Painted Stock Steel Wheels Black? Center Caps?

For those who have painted their stock steel wheels black:

1. Did you also keep and paint black your plastic stock center cap?

2. Did you buy/use another brand of center cap?

3. Are you center capless and removed them all together?

 

Bump. Anybody?

 

I went color match for the center caps.

 

This is just my opinion, but I think pulling your stock rims off and rattle-caning them is kind of stupid. If you decide to change the color of your stock rims, powder coating is the only method I would consider acceptable. I don't care if you rattle can 54 coats of black and 242317429876 coats of clear, you're still going to get rock chips and look like a cheap ass. Just my 2 cents.

 

I agree and disagree. I agree that spray canning them is not he best idea, However I originally had my power coated. Im not sure if the guy did it wrong or just sucked but the finish started peeling off after about 6 months. By the time I went to take them back he had gone out of business. So I had them redone. I had them sandblasted / 2 coats of zinc primer to prevent rust/2 coats of black painted by a body shop/5 coats of clear by a body shop. They look great and its holding up really well. Actually better than I expected. This , however, would be pretty pricey but my father runs a fabrication shop so the sandblasting and zinc priming was free and my wifes uncle owns a body shop and the painting was done for the cost of materials.

 

Thanks for the replies, good to see we have some options. I have seen some recent photos of leaving the caps off and just painting the axle ends. It did not look that bad. The stock caps seem to not show much of the lug nuts were the TRD and FJ caps do allow the lug nuts to show. I have a set of the metal FJ caps, the only problem is they are fairly easy to rub with tire removal/rotation not allowing much room to access the lug nuts with tire tools. They are not easliy removed once snapped in place. Also do you guys like the stock chrome or black lug nuts with the painted black wheels?

 

I could be wrong But I dont even think these caps work with the steel wheels. Completely different setup. Correct me if Im wrong.

Post a pic of the FJ caps if they work the the stock 6 lug steelies. I bought powder coated black lugs from summit racing ($18 total) but Gorilla makes a couple different color chrome lugs.

 

Thanks for the info. Here ya go.

 

Here is a pic of my truck. They are the stock wheels. I took the center caps off and painted the wheels black. I also painted the hub black too.I personally like the look without the center caps better.

 

I know mine's a first gen but you get the idea. I left them silver.

 

That looks great, man! I've been thinking about "rattle canning" my stock steelies and I'm diggin the look with the caps silver. How did you have your's painted?