KDM Wing Wheel Caps

[Viking]

Not sure how many members have already installed these (mine are on order), but I would love to see some pics if anyone can post?

 

[BaywayRic]

Received yesterday, going on this afternoon. Pics tonight

 

[cliffbig]

Received yesterday, going on this afternoon. Pics tonight

Since I've never done this, let us know how simple the switchout was and how you did it.

 

[BaywayRic]

Since I've never done this, let us know how simple the switchout was and how you did it.

Literally a piece o' cake! Longest, hardest process is getting the thing out of the plastic bag it comes in and removing the protective plastic sheet off the actual wings part. [similar to the plastic that comes on the face of a new cell phone]. Then to the car where you take a medium flat blade screwdriver and look for the slot along the edge of the existing cap. [you can see it right above the valve stem]. Insert screwdriver, apply gentle downward pressure and the cap pops right off. Take new cap, line up the slot where the old slot was, and tap into place with the heel of your hand. Done!

Wings, Caps & Tint​

 

[Simonwpb]

Ric,
Looks very nice!! I hope to get my caps in the next couple of days.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

The Genesis wheel caps are a very nice finishing touch! I think that's about all you have to do - except for maybe the chrome strip!

 

[Viking]

Frustrated!

Wheel caps came in today. Popped three of them on without any effort at all; 4th one would not go on. Tried switching it to anohter wheel and it still would not go on. Now I will have to call KAI (always difficult to get someone to answer the phone) and return this one and wait for a replacement. This is not good for someone as impatient as me.

 

[musher51]

I just installed my wing caps yesterday, and while I was able to get all four of them on, two of the four don't seem "seated" very well (certainly not like the "H" ones that came with the car). In both cases, parts of the cap stick out from the wheel itself by a millimeter or two. I've actually walked around the car after each subsequent trip to make sure that nothing fell off!

Personally, I'd have been happy to pay more for metal ones...these plastic ones seem cheap (although not when viewed from a reasonable distance, thankfully).

Viking: is there an obvious dimensional anomoly with the one you can't install? Or maybe a bent wire? Perhaps a close visual inspection between one that's installable and the one that isn't will reveal a tweak you can make yourself to avoid the hassle (and delay) of engaging KAI about a replacement.

 

[Simonwpb]

Only thing I can think of is to double-check if the one little square notch on the inside is aligned with the slot in the rim?

If that is not lined up then the cap will not seat properly...

 

[BaywayRic]

I had a little unevenness too, and after tapping around for awhile they all seated flush like the originals. Once seated, if you can get a grip, they will also turn a 1/4 inch or so in each direction which may help seat them. Ditto on Simon's suggestion to check the notch lineup with the square.

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[Viking]

I will check it out again but I definitely had the notch lined up. The "star" shaped wire in the back seems to be aligned. When I hold it up to one of the original center caps, this one seems to be oh so slighly larger -- but it could also be my imagination after trying to jam it on for 15 minutes!

 

[cabz]

Those caps look great... you mentioned something about being disappointed they are plastic though. Are they the real OEM part? Are the stock ones metal, and if so, does anyone know if metal is used on the Korean version?

 

[jwaters943]

Nearly all center caps on wheels are plastic. I'm not sure why anyone would be suprised by that.

 

[cliffbig]

I just installed my wing caps yesterday, and while I was able to get all four of them on, two of the four don't seem "seated" very well (certainly not like the "H" ones that came with the car). In both cases, parts of the cap stick out from the wheel itself by a millimeter or two.

I had the exact same problem, except that only one wing cap was affected. Three went on perfectly, the fourth did not. I tried it on every wheel just to make sure their wasn't some variation within tolerances that might make it fit; no such luck.

Were you able to get an exchange? I'm considering just buying an extra set to play it safe...

 

[Richard Ft. Lauderdale]

I had the exact same problem, except that only one wing cap was affected. Three went on perfectly, the fourth did not. I tried it on every wheel just to make sure their wasn't some variation within tolerances that might make it fit; no such luck.

Were you able to get an exchange? I'm considering just buying an extra set to play it safe...

I just got some wheel caps yesterday. Still waiting on the trunk wings. I literally had to use a hammer to put on two of the wheel caps to get them seated. I covered the center with several layers of a towel and used a hammer in the center. If you hit on the edge where it is not seated it seems to pop out on the opposite side. Make sure you use several layers of a thick towel and hit in the center.

When I got a flat tire today it was one of the tires that I had a problem with a wheel cap. They removed the tire to fix the flat. I didn't see how they put the cap back on but they seem to have gotten it back on properly. I'll make a guess that they used a rubber mallet.

P.S. If you break one please don't hold me responsible.

 

[Viking]

Cliffbig,

Not sure if you saw my post above but I had the same problem. 3 wheel caps went on like a breeze but the 4th one would not go on.

I ended up exchanging it with KAI (after they made it sound on the phone like no one has ever asked to return a product to them). They sent the new wheel cap with my chrome trim this week. Tried installing the new wheel cap but had the same problem. When I held the winged wheel cap up to the original Hyundai logo one, the winged one seemed every-so-slightly wider in diameter - but it coual also be my imagination.

This afternoon I brought my car to the dealership's body shop to have them install the chrome trim. While there I also asked them to install the wheel cap and they were able to do so and it is seated well - so perhaps I just wasn't doing something correctly. I did try using a rubber mallet but I was more tapping around the edges instead of hitting it in the middle. If the diameter is not slightly larger on the winged ones then I don't understand why the origianl Hyundai Logo wheel caps pop right on with no effort..

 

[Richard Ft. Lauderdale]

Yes, I saw several posts where people had trouble seating the wheel caps. There is probably some slight difference in the size of the caps making it necessary to use an all purpose tool (hammer) to apply extra force to get them seated.

 

[Richard Ft. Lauderdale]

I just noticed that on one of my wheel caps the center portion (black part with wings) is about to fall off the outer portion of the cap. I think the glue is melting. My guess, these things are not made for south Florida's heat. They have only been on for two days. You can see that the glue is stretching. I just emailed the guy in Korea. If he wants me to mail this thing back to him I will just forget the whole idea and when the wings for the trunk arrive I will just store them in the garage along with many other formerly thought to be good ideas.

Many car problems over the years are the result of the extreme heat we have in Florida.

 

[realpix]

Yes, I saw several posts where people had trouble seating the wheel caps. There is probably some slight difference in the size of the caps making it necessary to use an all purpose tool (hammer) to apply extra force to get them seated.

Is it possible that having 3 out of the 4 installed that the weight distribution might be off a .0001 of a pound and pressure somewhere is affecting the proper installation of the 4th?

 

[realpix]

I just noticed that on one of my wheel caps the center portion (black part with wings) is about to fall off the outer portion of the cap. I think the glue is melting. My guess, these things are not made for south Florida's heat. They have only been on for two days. You can see that the glue is stretching. I just emailed the guy in Korea. If he wants me to mail this thing back to him I will just forget the whole idea and when the wings for the trunk arrive I will just store them in the garage along with many other formerly thought to be good ideas.

Many car problems over the years are the result of the extreme heat we have in Florida.

Oh oh! I live in Phoenix, AZ and your FL extreme heat is like a/c over here!

Hmmm , hope I don't get any problems when I receive mine.