Wheel Covers

[Zerohour]

So another simple project I haven't done for my Subaru are wheel covers.

Since I've installed the wheel skirts on the rear, its another one of the projects and lets the car "dive off the deep end". And since I'm going for it, why not?

But I was wondering if anyone has tried using Dustshields in the back of the wheels as opposed to the Pizza Pans? I wondering if this would provide some benefit while retaining an OEM style look. Or will I still be loosing out on the complete benefits of a smooth surface?

I was just wondering if anyone has tried dust shields and/or the Pizza pan covers, and if they have, what was their a comparable difference? (I know its a minimal gain to begin with, but are the dust shields an absolute waste of an attempt?)

I'm digging through some old posts, but I can't seem to find any actual data. Found a few where the smooth covers gave ~4-5%ish at highway speed.

[cfg83]

Zerohour -

I tried this but it didn't seem to make much difference. The ones I got are not "flush" to the back of the wheel. Instead they are closer to wrapping around the brake. Here they are :

Originally Posted by cfg83

Deezler -

Your gimp-pic made me think of brake dust covers :



I think they will look like what you have drawn.

I tried to find your 03 Jetta here :

Kleen Wheels Brake Dust Shields - Brake Dust Shields

But you can just start at the top :

Kleen Wheels Brake Dust Shields - Brake Dust Cover - Brake Dust Shield

Ha ha, I think this is going on my todo list!

The real usefulness to me is that pizza pans capture almost ALL the brake dust coming off your front brakes, so it's messy to take them off/on. I recently restored my dustshields because of that.

Now, here's a gorgeous one for people who want a show car look :

Originally Posted by cfg83

Deezler -

I just found these :

Wheel Accents - Polished Wheel Accents



It wouldn't work for my 4-lug wheel, but maybe there's a possibility for you, in addition to the bling factor.

CarloSW2

[Weather Spotter]

Here is the wiki data for wheel covers, with lots of how to links

Smooth wheel covers - EcoModder

I did the pizza pans and got 1.5 MPG from it!

It is a cheep mod that works

[Zerohour]

I have a set of alloys, and the wheel is concave out. I couldn't do a pizza pan flush to the wheel. I thought about buying a set of moons because of the domes, but then I would need to drill and tap my wheels. :-/

I think brucey just tape his shut on his outback. I might try that.

[cfg83]

Zerohour -

Originally Posted by Zerohour

I have a set of alloys, and the wheel is concave out. I couldn't do a pizza pan flush to the wheel. I thought about buying a set of moons because of the domes, but then I would need to drill and tap my wheels. :-/

I think brucey just tape his shut on his outback. I might try that.

I think you are describing the same problem that I have. It's convex. Not a lot, but enough. That's why I did this :

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...isk-11838.html

I abandoned the plastic serving tray for an aluminum pizza pan (cover) :



There is still a < 1/2" gap between the cover and the wheel, but I *think* am in net-benefit, and the aluminum won't rust under most conditions :



CarloSW2

[brucey]

35k miles and still no sign of decay from my tape and spray paint wheels. The 1 spoke is kinda cute too. I couldn't find a way I liked of adding a proper racing disk to the wheel.

[Zerohour]

Yeah thats the trouble I was having too. I thought about removing the Subaru center cap and trying to use a mono-bolt setup...but I am too concerned about the one bolt failing, or god forbid and accident and the cap becomes a spinning disk of death.

When I was younger, I was in a car that got hit by a hubcap from the opposing highway lane. It took out the headlamp and the portion of the fender. I'm not sure if it would have made it though the safty glass had it been a windshield impact, but either way I'm not favorable to the one bolt disk.

Brucey, did you use any type of backing? Or did you just us the aluminum ductwork tape? Multiple layers by chance?

[brucey]

2 layers of tape. Then 2 layers of plasti dip paint. No backing. I don't know how much the paint helped, but it really helped smooth it out and hide the fact it was tape. :P I had to give one little spot (1/8th") a touch up with some paint about 5000 miles ago. I had a problem when I did 1 layer originally and some stiff winds blew through the wheels.

I also tried the single bolt on the center cap, but the center caps on our wheels (assuming you have the same) just pops on and off, and once it carries any weight it will fly right off. I couldn't even get it secure enough to mount to the car. Much less drive down the road with it.