Hub Cap NIGHTMARE
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Joined: May 2025
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2019 Mercedes Benz AMG E63S
Hub Cap NIGHTMARE
Hi guys I just created an account on here, looking for some wisdom/advice!
I have just installed new wheel spacers on my E63s, however what was supposed to be a very simple and quick job turned into an 6 hour, hub cap socket breaking, new tool buying, frustrating overall experience.
For reference my car has the stock AMG wheels on it, with, what I think are typically referred to as “floating hub caps”? I’m sure many of you are aware of this and I’ve read some forum posts from earlier regarding, what I consider to be a terrible plastic socket for taking these things off. I stripped it, broke it and completely ****ing ruined my hub socket, as well as two of the hubs themselves, due to the fact of what must have been a previous owner of my car, or the dealer torquing the **** out of the hubs.
So my questions are..
1. Can I leave the hub caps off of the car, or will something go wrong with the large threaded hole in the centre of the wheels? I don’t exactly love the look, which leads me to my second question.
2. If it exists, is there a smaller, aftermarket or OEM part that someone can recommend me to buy to thread in to the center of the wheels, that DOES NOT cover the lugs? In other words are there center caps available that will plug in with no issues?
3. If I do end up buying new stock, original replacement hubs, is there a good solution someone can recommend me to MAKE SURE these things never EVER get seized / stuck again?
Any and all advice/knowledge is appreciated!
Thanks in advance
I have just installed new wheel spacers on my E63s, however what was supposed to be a very simple and quick job turned into an 6 hour, hub cap socket breaking, new tool buying, frustrating overall experience.
For reference my car has the stock AMG wheels on it, with, what I think are typically referred to as “floating hub caps”? I’m sure many of you are aware of this and I’ve read some forum posts from earlier regarding, what I consider to be a terrible plastic socket for taking these things off. I stripped it, broke it and completely ****ing ruined my hub socket, as well as two of the hubs themselves, due to the fact of what must have been a previous owner of my car, or the dealer torquing the **** out of the hubs.
So my questions are..
1. Can I leave the hub caps off of the car, or will something go wrong with the large threaded hole in the centre of the wheels? I don’t exactly love the look, which leads me to my second question.
2. If it exists, is there a smaller, aftermarket or OEM part that someone can recommend me to buy to thread in to the center of the wheels, that DOES NOT cover the lugs? In other words are there center caps available that will plug in with no issues?
3. If I do end up buying new stock, original replacement hubs, is there a good solution someone can recommend me to MAKE SURE these things never EVER get seized / stuck again?
Any and all advice/knowledge is appreciated!
Thanks in advance
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Joined: Jun 2021
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From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
Um...wow, never heard that one before. The only thing I can think of that would cause them to get stuck would be salt or snow removal chemicals. Before I got smart and moved south (from Chicago area) it was just a thing...salt was going to get everywhere and cause everything to stick. The only way to prevent it was to on occasion break things loose and re-tighten.
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Joined: Feb 2017
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
Op, fortunately these are available to replace. You could always put a light coating of grease on any of the surfaces that resemble the clip that holds it in. Last time I was at the wheel shop I told them that they must’ve had a new guy put my wheels on because they were nearly impossible to take off without a long *** breaker bar and he told me that they had issues with a gun… and various people were affected… because they do generally always check torque of their tools. Had I been out on the road trying to remove the wheel it would’ve been a big issue.. like oldman said above, sometimes it’s best to loosen and retorque items that are exposed to weather and might not get touched often otherwise. I recently did the brakes on an older neighbor’s Lexus for them and the wheels were very attached to the hubs and I wasn’t going to beat it with a hammer in front of him so it required loosely fitting in the lug nuts and lowering the car, so the weight of the car would disconnect the wheel. It went so smooth he likely thought it was a magic trick.
Last edited by Baltistyle; May 14, 2025 at 08:39 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,112
Likes: 1,346
From: Fleriduh
W212 E63S Wagon - GSL580 - E63 - E350 - C300
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 1,205
From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
not sure if that was pre-Internet forums but fortunately now we get to read about other mishaps and sometimes apply those solutions when we randomly run into them.
Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 185
Likes: 74
From: Northern California
1993 300SL,2007 RAM 2500,2009 CLK350,2011 ML550,2016 McLaren 650S,2018 AMG E63s wgn,2018 AMG SLC43
@HarmNone You have to be very considered when using the hub socket. It can slip if you're not pushing it on while turning.
That said, the hub has a torque value on it (Specified tightening torque: 18 lb-ft, 25 Nm... which isn't much). Take a toothbrush and clean the male and female threads, inspect carefully to make sure the threads aren't damaged by the prior mechanic cross-threading. You can put a tiny smidge of anti-seize grease on the threads. Dis-similar materials tend to seize. But if you tighten properly, you'll not have the problem again. Unfortunate Easter egg you discovered.
That said, the hub has a torque value on it (Specified tightening torque: 18 lb-ft, 25 Nm... which isn't much). Take a toothbrush and clean the male and female threads, inspect carefully to make sure the threads aren't damaged by the prior mechanic cross-threading. You can put a tiny smidge of anti-seize grease on the threads. Dis-similar materials tend to seize. But if you tighten properly, you'll not have the problem again. Unfortunate Easter egg you discovered.
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