2004 Silverado Rim Problem

cljonez · #1 08-11-2004, 10:02 PM

I have a 2004 Silverado HD Duramax Diesel and have been having a problem with the center hub cap coming loose and lost one. I took it back to the dealer and they seem to think I am looking to get a new set of rims and so the first thing they did was replace the "plastic" lug nut covers. Off I go and a couple days later I check and sure enough these covers are loose and on hub cover is ready to come off and the other three are loose also. Back to dealer and now they are going to change them out with another trucks rims to see if the same thing happens. Has anyone had the same type of problem with the plastic nut covers loosening up and falling off or losing the hub cap? I go back tomorrow to get the truck and I would love to show the dealer something saying other 04 Silverado owners have had the same problem. Thanks for any comments you can provide.

jbettens · #2 08-12-2004, 01:34 AM

Not sure if it is the same problem but a co-workker had a rock caught between his rim and brale caliper. Ended up cit right thru his rim and tire was separated from the truck (2004 model). Apparently this is not the first ruck it happened to. He is suppose to send me some picks, I will post when I ge them. Not enough clearance for the brake caliper was the explanation he got from the dealer??

brumleveb · #3 08-12-2004, 12:15 PM

I would think that the problem would be more with the lugnuts than with the rims. Those plastic covers screw onto threads that are on the outside of the lugnuts.

cljonez · #4 08-13-2004, 01:15 AM

I agree and Chevy can't figure that out. I just want to prove to them that other people out there have the same problem and that I am not out to just get free rims. They replaced the lug nut covers with new plastic ones and after a day or so they loosened up and started coming off. It seems that when they heat up they loosen but for whatever reason Chevy thinks I'm probably loosening them before I get to the lot. Thanks for your input brumleveb

PipeDreamsMarine · #5 08-13-2004, 09:00 AM

I have an 02 1500HD with the alu. rims. The black plastic lugnuts that hold the center cap on are allways a little loose ,but i've never lost a cap. But I'm waiting for day that I don't see all 4..

prtygood · #6 08-13-2004, 08:09 PM

I just lost one last week on the way to the beach. All were loose. Everyone i know has trouble with them. The plastic caps that hold them on only grab by about 1 1/2 threads, therefor need to be longer. Chevrolet should re-call.

cljonez · #7 08-15-2004, 02:03 AM

Well, my truck spent a couple of days at the dealer and they changed rims and caps and nut covers and when I drove it home and parked it I checked the hubs and the plastic nut covers and two fell off. Not just the nut covers but the caps too. I guess it's back to the dealer and maybe go balistic on them. GM seems to think that there is not a problem so it is good to hear that it's not just my truck with this problem.

prtygood · #8 08-15-2004, 10:31 PM

I wrote to GM. I will let everybody know what I find out.

cljonez · #9 08-16-2004, 01:03 AM

It'll be interesting to see what kind of response you get. I'll be sure to let you know what the dealer does. So far they say GM says no one else has ever complained. Maybe it time for a campaign.

prtygood · #10 08-17-2004, 09:59 PM

GM's first reply was to make me an appointment at my local dealer. I replied back, that I've already been down that road, and that I feel it's not something the dealer can fix using the same crappy caps that thread onto the klug nuts. I'll keep you posted

cljonez · #11 08-18-2004, 01:27 AM

I've been doing some searching on the net for 04 Silverado recalls and there are a few out there in case you aren't aware. I went to this site and there are two that are interesting. Brakes and tail gate cables.
http://www.dmv.org/vehicle-tire-recalls.php
It'll be interesting to see what else GM has to say about the plastic lug nut covers. I still haven't been back to my dealer but will be going back there soon.

prtygood · #12 08-24-2004, 08:46 PM

Talked to GM customer satisfaction again today. GM is to be replacing lost caps. I got a new cap and all new lug caps ( the black plastic caps tha hold the center caps on). GM is supposed to be working on a solution. Keep ya posted. I watch for recalls on the GM owners club site.

cljonez · #13 08-24-2004, 11:29 PM

Thanks for keeping us up to date on what is happening at your end of this problem. When we took the truck back to the dealer the last time they took the rims off another truck like mine and put my tires on those rims. By the time I got home which is about 40 min. away I could pull two off and when we got home this Sunday (road trip pulling 30ft. trailer) I pulled the last two off. It seems they, the black plastic caps, heat up on the downhill and then after they cool off they secure themselves back on the nut. GM sent an investigator out to the Chevy dealer here and they took pictures of a "truck like mine" and said they will have quality control take a look and see if they can come up with a solution. You'd think they would have wanted to see my rims but that didn't seem to be an issue for them. Thanks for keeping me posted and let me know how the new caps and nut covers hold up.

prtygood · #14 08-25-2004, 01:20 AM

You are exactly right. Mine come loose quicker when pulling my RV. (30 ft. / 9000 GVW). The rear caps are the worse, mainly because the rear axles get hotter and transfer the heat outward to the wheels. I explained htis to the GM rep.

cljonez · #15 09-05-2004, 01:08 AM

Just thought I'd update you on what Chevy has come up with.........Nothing so far, not even a phone call. I still don't know what they can tell from pics but we'll see. Everytime I see a Chevy truck with the same kind of rims I want to ask if they have the same kind of problem but there's never anyone around to ask. Happy holidays!

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