Chrome center caps

Went to my local "chromer" to see if my center caps could be redone without hurting the center badge. He said they couldn't but, if the center badge could be removed, then they could. But, even with them removed he didn't know if the badges could be reinstalled due to the chrome thickness.

So, my questions are.
1. Has anyone had any success in removing the badges? It looks like an epoxy holding the posts. Maybe use a heat gun?
2. For the price of chroming these (about $140) can I find nice replacements? If so where? I checked out our 3 and didn't see them.
3. Any other ideas?

These are off chromed S4 discs. I don't know if they are OEM or not.



Same post as at RL

I HATE those center caps! They are the ones that have the screw in nubs that hold it in place and notoriously what happens (at wheel/tire places) the monkey that takes your wheels off will then try and pop them out and when they don't come right out they will take to them with a hammer! OMG! Of course "F*ing" up your wheels in the process!

If I were you I would watch ebay and find some other ones. Just get regular ones and then paint the crests yourself using Testors paint...

Yes, they do have 3 set screws that help hold them in place. I like these caps because they are heavy and they have a real nice badge. I will attempt to remove the badges and then see about re-plating.

In the mean time I also plan on watching the Bay for others.

There would be no reason for any wheel monkey to have take these off the wheel. If they tried, they would have to remove a banana from somewhere.

Rick,

Just keep an eye on them when you go to get new tires... They have to take that out to balance the wheel! That is when a friend saw them bashing the back side of his caps just like yours with a mallet...they damaged the wheels a bit but not enough to cause problems, probably didn't do the center caps any good either!

pcar928fan;2946 wrote: Rick,

Just keep an eye on them when you go to get new tires... They have to take that out to balance the wheel! That is when a friend saw them bashing the back side of his caps just like yours with a mallet...they damaged the wheels a bit but not enough to cause problems, probably didn't do the center caps any good either!

I didn't realize they would have to be removed to balance. Thanks for the tip!

Little update on these.

A post on RL clued me in on that these may be Boothe Design center caps.
www.boothedesign.com/

An E-mail to them confirmed this and that they were made 15 - 20 years ago. He said he didn't see how these could be repaired though. He didn't know a "way of applying heat without total destruction". I e-mailed him back to be more specific on "total destruction". I'm not giving up yet.