Ford Wheel Question

**kmcbride22** · 03-12-2012, 11:16 AM

Got a question about my Expedition wheels. I have a 2009 Expedition Limited with the 20 inch wheels. It has "chrome" wheels however all they really are is a plastic cover that goes over the wheel. Does anyone know how to remove this cover? I took off one of the wheels thinking that if the lug nuts were off it would come off but it’s still attached to the wheel somehow. I just want to take them off to polish them and put some type of good wax on them and it would be easier if I could get them off the wheel.

**mrclean81** · 03-12-2012, 11:35 AM

Some wheel simulators snap on like a hub cap, and some are held on with the lug nuts. Many of the dually sims have 4 fake lugs made into the skin, and 4 empty holes for the factory lugs to go through. You simply screw the new lugs on OVER the factory ones. You best bet would be to refer to your owners manual to find out which you have.

**Todd@RUPES** · 03-13-2012, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by mrclean81

Some wheel simulators snap on like a hub cap, and some are held on with the lug nuts. Many of the dually sims have 4 fake lugs made into the skin, and 4 empty holes for the factory lugs to go through. You simply screw the new lugs on OVER the factory ones. You best bet would be to refer to your owners manual to find out which you have.

The owner`s manual would be invaluable for this.

**kmcbride22** · 03-13-2012, 04:33 PM

They are glued on to the wheel from the factory

So I suppose I will just have to do them on the truck.

**mrclean81** · 03-13-2012, 05:50 PM

Ouch that sucks

**GearHead_1** · 03-13-2012, 10:08 PM

Ford`s latest offerings are a chrome clad cover over an aluminum wheel. The cover is integrated and doesn`t come off unless you were having the wheel rebuilt.

**opie_7afe** · 03-18-2012, 12:59 PM

how much you want to bet ford cheaping out will lead to wheels loosing the chrome cladding and making them look horrible, soon enough we will have wheels made out of plastic, already have valve covers and intake manifolds made out of plastic....

**mrclean81** · 03-18-2012, 01:15 PM

Yep. The quality of some things keep going down, yet the price keeps going up. If I give 40 grand for something , I shouldnt have chrome chipping and bubbling, seats that stain from a water drop touching them, and carpet that feels like velcro.

**Todd@RUPES** · 04-09-2012, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by mrclean81

Yep. The quality of some things keep going down, yet the price keeps going up. If I give 40 grand for something , I shouldnt have chrome chipping and bubbling, seats that stain from a water drop touching them, and carpet that feels like velcro.

If the chrome was bubbling, wouldn`t that be a warranty repair issue?

**mrclean81** · 04-09-2012, 08:48 AM

I would think so if it happened during the warranty period. Ive purchased aftermarket wheels that bubbled and peeled 6 months later and they wouldnt honor any sort of warranty at all though. My point though was for the amount of money one spends on a new car these days, rhis stuff shouldnt happen at all. Ive seen 40 year old Cragers in better shape than a 5 year old factory wheel.