Marauder center caps won't fit flush!

[Marauder731]

Purchased two new center caps for my 04 Marauder and for some reason they won't pop and lock all the way in like the ones on the opposite side of my car! Anyone else have this issue or have any tips on making this happen? Help please! Thanks!

[2mercs]

Could be mustang wheels. The marauder centers don't sit flush on those.

[RubberCtyRauder]

You prolly have the mustang version of the wheels which are the same except the center cap sticks out about 1/8 th inch

[junior]

You prolly have the mustang version of the wheels which are the same except the center cap sticks out about 1/8 th inch

And I don't believe the Mustang wheels are forged. Maybe someone curbed that bad boy or it had a salvage title and had to replace wheels?

[RubberCtyRauder]

Mustang ones are forged. He might have 2 mustang ones or are aftermarket cast. Have to pull them abd see markings on back

[sailsmen]

Chiiiiina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[catchmenow]

wat do u mean are they loose in the hole

[Marauder731]

The drivers side center caps on front AND rear sit perfectly flush. The two on the passenger side won't fit. The front one sits flush but sits loose and you are able to spin it around, the rear one sticks out about an eight of an inch AND is loose and spins around. Maybe I just know how to install them properly? Shouldn't I be able to just pop them in by hand? Or do I need a towel and a rubber mallet? Maybe I have to turn them? I don't know, super frustrating because I'm kind of a perfectionist and I like my stuff to look clean and match.... Ugh!....��

[RubberCtyRauder]

You need to pop off the wheels and post pics of the markings so we can see if oem marauder rims or oem mustang equivalent or reproduction

[Marauder731]

I'm the second owner of this car and I called the first owner and he assured me
that the rims are OEM original. He bought he car brand new. So I don't think the rims are the issue... The center caps are brand new too....

[Turbov6Bryan]

Compare the old caps to the new ones

[Marauder731]

Identical as far as I can tell...

[RubberCtyRauder]

Ive had luck popping the metal ring off the back of the center cap and making it a little oblong (it has a split in it) and putting it back in, that spreads the tabs a tad and adds some tension..cant go too far or the tabs might break

[sailsmen]

Take the caps off the other side and see if they fit. Also try putting the new caps in the holes frm the caps you took off.

Try lube.

[Marauder731]

Okay guys, thanks, I am going to try out some of your suggestions, I will let you know what happens!

[Marauder731]

Okay, so upon further inspection, it DOES appear that the lip on the rear rim (the side the center cap won't go flush on) has a much shallower lip where the ring on the center cap sits, which would explain why it won't go in all the way, the other side has a much deeper groove where the center cap ring (the beige thing) sits. I believe the rim may be aftermarket.... Meh

[sailsmen]

CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINA!

[Sully008]

Okay, so upon further inspection, it DOES appear that the lip on the rear rim (the side the center cap won't go flush on) has a much shallower lip where the ring on the center cap sits, which would explain why it won't go in all the way, the other side has a much deeper groove where the center cap ring (the beige thing) sits. I believe the rim may be aftermarket.... Meh

They may still be Mustang wheels as that's exactly where the difference is between the two. I know because I bought a pair that were listed as Marauder wheels, but aren't. You need to pull one off and see if there's a Ford part # on it.

[NXSBOB]

Look at this:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1421511&highlight=mustang#post1421511

[JoeBoomz]

The Mustang ones look almost identical in every way, except the center caps stick out and won't sit flush. I had good pics somewhere, will try to find them and post here.