Trim ring installation frustration!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Trim ring installation frustration!!
I painted my rally rims last weekend. Two trim rings went back on ok, albeit with a bit of work. The other two will not stay on. I get one clip clipped on, start on the second one and it snaps in place and the first one pops off! I cannot get all four to stay at one time. I spent over an hour on just one. I'm hot & sweaty and I'm having a burger and a beer. What's the trick or technique?
Thanks, Glenn
Thanks, Glenn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
You started correctly, but forget the burger and have more beer.
Put one of the clips where you can snap it on, then put your knee against it. Work the next one with a rubber mallet and the one across from that. Then the 4th one should snap on. PITA, aren't they?
Put one of the clips where you can snap it on, then put your knee against it. Work the next one with a rubber mallet and the one across from that. Then the 4th one should snap on. PITA, aren't they?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Glenn
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If they are aftermarket rings....good luck. The clips on those are either way too stiff or they are flimsy as he!!. You may have to bend the clips a bit to get them to fit well with adequate retention and still not too difficult to install. Ideally, you want to be able to pop them on with the heel of your hand [not a 'mallet' that will bend everything up]. It's best to put on one of the clips that is closest to the valve stem (to keep the stem centered in the hole), then the clip opposite from that one [keeping the gap between the unattached clips and the wheel rim about the same], then the other two (in any order).
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
If they are aftermarket rings....good luck. The clips on those are either way too stiff or they are flimsy as he!!. You may have to bend the clips a bit to get them to fit well with adequate retention and still not too difficult to install. Ideally, you want to be able to pop them on with the heel of your hand [not a 'mallet' that will bend everything up]. It's best to put on one of the clips that is closest to the valve stem (to keep the stem centered in the hole), then the clip opposite from that one [keeping the gap between the unattached clips and the wheel rim about the same], then the other two (in any order).
I started with the clip closest to the valve stem, then went to the opposite side. Then at the next clip as that started to snap on one of the others lets go. The heel of my hand is now pretty sore! I'll give it another try tomorrow.
Thanks, Glenn
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
3 of mine went on easy, the 4th one I had to do my orangatang impression by holding the valve stem side with my knees and working the opposite side in ...i had to tweak the tabs a bit, mine were also original 4 clip...patience is key
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 16
From: Fl
Glenn,
If you have tires larger than 205 r70-15 the rubber pushes up higher on the rim lip. It will not allow the clips to go deep enough to grab.
You may want to try taking the tire off the car and letting most of the air out before attaching the trim ring. The reinflate and you should be good to go.
Radial tires have a bulgy side wall and it is even more pronounced when there is weight on the tire.
The original f70 tires had a totally different sidewall profile than radials.
Hope this helps....
If you have tires larger than 205 r70-15 the rubber pushes up higher on the rim lip. It will not allow the clips to go deep enough to grab.
You may want to try taking the tire off the car and letting most of the air out before attaching the trim ring. The reinflate and you should be good to go.
Radial tires have a bulgy side wall and it is even more pronounced when there is weight on the tire.
The original f70 tires had a totally different sidewall profile than radials.
Hope this helps....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Glenn,
If you have tires larger than 205 r70-15 the rubber pushes up higher on the rim lip. It will not allow the clips to go deep enough to grab.
You may want to try taking the tire off the car and letting most of the air out before attaching the trim ring. The reinflate and you should be good to go.
Radial tires have a bulgy side wall and it is even more pronounced when there is weight on the tire.
The original f70 tires had a totally different sidewall profile than radials.
Hope this helps....
If you have tires larger than 205 r70-15 the rubber pushes up higher on the rim lip. It will not allow the clips to go deep enough to grab.
You may want to try taking the tire off the car and letting most of the air out before attaching the trim ring. The reinflate and you should be good to go.
Radial tires have a bulgy side wall and it is even more pronounced when there is weight on the tire.
The original f70 tires had a totally different sidewall profile than radials.
Hope this helps....
Glenn
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Glenn,
I have 235's, also. Since you have the 4-clip design, look at the configuration of each clip from a side view. The middle 'loop' needs to be at nearly a 45* angle [to vertical] so that it will hold properly. If it is too steep, it will not hold well; if it is too shallow, it will be a real bear to get on. Also, the side 'hooks' need to be shaped so that they will slide into the tire/rim gap. I had a clip where those 'hooks' were opened up too much and the clip would not engage. If you have one clip on that wheel which goes on/comes off as you think it should, configure the other three clips just like it.
P.S. You need to do any bending carefully and without grabbing onto the bright sheet metal...or you will bend/damage the bright metal surface. Good luck!
I have 235's, also. Since you have the 4-clip design, look at the configuration of each clip from a side view. The middle 'loop' needs to be at nearly a 45* angle [to vertical] so that it will hold properly. If it is too steep, it will not hold well; if it is too shallow, it will be a real bear to get on. Also, the side 'hooks' need to be shaped so that they will slide into the tire/rim gap. I had a clip where those 'hooks' were opened up too much and the clip would not engage. If you have one clip on that wheel which goes on/comes off as you think it should, configure the other three clips just like it.
P.S. You need to do any bending carefully and without grabbing onto the bright sheet metal...or you will bend/damage the bright metal surface. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Glenn,
I have 235's, also. Since you have the 4-clip design, look at the configuration of each clip from a side view. The middle 'loop' needs to be at nearly a 45* angle [to vertical] so that it will hold properly. If it is too steep, it will not hold well; if it is too shallow, it will be a real bear to get on. Also, the side 'hooks' need to be shaped so that they will slide into the tire/rim gap. I had a clip where those 'hooks' were opened up too much and the clip would not engage. If you have one clip on that wheel which goes on/comes off as you think it should, configure the other three clips just like it.
P.S. You need to do any bending carefully and without grabbing onto the bright sheet metal...or you will bend/damage the bright metal surface. Good luck!
I have 235's, also. Since you have the 4-clip design, look at the configuration of each clip from a side view. The middle 'loop' needs to be at nearly a 45* angle [to vertical] so that it will hold properly. If it is too steep, it will not hold well; if it is too shallow, it will be a real bear to get on. Also, the side 'hooks' need to be shaped so that they will slide into the tire/rim gap. I had a clip where those 'hooks' were opened up too much and the clip would not engage. If you have one clip on that wheel which goes on/comes off as you think it should, configure the other three clips just like it.
P.S. You need to do any bending carefully and without grabbing onto the bright sheet metal...or you will bend/damage the bright metal surface. Good luck!
Thanks, Glenn
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Anyone have their 4 clip trim rings off that can take a few pics of the clips at different angles? I'm curious to see what positions & angles they are at. My hand is still sore from last night. 
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Weights are on the outside but are not near the clips.
My clips look pretty close to yours except one of the hooks had less curl. I tried to bend it and did a bit, but that spring steel is difficult to bend. I'll give it another shot tomorrow.
Thanks for the pics! Exactly what I was looking for.
Are you able to put yours on by using the heel of your hand or do you need to use a rubber mallet?
Glenn
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Glenn,
If you have tires larger than 205 r70-15 the rubber pushes up higher on the rim lip. It will not allow the clips to go deep enough to grab.
You may want to try taking the tire off the car and letting most of the air out before attaching the trim ring. The reinflate and you should be good to go.
Radial tires have a bulgy side wall and it is even more pronounced when there is weight on the tire.
The original f70 tires had a totally different sidewall profile than radials.
Hope this helps....
If you have tires larger than 205 r70-15 the rubber pushes up higher on the rim lip. It will not allow the clips to go deep enough to grab.
You may want to try taking the tire off the car and letting most of the air out before attaching the trim ring. The reinflate and you should be good to go.
Radial tires have a bulgy side wall and it is even more pronounced when there is weight on the tire.
The original f70 tires had a totally different sidewall profile than radials.
Hope this helps....
But I just put a jack under to hold car up ,then lower the pressure. I use my knee and a rubber mallet and a bit of grease on each clip.edit-with new paint you won't need the grease - grease is for squeaks
Last edited by ...Roger...; Sep 3, 2010 at 09:30 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,270
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Glenn,
I use my knee as Roger suggests and my hand.
I see original St. Louis rings that that fit so tight and evenly that the weights MUST be on the rear side of the wheel. I'm NOT saying that's your problem but may be worth looking at.
Good Luck.
Regards,
Alan
I use my knee as Roger suggests and my hand.
I see original St. Louis rings that that fit so tight and evenly that the weights MUST be on the rear side of the wheel. I'm NOT saying that's your problem but may be worth looking at.
Good Luck.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
When I removed them to paint the rims, they were very tight & difficult to remove. I'm going out now to give it another shot & see if any clips need a bit of bending.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Got them on. 7T1, your info re; the center loop was my problem. I needed to bend them out some, closer to 45 Degree angle you suggested and like Alan's pics. Alan, your pics were perfect reference. Thanks guys for all your suggestions. Luckily, I did not need to let any air out of the tires.
Here's the finished wheels. A big improvement!
Glenn
Here's the finished wheels. A big improvement!
Glenn
