Has anyone got advice on fitting and making hub-cap clips work?

I have bought two complete sets now and haven't managed to get 2 wheels finished.
I started by making up and using a jig so that I could hammer the dome head rivots supplied with the clips in. The jig worked fine (hard work on the forearms).

When I came to test fit my first hub-cap; 'snap' two of the clips broke. Back to the jig, and replace the broken ones. Then went around with vice grips to carefully squeeze the clips closed a little- 'snap' another broke.

I've now given up with the dome heads and am using stainless steel pops rivots. It's faster to replace the ones I'm snapping.

The one wheel I have finished still doesn't seem to 'grab' the cap, and I'm sure a small bump and the precious metal will end up in a hedge.

Any advice? Are my clips the wrong profile for my caps? Do I really have to heat and work these clips into the right shape?


I seem to have been supplied with a mixed bag of clips. I've tried all shapes- same result!


SNAP!


Cap on, but I have little confidence in it holding.

If you don't want them to come off put a big dob of silastic on each clip and they wont come of in a hurry. This is what I did so my porsche centre wouldn't fly off.
It's easy to pop the silastic off when you need to.

That's a good tip- thanks Rose.

Anyone had similar problems with fitting / stopping the clips from snapping?

Problem seems to be solved. I went on The Samba and got a link to a discussion about this.
Bottom line-
Avoid Brazilian made clips, go German.
Twice the price, but at least they work.

Yes,
same as the door scrapers...
all the metal clips break as you push them into the hole..

so are these aftermarket parts or genuine VW do brasil
parts???

Brazillian hubcaps for the late beetles - won't fit the german wheels??
even ones with excellent chrome..
they just dent when you try to put them on..
so maybe they were genuine brasillian VW hubcaps..

I'm just wondering how they made beetles in Brasil??
did they use some german clips ?? lol

I wouldn't like to lose those nice BIG VW hubcaps...

the original German early hubcaps really bang on
normally... No movement - No play etc..
so clips must be made identical and from good old German steel...

Lee

I really don't know how the Brazilian clips work at all, ever. They resemble the shape of the German ones, and that's about it. They all shattered on me like they were made of fortune cookie doe!

I tracked down 10 original German clips yesterday from a box of parts in my stash once I spotted the difference in quality.

I managed to fit up 2 wheels no problem- caps on good and tight.
Now I just need to find 10 more.

How did they make Beetles in Brazil if they were using these parts??? Good question!

THE NEW CLIPS YOU CAN BUU AINT WORTH A PINCH OF s H I TTTTT T


If you can manage to find clips of old wheels then use them