Steel Wheel Centre Hub Caps removal?

[dna]

Help please - time for an idiots question!

I have bought full wheel trims to improve the look on our motorhome (from the German dealer recommended in other posts).

As the weather is good today I thought I would get round to fitting them. However, I have failed at the first step!

The small central hub cap looks similar to the one in the first picture.

It has the cut out round one wheel bolt but not the rest.

The question is, am I right in thinking I have to remove four of the wheel bolts to get the cap off?
In which case is it also correct that the bolts will be ok to put back without the cap? I cant see that the trim is under the pressure to hold the wheel on.

Is there a way to remove the cap without undoing the bolts? The replacement trims will go over the bolts.

Thanks

 

[dave newell]

Yes, yes and no.
Yes you need to remove four bolts to remove the centre cap, yes the bolts will go back in without the cap, they clamp against the wheel not the cap. No there is no way to remove the cap without removing the bolts, well not without destroying it in the process. Don't forget to torque the wheel bolts up again afterwards, 160NM for 15" wheels and 170NM for 16"s.

D.

 

[dna]

Thanks for confirming it. One of those things that seems obvious but a second opinion makes me much more confident.

 

[Chockswahay]

@dave newell lvs

Dave, I am interested in this thread as I intend to fit four of the smaller caps that I have but can't get the wheel nuts off (well to be honest I have been put off by the cold and lack of proper torque wrench )

Do you have any advice on what type of torque wrench to buy please? (local garage want about £40 quid to take the wheels on and off )

Cheers

 

[Techno]

You want an extending/telescopic wheel brace to undo. A torque wrench to re tighten. 16" wheels are 180nm

example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/17-19-21-...089?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4adf4e5e91

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[JeanLuc]

I use one of these to get the studs off:
Broken Link Removed

And one of these to do them up again:
http://www.teng.co.uk/1292ag-ep-teng-tools-1-2-drive-40-200nm-torque-wrench.html

I did not pay as much as this, but I have had mine for a few years now. You will also need a decent quality socket spanner (the impact spanners are toughest) and possibly a 1/2" drive extension bar to get the wrench far enough away from the wheels to move it.

 

[Chockswahay]

Hmm....... thanks chaps........... not cheap eh?

 

[Techno]

Help please - time for an idiots question!

I have bought full wheel trims to improve the look on our motorhome (from the German dealer recommended in other posts).

As the weather is good today I thought I would get round to fitting them. However, I have failed at the first step!

The small central hub cap looks similar to the one in the first picture.
View attachment 52638
It has the cut out round one wheel bolt but not the rest.

The question is, am I right in thinking I have to remove four of the wheel bolts to get the cap off?
In which case is it also correct that the bolts will be ok to put back without the cap? I cant see that the trim is under the pressure to hold the wheel on.

Is there a way to remove the cap without undoing the bolts? The replacement trims will go over the bolts.
View attachment 52637

Thanks

What size wheels do you actually have? as the pictured hub cap is for 16" but the trims you show are for 15"

 

[dave newell]

Andy is correct, my apologies for erroneous info on torque, 16" wheels are indeed 180NM.

D.

 

[Techno]

Hmm....... thanks chaps........... not cheap eh?

I use this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DRAPER-1-...505?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d19d6bde1

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[dave newell]

I use one of these
Broken Link Removed
because I got tired of ratchet torque wrenches breaking the ratchet and smashing my knuckles, trust me when you're pushing up to 200NM and the ratchet slips the knuckle/concrete interface is painful!

D.

 

[Archer]

160 for this and 180 for that what happened to the good old days when you used the spanner that come with the car etc put it on and jumped up and down on it till it stopped moving

 

[dna]

I've delayed the job until I can borrow or buy a wrench.

The wheels are 15". I used the first photo I found for the centre cap without realising it is for 16" wheels - it was the removal method I wanted to check. I had ( forlornly) hoped to just lever the cap off, clean the wheel and fit the new trim.

Thanks to all for the advice

 

[Techno]

Yes I found the 15" version
Broken Link Removed

 

[Deleted34567]

I use one of these
Broken Link Removed
because I got tired of ratchet torque wrenches breaking the ratchet and smashing my knuckles, trust me when you're pushing up to 200NM and the ratchet slips the knuckle/concrete interface is painful!

D.

Good advice

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[hilldweller]

160 for this and 180 for that what happened to the good old days when you used the spanner that come with the car etc put it on and jumped up and down on it till it stopped moving

Works for me.

 

[Techno]

Good advice

If it is your job yes perhaps but for DIY the draper item will last a lifetime.

cheaper in red
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STW290-QU...471?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cd0e3fa6f