Just got an 01 with these wheels and one hubcap. Got 4 more from the boneyard and they won't catch the lug nut collars on 3 of the rims. Probably explains why they were missing!. On closer inspection I see that on those rims, there is a bigger gap between the chrome skin and the steel wheel at the hub. Apparently the chrome skins have pulled away just enough to keep the catches on the hub caps from catching the lug nut collars. Is this a common problem? How fix besides beating on them? Thanks!

 

There are usually just the 3 "spring clamps" that grip 3 lug nuts, seen here: https://centercaps.net/cdn/shop/prod...g?v=1621124322

Do the caps sit flush to rim or is that the issue?

Not sure what you means by "the chrome pulling away"?

 

There's two styles of Ford styled steel chrome wheels. Ones where the chrome covers the entire wheel including the lug area, and then the style like this where the chrome is essentially a "cap" that fits over a black wheel. This "cap" may be bent outwards around the hub/lug area, keeping the center caps from staying on.

 

These are essentially two-piece wheels. The inner part is your basic stamped steel wheel. The outer part is a chromed faux mag spoke dish that appears to be fitted to the rim bead - look at the rim and hub close up and it will be more clear. At the hub, around the lug nuts, the chrome dish stands off the steel wheel just a bit. That gap is greater on three of the wheels. My hubcaps are like the one you show, except they have 5 clamps, not three. And yes, they are tight - pried them off of a donor at the boneyard. And thanks Ron - always the first to respond!

 

Mine are the second type, and they actually look like they're pushed out a bit at the rim bead. I assume they are tack welded or rolled over the bead of the steel wheel. If so, I'm thinking maybe I can bang on them with a wood drift and kinda dimple them back in. It's light gauge stuff compared to the actual wheel

 

Never seen wheels like that before, need to get out more, lol

Back off each lug nut a few turns

This page has Ranger lug nuts: https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/fi...-wheel-lug-nut
Looks to be a variety of similar ones that are slightly longer than others
0.563" Length
0.833" Length
0.906" Length

Measure one of yours

 

Thanks Ron. It didn't occur to me that they might have different lengths. Makes sense given the many wheel options. Checking it out

 

From my 2003 Ford Parts Catalog, I have two part numbers.

F4TZ-1012-B Decorative (Probably chrome cap, no flange for center caps)
F8TZ-1012-A Flanged

The second one is likely the correct one, but it doesn't seem like there is a difference in lengths since there's only one option for flanged lug nuts.

They also show two for locking lugs on aluminum wheels, but the descriptions don't mention a flange and seem more like they're keyed acorns. If they're meant for aluminum, they wouldn't apply to steels like the one in the original photo.