Wheel nut cover remover

[Richard_C]

Ever since hard chrome plating was outlawed, most wheel nuts on alloys have little shiny plastic covers that you need to pull off to get a wheel brace on. That can be awkward if they are in deep holes on the wheel. I've struggled on one or two cars if they haven't been off for a while.

Just got a new (to me) C4 Pic and bought a spare wheel/jack and so on as I don't much like relying on aerosol sealant in remote places. But I don't have the little plastic tool to get to pull the nut covers off. Looked on the web and saw all sorts, plastic, wire and so on, and some forums had long threads about the difficulty of removing covers.

So I had a think.

Get or find a teaspoon, inexpensive stainless one, check that the handle fits between flat of nut cover and side of hole. Place teaspoon in a metal vice with about 2mm of handle sticking up. Whack hard with a hammer to bend it over so it has a little lip on the end. Ideally do another one so you have a pair so you can use one each side if the cover is really stubborn.

Perfect, and you can stir your cup a soup with it as well.

[Sloppysod]

You can get the correct little tool from the bay, look at item number 281298924901, this also helps bolt removal. £5.15 Inc p&p.


Sent using Tapatalk, on MY LG G2, [emoji46]

[Richard_C]

But not as much fun as whacking a teaspoon with a hammer

[Hell Razor5543]

Just so long as you are whacking the teaspoon with the hammer, and not the nail (on your thumb).

[ekjdm14]

Ever since hard chrome plating was outlawed....

Really? I had no idea! Why is this? I assume there are exceptions, otherwise the motorcycle industry is a bit buggered as far as forks go...

[van ordinaire]

Just so long as you are whacking the teaspoon with the hammer, and not the nail (on your thumb).

Shades of " . . . & when I nod my head- you hit it with a hammer"!

Seriously though, even my '96 had these covers (although they are "tin") so don't think it has anything to do with Euro chrome regs. They come off easy enough using a wall drive socket (they are so thin, the one for removing the buts is fine) & wiggling it bit.

Cadillac ones are, of course, one step better - they screw on to the nut, which has a short threaded section below the flats. Curiously THEY seem more prone to shedding than the interference fit press-on ones.