Okay, so I need some new dust caps for the two front spindles on Gus. I tried to order them from Mazda and they are both discontinued. No problem I thought, I'll just get some Dorman ones from Advance and use those instead. So I got the Dorman 618-503 dust caps. Appeared to be the right size before I ordered. Got them and tried them. No go. Does ANYONE know of a replacement spindle dust cap that will work on our cars? The previous owner beat the hell out of mine trying to reinstall them cause he was not very mechanically inclined. As such they are all bent up and deformed and really don't seal out the dirt and road grime like they should. It shouldn't be this hard to find these stupid little things. Why can't I find any the right size for the 7? HELP!

 

Try a trailer repair shop, they probably have it

 

I've seen a bunch of trailer parts online that look very similar but I can't seem to find any that are the right size. There sure are a bunch that are kinda close. I was hoping maybe someone has already solved this problem ahead of me, and had a part number or a work around they could share. I guess we'll wait and see if anybody chimes in....

 

A parts store Dorman cap worked for me, but I had to crinkle the end to fit in hub and tap into place. Not elegant but worked.

NLA from Mazda? I must've grabbed one of the last ones.

 

Any idea which dorman cap you used? I tried to crumple the end on the one I bought but it still won't fit into the bore in the brake rotor. Even beat on it with a dead blow hammer but no luck.

 

Can you give us an O.D. measurement and dome height on the stock dust cap Jamie? I'd like to find some new ones too.

But after poking around, I see what you mean, there doesn't seem to be a stock replacement.

That leaves us with matching the dimensions of a generic part, like those trailer caps.

 

OD of the surface that gets inserted into the brake rotor is approx. 1.880" - 1.885". Overall height is about 1.100". My measurements may be a little bit off. The previous owner fubar'd my caps so bad I can only get so close on the measurements. Pics attached.

 

40.5mm diameter, 8mm engagement length, 25mm total height. The ones on our race car were so bad that I saved a set off of a rusted shell we took to the crusher.

 

I bought some dorman 618-503 caps. They are spoon close but just a little bit too big of an OD. I tried crumpling them in a little bit with a set of needle nose pliers. Still won't quite go though.

 

My measurements are for a 1985. Not sure if your 40.5mm measurement is accurate. That's only 1.59". That's not even close to what I got when I measured. I agree with your other two numbers though. Are yours off of a 1979-1983? They may possibly be smaller.

 

Good point, they did come from a 79

 

Right on. Thanks for confirming. I knew they were different part numbers so that explains why!

 

I was wondering if my 83 caps are different from my 84/85 caps, they look a little different installed. But then I thought all the FB struts were the same. I'll have to check.

Jamie, maybe if you cut three or four symmetrically placed cuts in the metal that inserts into the rotor on those slightly over sized Dorman units, using as wide a blade as you can find, you can make them fit.

This may create enough give to insert the unit without pounding the hell out of it.

Alternatively, here's one on ebay, diameter 9/16" (39.69 mm) that might be just a bit undersized, if the stock diameter is 40.5 as mhr650 reports. A wrap or two of duct tape around the insertion part of the unit might make it fit nice and snug. The price is a bit steep on this ebay auction, but once we know the part we can probably find it cheaper.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wheel-Spindle-Dust-Cap-Ford-Chrysler-Dodge-Plymouth-Toyota-60s-70s-1-9-16-/120787116677?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c1f792285&vxp=mtr

 

I couldn't find it yesterday, but I remember grabbing it off the rack at a parts store. My car's a small axle '82, now that I'm seeing there's a difference.

 

I purchased a pair from Mazdatrix about a year ago before they where discontinued for my 84 gs. 29.25mm overall height, 8mm lip height, and 48.50mm OD. part# H001-33-071

 

I wonder if a miata or other mazda model from the same time period shares the same part# ?

 

H001 i think would be a 626, from around 1983

 

I see the same part number H001-33-071 listed in the 1986 Mazda 929 parts diagram:

 

I may have found a replacement for us? Looks like some kind of trailer parts from the other side of the pond? 48.5mm OD. Not quite as tall. only 20mm but I think they may work. I'm thinking about pulling the trigger and giving them a shot...

48 5 mm Knott Metal Grease Dust Wheel Hub Cap Trailer Wheels | eBay

 

Why Knott?

 

 

That was really bad DD.

And Jamie, those caps don't look very Mazda-like. Are you sure you want Gus to endure the pain?

They kind of remind me of those GM igniters that Tim puts in his SA.

Give us another day or two, we'll uncover a stash of OEM Mazda spindle dust caps for sure.

 

Both these places show to have them in stock~

https://www.parts.com/index.cfm?fuse...%3D-GREASE-CAP

Grease cap for 1985 Mazda RX-7 H00133071 Securely buy online today - it's fast and easy.

 

Looks like they are just resellers of OEM parts. If you order it from them they are just going to try to buy it from a Mazda dealer, and then come back and tell you it's discontinued. I don't think they actually stock any parts.

 

I'll have you know Mr. Green that Gus will be utilizing GM HEI igniters as well due to their lower price and vast superiority! I'll leave the J109s for the guys that would take a liking to clutch fans and rat nests.