montoya

So, had a great track day yesterday, tempered by the fact that I learned that the center lock dust caps are not approved for track use. After the first session, I noticed a cap was missing. To my surprise, I took the rest off and they all popped off like champagne corks. Great.

So, now I'm stuck trying to find a replacement. I think these are custom made black center locks dust covers with GT3 lettering in yellow.

****e, I'll just paint over a stock set black and call it good. What dust are we keeping out anyways?

Seriously, if anyone knows where to source these, let me know.

TRAKCAR

Yes, somehow they build pressure at the track.

You can hear them pop off and roll next to you after your exit the track when there is less cooling.
leave them off on track..

Sucks to get them redone in yellow! Suncoast is pretty cheap in oem colors.

senna

I saw someone drilling a small hole on them so the air pressure would come out. I take mine off at the track.

TRAKCAR

Yup, that's the old tried and true solution, but for the rainy days I rather have them sealed on the street.

montoya

Isn't it a double seal anyways? Inside the hub there is another seal with the center lock mechanism. Doesn't this seal it up too?

TRAKCAR

Yes, true but I figure they never fall off on the street, so I just take them off for track use.

montoya

True, but I'm so pissed off at the whole thing I don't want it looking pretty!

At the track people admiring the GT3 asked several times about the centerlocks. After a few minutes of me ranting, turning red, with foam forming on the corners of my mouth while I explained how they aren't real racing locks, and no they don't weigh less, and they cost a frigin fortune to replace if you damage them, and the tools you need to remove one wheel cost another fortune, etc. etc. - they all kinda slipped away.

I think they were making mental notes to keep their distance on the track...

kyrocks

Everyone keeps talking about the caps popping off at the track, but after >25 track days with many wheel changes, I have never had one fall off. Lucky, I guess.

TRAKCAR

Montoya; LOL..

Kyrocks, you put them on with spit? The key is to make sure the seals sit properly but you can't use any grease to do it or the pop off. A good cool down run also makes a difference.

kyrocks

No spit. Nothing actually...just line them up and press them in. I guess I'm just slow and don't build up enough heat (even though it gets >100F here)

TRAKCAR

I just push them in, but you haveto take care that they are seated, you can kinda feel them pop in securely.
I think it also has to do with humitedy and maybe car wash guys spraying water in them.

skxf430

I leave mine off at the track as I usually re-torque my lug nuts at least twice during the day. I am too lazy to put them on and off.

TRAKCAR

I was told no retorque needed on CL's. I have never done so weekend after weekend.

montoya

I think you're just lucky. Each one you loose is a minimum of 40 dollars, more like $160 since I don't think you can buy them individually. I guess I will find out.

Take them off. They came off my car in the morning session when it was less than 70 degrees and I wasn't pushing that hard with lots of traffic. Take them off, cheap insurance.

Seriously, anyone have a clue where to get custom replacements? I'm going to try bumper plugs tomorrow.

mdrums

I've ben leaving mine off but I brought this up with a Porsche guy at Sebring 12hr race after a Q&A session. He said to leave the diet cap on or after each track day take the CL's apart clean them and re-grease them. He said the dust cap is there to seal out the inner part of the CL.

I put my caps on for the last 2 DE's....no problems with them popping off. I made sure the outer part of the CL was very clean and the cap was clean. I put some 303 on the caps rubber o-ring seal and let sit over night. Put the caps on the next day and headed to the track.