Hi
I am interested in replacing the center insert/caps (the star shaped gray insert) on the rims for the car I just bought. The inserts look to be a separate piece from the rims. Are they easy to remove and replace with some new ones? Must the wheel be removed or do they somehow pop out? Any help would be appreciated.

The car is very nice. Thanks to all that helped me decide due to this great forum!

 

welcome to CL

you can remove them without taking off the wheels. just loosen those 10 small bolts (2 on each spoke) holding the cover to the wheel and you are good to go. careful on loosing the bolts, over time they might be stuck

 

Thanks Romini. The rims I have dont have any external fasteners that i can see. Here is a picture of the rim. Are they behind the wheel? Or do they have some sort of snap holding them in? I didnt want to bend one tryig to pry it off.

Thanks.

 

It's been a few years, but if I remember correctly, you just take off the lugnuts and pop off the center star... no need to jack up the car. (Pardon me if my memory is failing me...)

 

All of the above -- the centers are held on by the lugs, by screws in the back, and by plastic tabs on the back of the spoke. You could probably do it without removing the wheels, but you'd be best off it you could see what you're doing (a jack would probably do the trick)

 

ah that style of wheels, sorry i was thinking the other

yeah robsvdp pretty much covered it. taking the wheel will make things so much easier

 

jgriffter, I got some of those center insert/caps for sell if you need them, please let me know.

I took them off my 06' SC430, they are the factory satin (non-shinny) finish.

 

I have a 2002 with the pie inserts, have checked with a couple of dealers and the best price I would get for the replacement star inserts is around 175 per wheel!!..only ones on ebay are chrome, and I need the satin finish....anyone know where I can get a set at a more resonable price?

Tom

 

have you tried checking with carson and sewell?

 

If you email the vendors on Ebay they will sell you the satin finsh caps. They just don't have an add up at this time. When I bought my chrome caps all that was on Ebay were satin finish and the black finish. I asked if they carried the Chrome and 15 minutes later there was a new Buy it now add for the Chrome caps!

 

checked with Sewel and they have the 2002 satin star caps are 160+ apiece...emailed the vendor who had the chrome ones on ebay, and he said no satin ones...guess I will just have to keep looking

 

twarmbrod,
Do a search on center caps from tfeni52355 in the SC430 forum and you will see all of my replies to this request. I bought satin fiinish star center caps from an E-Bay dealer called LexusStLouis for $200 for the whole set. Good Luck. Check out the link.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc-...lp-me-out.html

 

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I replaced the center inserts this weekend. You do have to take the wheel off to access five small nuts that hold the inserts to the wheel (the inserts have five small bolts). From there, just snap out the small "tooth" at the end of each insert points. I replaced the damaged satin ones with some chromes. I like the look - at least until I decide to change the rims. Makes the Tiger Eye Mica color pop.