Halfords. More pleasing than the black plastic ones and not too tempting http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_564273_langId_-1_categoryId_255241 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldavo69 Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 I have black wheels on the Porsche so the plastic ones are spot on. The BMW came with little stubby aluminium ones until they got nicked in a car park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 My Galaxy has metal dust caps, I'm sure they are just monkey metal rather than anything posh like aluminium, but they have a rubber gasket inside them too which stops them seizing, and keeps moisture out, they fit them because the valves have the pressure sensors in them (proper ones, not your VAG measure the rotation of the wheel and guess the pressure type rubbish). They are very light, but also quite dark in colour, so just look like normal plastic dust caps and don't attract the attention of the dust cap thieves, so maybe you could source some from a Ford dealers car park late one evening? ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chick Posted January 8, 2014 Report Share Posted January 8, 2014 Every set I had in the A4 were stolen, sometimes just one or two (same side) or all four, very annoying as it was garaged every night so the robbing bastards must have been operating either supermarket or work car parks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lussac Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 My Galaxy has metal dust caps, I'm sure they are just monkey metal rather than anything posh like aluminium, but they have a rubber gasket inside them too which stops them seizing, and keeps moisture out, they fit them because the valves have the pressure sensors in them (proper ones, not your VAG measure the rotation of the wheel and guess the pressure type rubbish). They are very light, but also quite dark in colour, so just look like normal plastic dust caps and don't attract the attention of the dust cap thieves, so maybe you could source some from a Ford dealers car park late one evening? ;-) I seem to remember some cases of metal dust caps reacting with the valve stems of Ford/Jaguar TPMS valves and causing the valve to snap off due to corrosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Why not put superglue on them when you go to a place where they've been previously stolen. You'd either come back to an oik at each wheel, or a finger and thumb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) I seem to remember some cases of metal dust caps reacting with the valve stems of Ford/Jaguar TPMS valves and causing the valve to snap off due to corrosion.Not something i've ever heard of specific to those brands, but any metal dust cap has the potential to sieze on or corrode the valve, as mentioned above, due to differing metals, I guess that's why they put the rubber gasket in them now?I always lubricate my valves (fnar fnar) anyway as I had a siezed on cap on a previous car, and have even had it with a plastic valve once. Edited January 9, 2014 by Tipex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stooH Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 I've got metal ones (non locking) that came with the 1 series, I cunningly keep the car filthy so the metal caps blend in with the rest of the wheel. Simple! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 I had to take a pair of pliers to a plastic valve cap on the Defender Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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