Post by riffraff on Nov 8, 2006 11:56:27 GMT -5
Hubcap Clip Comparison
Brazilian and German
Background
We all know that, as a rule, German VW parts are superior to Brazilian VW parts. We also all know that German parts cost more than Brazilian parts. One thing that we all seem to like to do in the endless care and feeding of our buses, is try to figure out which cheaper, Brazilian parts will be “good enough”, so that we do not have to shell out the extra coin if we don’t have to. If we can save a little on every part, eventually we could have saved enough to buy another bus – or maybe a second pair of shoes for the children.
But I digress.
I doubt anyone needs to hear again how we need to buy all German parts for our braking system, or German gas line for the fuel systems. We all already know that, so no sense in hammering an already flattened rivet (A little metaphorical hubcap clip humour there).
There are hundreds, if not thousands of other, less critical components on our buses that may not have to be same quality as original in order to adequately serve the purpose for which they were originally intended.
Things like the innocuous hubcap clip.
Hubcap Clips
A quick check of the Wolfsburg West site brings up a price of $3.50 US for the Brazilian clips and $5.00 US for the German clips. On a product such as this, one would think that $1.50 US is not much money to spend for a higher quality part, but human nature being what it is; the Brazilian clips get ordered a lot I think.
The German clip and rivet are on the left and the Brazilian clip and rivet are on the right
The issue that I am going to tackle in this article is to decide whether or not the German clips are superior enough to the Brazilian clips to warrant the extra expenditure. The problem with the Brazilian clips (supposedly) is that they tend to fatigue (read break) much earlier than the German ones. The German clips will bend back and forth (which they inevitably do when a hubcap comes on and off) many more times before they break off. If the unwary consumer is going to fork out a 40% premium for German clips, they should be getting a better quality clip.
I took a German clip and rivet and a Brazilian clip and rivet and did a destructive test on them to quantify the difference in quality between the two.
The first thing I noticed was the difference in height between the two. The German clip is much taller than the Brazilian clip and is bent differently. It also has a little raised area on the end of the clip that the Brazilians ones do not have. That is the identifying characteristic of the German clips (see pic).
The odd thing about the height differences between the two clips is that the German ones are taller than original clips and the Brazilian ones are shorter than original clips. The Brazilian rivet is about 1 mm longer than the German rivet though, so if you happen to have a rivet hole that has been hogged out, the Brazilian rivet may do a better job of filling it up. I test fit the different clips on a stock hubcap to see which shape was better for both holding the hubcap on and which worked smoothest for removal/installation. That test was inconclusive as I did not have a wheel with all Brazilian clips to work with.
Removal of Broken Clips
In my quest to reveal the arcane knowledge surrounding the perennial hubcap clip question, I experimented with various methods of removing the broken clips and rivets. The best method I found was to grind off the domed head of the old rivet and drive it out of the rim with a hammer and punch. The old clip is a buffer between the grinding wheel and the rim if you happen to be too aggressive with the grinder and there is no rivet hole damage- which can occur if the rivet is drilled out (Ask me how I know).
The Destructive Test
I took a German and a Brazilian clip, snugged them into a Vice Grip™ and bent them both back and forth to simulate hubcap removal and installation until they failed. The method I used was to push the area that contacts the hubcap back about 45 degrees twelve times, then bend it back past its original position and repeat the cycle. I tried to simulate hubcap removal and installation as close as possible.
The Brazilian clip did not even survive one full cycle. The twelve minor bends back were no problem, but when I attempted to actually alter the bend to return it to past its original position, it snapped. It was also rather difficult to bend, suggesting it was harder steel than the German clip.
The German clip survived 10 complete bend cycles. That’s 120 minor bends and ten angle altering bends. Probably about a decade’s worth of flexing.
The German and Brazilian rivets seemed to perform about the same.
One would hope that the German clips costing 40% more would have at least 40% more lifespan, but the reality is that have more than ten times the lifespan! – 1000%! An order of magnitude!
Conclusion
The Brazilian clips are not worth buying under any circumstances! If you cannot afford the extra $1.50 (US) for the German clips, drive without hubcaps until you save up the extra bread.
The German clips survived the repeated bending process well enough to be highly recommended as replacements for broken clips on wide five VW wheels.
The German clips can be found at Concept 1 in Calgary, or online at Wolfsburg West. CIP only carries Brazilian ones
Brazilian and German
Background
We all know that, as a rule, German VW parts are superior to Brazilian VW parts. We also all know that German parts cost more than Brazilian parts. One thing that we all seem to like to do in the endless care and feeding of our buses, is try to figure out which cheaper, Brazilian parts will be “good enough”, so that we do not have to shell out the extra coin if we don’t have to. If we can save a little on every part, eventually we could have saved enough to buy another bus – or maybe a second pair of shoes for the children.
But I digress.
I doubt anyone needs to hear again how we need to buy all German parts for our braking system, or German gas line for the fuel systems. We all already know that, so no sense in hammering an already flattened rivet (A little metaphorical hubcap clip humour there).
There are hundreds, if not thousands of other, less critical components on our buses that may not have to be same quality as original in order to adequately serve the purpose for which they were originally intended.
Things like the innocuous hubcap clip.
Hubcap Clips
A quick check of the Wolfsburg West site brings up a price of $3.50 US for the Brazilian clips and $5.00 US for the German clips. On a product such as this, one would think that $1.50 US is not much money to spend for a higher quality part, but human nature being what it is; the Brazilian clips get ordered a lot I think.
The German clip and rivet are on the left and the Brazilian clip and rivet are on the right
The issue that I am going to tackle in this article is to decide whether or not the German clips are superior enough to the Brazilian clips to warrant the extra expenditure. The problem with the Brazilian clips (supposedly) is that they tend to fatigue (read break) much earlier than the German ones. The German clips will bend back and forth (which they inevitably do when a hubcap comes on and off) many more times before they break off. If the unwary consumer is going to fork out a 40% premium for German clips, they should be getting a better quality clip.
I took a German clip and rivet and a Brazilian clip and rivet and did a destructive test on them to quantify the difference in quality between the two.
The first thing I noticed was the difference in height between the two. The German clip is much taller than the Brazilian clip and is bent differently. It also has a little raised area on the end of the clip that the Brazilians ones do not have. That is the identifying characteristic of the German clips (see pic).
The odd thing about the height differences between the two clips is that the German ones are taller than original clips and the Brazilian ones are shorter than original clips. The Brazilian rivet is about 1 mm longer than the German rivet though, so if you happen to have a rivet hole that has been hogged out, the Brazilian rivet may do a better job of filling it up. I test fit the different clips on a stock hubcap to see which shape was better for both holding the hubcap on and which worked smoothest for removal/installation. That test was inconclusive as I did not have a wheel with all Brazilian clips to work with.
Removal of Broken Clips
In my quest to reveal the arcane knowledge surrounding the perennial hubcap clip question, I experimented with various methods of removing the broken clips and rivets. The best method I found was to grind off the domed head of the old rivet and drive it out of the rim with a hammer and punch. The old clip is a buffer between the grinding wheel and the rim if you happen to be too aggressive with the grinder and there is no rivet hole damage- which can occur if the rivet is drilled out (Ask me how I know).
The Destructive Test
I took a German and a Brazilian clip, snugged them into a Vice Grip™ and bent them both back and forth to simulate hubcap removal and installation until they failed. The method I used was to push the area that contacts the hubcap back about 45 degrees twelve times, then bend it back past its original position and repeat the cycle. I tried to simulate hubcap removal and installation as close as possible.
The Brazilian clip did not even survive one full cycle. The twelve minor bends back were no problem, but when I attempted to actually alter the bend to return it to past its original position, it snapped. It was also rather difficult to bend, suggesting it was harder steel than the German clip.
The German clip survived 10 complete bend cycles. That’s 120 minor bends and ten angle altering bends. Probably about a decade’s worth of flexing.
The German and Brazilian rivets seemed to perform about the same.
One would hope that the German clips costing 40% more would have at least 40% more lifespan, but the reality is that have more than ten times the lifespan! – 1000%! An order of magnitude!
Conclusion
The Brazilian clips are not worth buying under any circumstances! If you cannot afford the extra $1.50 (US) for the German clips, drive without hubcaps until you save up the extra bread.
The German clips survived the repeated bending process well enough to be highly recommended as replacements for broken clips on wide five VW wheels.
The German clips can be found at Concept 1 in Calgary, or online at Wolfsburg West. CIP only carries Brazilian ones
;D If you are feeling bored and looking for things to do, just give me a call and head on out to good old Saskatoon. I have a 56 oval in a million pieces and could use a hand. 