Front wheel hub dust cap

[Bristol]

Hello All,

Put my fog lights in today. When I took off the plastic hubcaps I noticed the spindle nut on the front, looking back at me. Do our Mirages not come with hub dust caps?
The rear axle has them.
My Mirage is a 2019.
I just had it to the dealership a couple weeks back for its first oil change and tire rotation.
I am wondering if the technician left the caps off?
Can't imagine why they would remove them?
Is it possible it came that way front factory?
Anybody with a 2019, 2018, 2017.
care to chime in?
Mark, does your 2017 have front hub dust caps?
I am a bit aggravated if the factory or dealership left these off.

[Mark]

Hello All,

Put my fog lights in today. When I took off the plastic hubcaps I noticed the spindle nut on the front, looking back at me. Do our Mirages not come with hub dust caps?
The rear axle has them.
My Mirage is a 2019.
I just had it to the dealership a couple weeks back for its first oil change and tire rotation.
I am wondering if the technician left the caps off?
Can't imagine why they would remove them?
Is it possible it came that way front factory?
Anybody with a 2019, 2018, 2017.
care to chime in?
Mark, does your 2017 have front hub dust caps?
I am a bit aggravated if the factory or dealership left these off.

Spindle nut is exposed on my 2017 Mirage, too. I believe it would be that way for anyone with steel rims. The rear rims don't really have caps either. If you look closely, the front & rear rims aren't any different.

I wish the rims came with center caps, however. If so, I would consider ditching the plastic wheel covers some day. I just haven't made an effort to find a center cap that would work on these steel rims yet.

[Top_Fuel]

Yep...no dust cap on my 2015...

[Bristol]

Well, I feel a tad better, but I think its strange to not have a dust cap.
On mine, the rear is covered. I mean, I did not see a nut..
I'm gonna see about getting a dust cap of some sort.
Bugs me, the thought of dirt getting in there, in the bearings.
Thank for responding gentlemen.

[Wallythacker]

I suspect with interference bearing (zero clearance if interference is the wrong term) that unless you submerged them into salt water for days you'll be fine. cheap plastic car has near 300k miles and no issues with bearings.

[Fummins]

All having a dust cap on the front would do is keep your axle threads clean. The only vehicle I've ever seen that has a cap like the op is describing is a 99 and newer chev/gm full size truck. This is what the wheel bearing looks like for a mirage Attachment 15823 it's sealed already.
I think I remember someone here may have found a dust cap that fits the front though. It won't protect the bearing but will help keep the axle threads clean, so if you live in the rust belt it might not be a horrible idea.

[Wallythacker]

Ahh, so that's where the ABS encoder lives, in the wheel bearing. Not that it matters, but it explains why you can't use any heat when replacing bearings. Heat destroys magnetism in metal, right?

[Fummins]

I just use a press to remove them, then put new bearings in a freezer before installing into spindle. Then do the same for the hub.

[Wallythacker]

I've used that trick before with some Caravan issue. Wheel bearings I think. Also with snoscoots.

[Mirageman38]

MB809360 is part for the rear caps. about $2 each. If the back is the same as the front you could probably add them. They don't come on front.

https://www.mitsubishipartswarehouse...b809360?c=az0x