Frank S Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Search revealed the answer to question: "Must the wheels be off the car in order to remove and replace the center caps?" was "Yes", in 2008 et seq. I wonder if anyone has developed a more simple technique than hitting the back of the cap with a hammer handle or the like. Any likelihood that the right leverage can be applied without marring the cap or wheel? Strap wrench? Suction? When I was an active kid, I could rotate the tires in an hour or so; nowadays it's a half-day-long project. Plus, I'm lazy. Thanks for any help, in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-man Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I believe I recall someone posting that you can remove them by using a "heavy duty" suction cup. Stick the suction cup to the centercap, then give a sharp pull. Good luck! Z-man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank S Posted January 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Thank you, Z-man. I have an idle lever-operated suction cup from an outdated GPS device. Worth a try... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuLu Posted February 8, 2015 Report Share Posted February 8, 2015 Got mine off using a plastic pry tool used in interior repairs. A 14 year old auto thief showed me how. Lives two doors down and pinches center caps for eBay sales. Made friends with the punk, took him out back and showed him what a 12 gauge with Double Os do to a tree stump, and he promised me some piece of mind. But don't trust him. Y'all be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank S Posted February 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Got mine off using a plastic pry tool used in interior repairs. A 14 year old auto thief showed me how. Lives two doors down and pinches center caps for eBay sales. Made friends with the punk, took him out back and showed him what a 12 gauge with Double Os do to a tree stump, and he promised me some piece of mind. But don't trust him. Y'all be safe. I have just such a set of tools, but the ones with a thin-enough edge are not stiff enough.. Can you say what was the shape of the tool you used? And perhaps verbalize the technique? Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuLu Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 I have just such a set of tools, but the ones with a thin-enough edge are not stiff enough.. Can you say what was the shape of the tool you used? And perhaps verbalize the technique? Thank you. Well, it looks like a small scale crow bar, but flat. There is a V nothc in the center of the short end. It's flexible, won't mar the finish. You have to use something soft as a fulcrum, I use my wallet. Get a grip on the edge and pry up, like opening a bottle of soda. You won't get it out at once, you have to work around the edge until there is enough exposed to get a better grip on the cap, but when you do it enough times, you get a feel for it. Damn kid was fast, had small fingers, popped them out in seconds. In the time it took me to type this note, he'd be collecting his gain through mom's PayPal. BTW: hitting/punching the cap out from behind with something like the shank of a hammer or the butt of a large screwdriver seems the accepted manner of removal, as much as I have seen. Not since the days of the Magnum 500/Chevy SS wheels have I seen center caps bolted in place from the rear. Other than these two wheels, and the original Cragar SS, my experience is limited to what we see today. Hope this helps, y'all be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank S Posted February 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Thank you very much, LuLu. I might get a chance to perform this operation later today. WRT bolting them on from behind, I learned a substitute and effective way to keep the Shelby-type caps on the wheels, when I had a set of the spinners. They were so easy to lever off, the local dealer had to take them off the cars exposed on his lot for the night and replace them in the morning. Once the spinner caps are installed and the wheel is still off, slip a disk that barely fits where the spring is, so the prongs won't bend enough to let the cap be levered off. The hardware store offers a few choices. I can't remember what the size was, but if it's important enough someone who needs it will find it. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shel-b001 Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Just a quick tip if you track your car at anytime make sure remove your center caps as they are plastic & with hard braking the wheels get so hot it will melt the center cap clips & will fall off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank S Posted February 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 The good news: I removed the red-lettered caps and put the black ones (and black lugnuts) on: The not-so-good news: none of my manipulations, entreaties, finesses could get the original caps to release their grip sufficiently to let me get a pry-tool under the edge. In fact, with the mini-crowbar I got enough pressure on one cap to crack the edge and break a prong or two, so that one came off. I removed the other wheels and gave the caps a gentle tap in the back, and they fell in my hand. Live and learn, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank S Posted March 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 (Never mind) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shel-b001 Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 No need to remove the wheels to get those caps off. Mr. Lowe's kitchen accessory section coughed up the tool that works: POWER LOCK SUCTION utility hook. Offered in more than one size, the appropriate one for wheel center caps is a bit over an inch-and-a-half on the flexy part. The package bears numbers: 16607-RC431 above the code bars, 81492 16607 below. Stick that sucker on there by pressing hard on the center, lock it by pulling the hook down, and you have a fixture that allows for enough leverage to pop the cap off with surprisingly little effort. I didn't even apply the recommended moisture to the suction surface. At $1.98 for two-on-a-card, seems to me it's an essential bit of kit. Wow great tip Thanks Another handy tool for the tool box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shel-b001 Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 I just thought I hope no thieves read Franks post . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank S Posted March 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 I just thought I hope no thieves read Franks post . I'll remove it; yours, too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuLu Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 The good news: I removed the red-lettered caps and put the black ones (and black lugnuts) on: The not-so-good news: none of my manipulations, entreaties, finesses could get the original caps to release their grip sufficiently to let me get a pry-tool under the edge. In fact, with the mini-crowbar I got enough pressure on one cap to crack the edge and break a prong or two, so that one came off. I removed the other wheels and gave the caps a gentle tap in the back, and they fell in my hand. Live and learn, eh? You know, Frank, I'm sorry about this. My caps are different, an older style perhaps. But mine have a decent lip on them, and I have not had a problem. Sorry you broke stuff. Y'all be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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