I have a 1969 four-door Dart Custom. It's still factory-configured. On the left front wheel, the hubcap makes a 'metal flexing' type noise twice every revolution of the wheel, and comes loose about one half inch after even a short drive. The noise subsides when vehicle weight is put on the wheel (e.g. making a right turn).

Trying to troubleshoot this, I swapped that hubcap for the one on the right rear. While doing this, I noticed that the wheel had quite a bit of surface rust, some of which I cleaned up with a wire brush but not all. It still makes the noise, but it got a little quieter. I noticed also that only four lug nuts are present.

I've recently installed new wheel bearings on both front wheels, and they are working just fine. What could be causing the hubcap to make the weird noise and come loose?

I'd get all the lugnuts on there. They don't weigh much, but could be causing the wheel to be unbalanced and wobble.

So far you know its not the hubcap itself. Try swapping left and right wheels. If it still does it only on one side, then start looking into brakes/suspension causing a vibration.

Get that corner up on a jack and spin the wheel by hand to see if you notice anything.

My 65 used to do this when I had the stock caps on. I think it's the wheel flexing and making the cap move around. I have seen wheel covers siliconed on to stop the noise!
Maybe it's time for some modern (larger?) wheels...

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"A mechanic is Somebody."
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Uh...

Tighten the hubcap?

Just tweak the tabs a bit so that they dig in harder...

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

My hubcaps squeak too. It's the outer edge rubbing on the rim as the wheel flexes. The hubcap wore through the paint to bare metal.

yes, tweak the tabs so they dig in more. They loose their dig-in ability with age.

Anyone got an idea what to slip over the edge of the hubcaps to prevent them from rubbing on the rim and eliminate the squeak?

I have seen people apply a layer of electrical tape, stuck / streched around the outer edge of the hubcap so most of the tape hangs towards the wheel side.

I never had the time for that so I just glue them down with a few dabs of RTV. The trouble with using RTV is you have to wait a while before driving the car or the stuff gets all over the place.
DD

D/W and Craig,

Bending the tabs out did the trick all right! Thanks for the tip. I'd imagine anyone still having noise trouble after bending the tabs could try repainting the wheels, at least in the areas where it's worn to bare metal.

I just made a donation to the Slant Six Forum. It's the best diagnostic tool I've used so far on my new toy!

You did install the 5th lugnut while you were at it, right?

Not yet--I'm thinking of ordering a standard replacement set of wheel studs/lugs instead of trying to find just the one reverse-threaded lug.