Hello All, I am looking for replacement center caps for my '88 328 GTS. Anyone have a good resource to get these? I tried a set from Ebay which didn't fit right so hesitant to go this route again. Thanks Chance Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Chance, I'm cosmetically restoring an '89 328 and found those here: https://ferrparts.com/diagrams/328-1988/wheels-starting-from-car-no-76626-051#005. $18.48. Cheers! Mike
Superpeformance or eurospares in uk.. pt no 226245+ 154794. Pt no 340066 seems to be a replacement number. Eurospares have some half price used in good nick. £15 to £20 new ea
I know....already purchased one set off ebay that said was for a 328 but did not fit. I'm going to try a set from ferrparts.com.
A couple of mine are cracked as well. I’ve always noticed (and was told by my local independent shop while looking for a car) that the new ones were a different shade of yellow. Not a huge deal but I was wondering if these ones at FerrParts are the same softer shade of yellow as the originals? Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
The problem is tire changers knock the centre cap out, and crack the front horsey in the process of doing that. The OEM items have a rubber O ring that helps them stay in place, if it is installed dry it can hold the item in place very well, but makes it hard to pop out with time hardening the O ring and it kind of welds itself on to the wheel. A bit of silicone grease on the O ring will allow the tire changer to knock them out with much less force required and prevent cracking. Still need to tell the tech to be careful though.
Why do they knock out the center caps? I suspect they are using a very old style tire machine. If so, go somewhere with a modern 'no touch' style tire machine.
Correct, I bought a set off eBay about 6 years ago and even then it was hard to find a mint set of OEM factory original centre caps in the correct lemon yellow colour. I have noticed when going to Ferrari shows many 1980/90 cars have the newer (incorrect) darker yellow versions which are a different style and fit or have the originals which are either cracked or faded. Also the 1989 models (not sure about the prior year 328's) should have a black plastic boarder on the centre caps and not grey.
The factory changed suppliers and the design changed 10 or so years ago. Some of the original design still do exist but usually at a very high premium. Chances are you will end up with the new design with the darker yellow.
The most sophisticated balancers are Hunter road force balancers, and a spindle goes through the center wheel hole.
I don't see the issue. Once the alloy wheel is off the car isn't it a relatively easy process just to push the centre cap from behind till it pops out It works with mine and they are the original versions.
If the caps have not been out for a long time, eg low miles use but 10 year old tires, the o ring sticks to the wheel quite well. Tech then whams the cap from behind with a screwdriver thinking it will pop out easily and cracks the cap logo. My originals were cracked like this, I replaced the logo inserts with new ones on the original caps, the actual caps did not crack. Replaced the o rings, used some silicon grease, now they come out without high forces required. Dupont Molycote 111 is a must have compound for my workshop.
The original versions I have don't have a metal ring, they just pop in and stay snug enough to not even twist. The newer versions I believe include the metal ring I assume to keep them in place with opposite pressure.
While being knocked out when balancing tires is a reasonable explanation for the center cap cracking, as I said, mine are cracked and they have never been removed from the wheels. Just age and heat. How do I know they have never been removed? I've owned the car since new and it all original, right down to the original, 36 year old tires.Fortunately, I have a new set of original center caps which I'll put on if I ever get around to changing the tires. Image Unavailable, Please Login
