algie928s4

Call me crazy but I used a standard garden fork, had real problems getting mine off and wandered the garage looking for inspiration, the fork spikes gripped the sides as i pushed down and the fork handle gave the leverage, off in 20 seconds......uncouth I know

vbatla

These worked great for me....

Ed Scherer

This has worked for me:

Vice Grip 11R.



Once you clamp it on, you can just rap on the knuckle with a hammer. Reposition and keep working your way around. Eventually, the cover will come off.


OTOH, maybe your cap is welded on.

leperboy

Maybe... Nah, there is no sign of welding or any damage to the hub that would impede it from coming free. It's just being a bitch. The hub cap has a nice shiny ring under the mushroom where the cold chisel was used, but I'm not concerned about looks. I just want to get the thing off.

I am going to try a BF pair of channel lock pliers next, work them around the diameter and wiggle and wiggle, as has been suggested here. Failing that, I may try to borrow Rob's 9615.

Thanks to all, so far, for the suggestions.

Matt

leperboy

Success! The solution that worked for me was a pair of channel lock pliers gripping the cap and working back and forth for about 30 minutes. I used 12" pliers and just used hand strength (no hammer) to wiggle up and down, turning the hub about 60 degrees between attempts. For about fifteen minutes or so, I saw nothing, then the slightest movement. After about 20 minutes or so, I could see that the hub had moved forward slightly. Wiggling became easier and it finally slid free.

I cleaned up the grease inside, loosened the allen bolt on the lock nut, turned the hub and tightened the lock nut until the tabbed washer moved just barely when prodded by a screwdriver. It took about 1/8th of a turn of the locknut. I tightened the allen nut. Packed everything in black moly grease and reinserted the cap with a a block of wood and a hammer to bang on it.

I put the wheel back on, tightened the lug nuts and shook the wheel. No more play when shaken at the 12-6 positions. Before, and what necessitated this, was I noticed a slight ticking over the weekend and then could hear a slight clunk when shaking 12-6. Drove the car and the ticking is gone.

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I probably would have given up without your help. It wasn't pretty or easy but it worked.

Matt