Hubcap removal

[Mrbrylcreem]

Hello. I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas as to removing hubcaps from freshly powder coated rims. I would hate to chip the new powder coating on my rims.

[Don Coatney]

https://www.google.com/search?q=hub+cap+removal+tool&tbm=isch&imgil=GhacRsG-TWILjM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcR48cXk3ld5fzxX21ux-apAZr9_OFOjD0m6Z6ySW02KaeBreOJs7g%253B300%253B300%253BJDtPehd36sCX9M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.amazon.com%25252FTools-Remover-Model-52114-Misc%25252Fdp%25252FB0000AXBKB&source=iu&usg=__186UkbdkGZwttleGNSXULmRlsbE%3D&sa=X&ei=um4UU_K6IIuPkAe93IC4BA&ved=0CEkQ9QEwAg&biw=1366&bih=673#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=GhacRsG-TWILjM%253A%3BJDtPehd36sCX9M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fecx.images-amazon.com%252Fimages%252FI%252F31hxGrC3GWL._SY300_.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.amazon.com%252FTools-Remover-Model-52114-Misc%252Fdp%252FB0000AXBKB%3B300%3B300

[HanksB3B]

I'm feeling your pain but I ain't got no hub caps (yet). I know hindsight is 20/20 but would it make sense to grease both the clips and the hub cap itself prior to installation. 

 

Here are my wheels fresh of of the oven.

 

 

 

Got Hubcap$ ?

 

Hank 

Edited March 4, 2014 by HanksB3B

[Young Ed]

Hank you're changing to stock wheels??? Has anyone used a tool like that on our style hubcap/wheel combination?

[Plymouthy Adams]

unfortunately, having your cake and eating it too is not always possible...hub caps are interference fit be they dog dish or full dish..the clips are designed to have high pressure tension and the process of  putting them on is greater than the retaining pressure...the dish has cleats that are designed to cut into the metal rim..,,even the cap itself is going to shift some on the wheel during braking and acceleration to some degree..this is also an abrasive action..you can design a special backing for the cap if dog dish to prevent some chaffing...maybe a Teflon coating of some sort or not install them...even the very action of mounting the wheel is going to break down your very coating be it paint or powder coating the clamping force of the lug nut will also start the breakdown of the protective film on immediate install...yeah..hard pill to swallow after the cost of powder coating is paid and reality of mounting and actual use sets in..

 

as an added note I think some European style poverty caps had holes in the caps on one edge for inserting a special clip that would then allow pulling the cap without using the rim as a brace or blocking device in the process...however..this very action does exert pressure to the opposite side of the cap and promotes chaffing/chipping...not sure you will find a method that does not

Edited March 4, 2014 by Plymouthy Adams

[_shel_ny]

Grease them and wait for them to pass you on the highway

[Merle Coggins]

I usually just get my finger tips behind the lip of the hub cap and pull it off. If that fails I carefully get a screwdriver behind to get a bigger gap, then pull with my fingers.

 

Otherwise I believe a tool like this would work well. Available from Matco Tools, and I suppose others too.

[Brent B3B]

how about using "plasti dip" on a screw driver and do as Merle suggested?

[wdoland]

I use a toilet plunger. Sucks those babies off in about 2 seconds.

[Jerry Roberts]

I have used a brake shoe adjusting tool  with electrical tape covering the business end of the tool . Whatever you pry with , cover the end with tape to prevent scratching . 

[HanksB3B]

This is funny. All I have to say is spooge. (Not sponge). They are nylon tools typically used to remove inner door panels on modern vehicles.

 

I'll explain later

 

Grease them and wait for them to pass you on the highwa

 

Hank 

Edited March 5, 2014 by HanksB3B

[pflaming]

I have a tire iron and a four nut spinner in my truck. I push the screwdriver edge under the lip of the cap and twist the iron. Pops the cap off really easy. But I don't like the iron for removing the nuts.

[Dodgeb4ya]

On my 1946-48 Chryslers there is a factory hubcap removal tire iron and metal hook tool built onto the iron.You hook the 4" metal hook part of the iron under the hubcap and use the long tire iron leverage to pull the cap off the rim. These Chryslers have a highly polished full 4" width stainless trim ring that fits tightly underneath the cap  so you have to use this removal tool so as to not damage the trim ring or cap.

Bob

[Plymouthy Adams]

I have seen those removal tools Bob..but did not the metal trim rings also have a cut out where one can insert a normal style pry bar..I know a couple of my English cars has these voided areas....I have a set of Plymouth rings here but to be honest I have not place my eyes on them for years..boxed up and stored away here at the house somewhere...

[Dodgeb4ya]

Tim,

There is no special insertion notch on the cap or trim ring to remove the chrysler caps from the wheel and trim ring. They are really tighly clinched together.

You must use a special hook or the factory chrysler tool to get the hubcap away from that very $$$$$$ unavailable 4" smooth trim ring!!

[Young Ed]

Tim,

There is no special insertion notch on the cap or trim ring to remove the chrysler caps from the wheel and trim ring. They are really tighly clinched together.

You must use a special hook or the factory chrysler tool to get the hubcap away from that very $$$$$$ unavailable 4" smooth trim ring!!

 

Do the p15 wheel rings like that require the same tool? Seems like they would.

[Charles Furman]

I use a plastic putty knife.  The kind you might use for chalking.  I just shove it under the hubcap and twist it.  Doesn't hurt the powder coat on the wheel or the hubcap.