Best way to remove hub caps

[charlesblankinship]

I had my disk wheels re-chromed and new hub caps. When it comes time to remove the hub caps to rotate tires or fix a flat what is the best way to remove the hub caps and do as little damage as possible to the hub caps or wheels.

[Jim Karaba]

I wrap painters tape around the tip of a thin flat blade screw driver and pry them off at the indentions in the wheel made just for that purpose.

[Ron LaDow]

Around the periphery of the raised 'rim' where the edge of the hubcap rests when installed, there are several (4?) depressed sections. You stick a good sized flat-blade screw driver in there and give a shove to the handle with the heel of you hand; off they come.
I guess you could use some sort of soft metal or hard plastic blade to the same effect, but I can't think of a common tool like that.

[Kevin Wills]

Maybe a door panel removing tool, Ron? What do you think?
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_trim-fastener-and-molding-removal-set-otc_28030045-p?searchTerm=trim+removal+tool

[steverestelli]

Here is the tool that is supposed to be used. I have ordered one, but haven't tried it yet.

[Ron LaDow]

Kevin,
Whack the back end of any of those with the heel of you hand and you better hope your coverage didn't get canceled last week!
If Brad doesn't beat me to it, I think there might be a new Pre Mat tool offering...

[Ron LaDow]

Steve,
That's for drum brakes. Most folks I know never used the tool, but that was when a couple of nicks in the wheel finish never got noticed.

[Adam Wright]

It's also a good idea to put down a towel or something to "catch" the cap if it flies off.

[Jeffrey Leeds]

There are two "hardness's" of such tools, one for interior trim pieces, typically blue in color, and one for exterior work, which in my case are yellow. These are available at Harbor Freight, for less than $10.00, I think. You want the hard one's for this job. And be sure to follow Adam's advice and put a large size towel or blanket down to prevent scratches. You'd be surprised how ar a hub cap can fly if you really whack the pry tool.

[Larry Coreth]

Guys,
Let us make sure we are all talking about the same thing here !
The A,B hub caps were removed best using the factory tool provided in the tool kit as pictured by Steve. However the C's (disk brakes) required a flat blade screw driver, the best one being the flat blade one from the C tool kit as described bu Ron
BTW it is advisable to hold on to the hub cap while popping it off !!

[Sebastian Gaeta]

Trim stick used by glass installers works best:

http://techprods.en.ec21.com/offer_deta ... ml?gubun=B

Go by any glass shop and they'll either give you one or sell it for a couple of dollars at the most.

When using one of these you don't have to be worried about being ham-fisted with a flat blade screwdriver and marring the wheels.

Also works great installing any trim pieces around your paint like the tail light housing to body seals.

[Mike Graul]

Although I've never seen this tool in any of Charlie White's accessory catalogs, I believe it to be an original factory item. The material appears to be poplar (German?). It is compact, lightweight and easily stores anywhere. Most importantly, it will not mar your wheels, painted or chrome.

Mike Graul

[Larry Coreth]

Mike,

I like that tool !! simple, easily made, looks effective.

[Jon Schmid]

I like that tool !! simple, easily made, looks effective.

Just like my Roadster hubcap puller made from a coat hanger: simple, easily made, effective, looks ugly.

[Brad Ripley]

See vendor announcements section for windshield seal install tool. To use as a disc brake wheel hubcap tool, you might want to grind it a little thinner on one end. And yes, watch out for flying hubcaps.