Replacing Wheel Centre Caps

Monday

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I need to replace the wheel centre caps on my SL; they are looking a bit tatty. Can these be prised out from the front (gentle testing seems to indicate that they can't) or do I have to remove the wheel and knock them out from the back?

An alternative, since I am replacing them anyway, would be to drill a hole, or holes, in them and pull but I seem to remember that the original caps at least have a retaining spring around the clips.
 

daveenty

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The most efficient way, as mentioned above, is to remove the wheel and tap them out from the back.

However, you could also try a couple of alternative methods which may save time and effort, the second is my favourite:

1. Use some strong Duct Tape. Basically, form it like this __||__ then stick the two bottom pieces to the cap and gently but firmly pull the "handle".

2. Drill a small hole in the cap, insert a self tapper into this and use pliers to pull the cap off. Obviously, this renders the cap useless. :)

ETA: Obviously written without fully reading your initial post so apologies for that. Method 2 will still work, even with the spring clip.
 
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Monday

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The most efficient way, as mentioned above, is to remove the wheel and tap them out from the back.

However, you could also try a couple of alternative methods which may save time and effort, the second is my favourite:

1. Use some strong Duct Tape. Basically, form it like this __||__ then stick the two bottom pieces to the cap and gently but firmly pull the "handle".

2. Drill a small hole in the cap, insert a self tapper into this and use pliers to pull the cap off. Obviously, this renders the cap useless. :)

ETA: Obviously written without fully reading your initial post so apologies for that. Method 2 will still work, even with the spring clip.
Thanks for that; I like Method 2 I think, but will make sure the new ones look like they will fit first. On earlier cars I have knocked them out from behind but these days cars have no tools to change a wheel so I would have to pay my local tyre place to take the wheels off for me. Tyre gunk is not much use for this kind of job! [Tyre gunk is not much use ........]
 

KennyN

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A small hole and a bent piece of wire or a pick tool should see them swiftly removed from the outside.

K
 

AndySlade

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Might be a good time to remove all the wheels individually one at a time and thoroughly clean them And sort out the wheel centres at the same time. Although M-B advise against using Copper Grease I would lightly smear some on the wheel bolt threaded area (avoiding the mating conical section at all costs) to ensure the wheels can be removed easily in the future, making sure to torque the bolts up correctly, especially any locking wheel bolt. With winter coming no bad thing to do In my opinion. Having had to pay someone to remove a stuck locking wheel bolt when I first got my Mercedes makes me check at least annually.
 

Blobcat

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Thanks for that; I like Method 2 I think, but will make sure the new ones look like they will fit first. On earlier cars I have knocked them out from behind but these days cars have no tools to change a wheel so I would have to pay my local tyre place to take the wheels off for me. Tyre gunk is not much use for this kind of job! [Tyre gunk is not much use ........]
I never use the car tools (unless stuck away from home…(even then I’ve a 19mm socket, extension and torque wrench in the car ;):rolleyes:))
If you haven’t a trolley jack, perhaps a nice neighbour has (a long with a 19mm socket and breaker bar)
 

EmilysDad

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my copy wheel centres are a rattling good fit & would be easy to flick out from the front! :rolleyes:
 

EmilysDad

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I always re torque my wheel nuts after a service or a tyre fitter visit.
Alway surprised how tight some of the nuts are,
I once took a car back to a tyre place the day after they'd refitted a wheel .... I was bending the factory tyre brace :oops: .... he defended himself by saying he'd used a torqued wrench. He couldn't understand when I suggested that the windy gun was set higher than the torque setting ... the torque wrench had just clicked!
 

Blobcat

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I once took a car back to a tyre place the day after they'd refitted a wheel .... I was bending the factory tyre brace :oops: .... he defended himself by saying he'd used a torqued wrench. He couldn't understand when I suggested that the windy gun was set higher than the torque setting ... the torque wrench had just clicked!
Too many do that - they think the torque wrench clicking straight away is a good thing… :rolleyes:
 

Blobcat

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Porsche caps have a small hole and the easiest way to remove the cap is to insert an Allen key of a suitable size and pull with a pair of pliers.
Proper engineering ;):cool:
 

EmilysDad

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The centre caps on my Senator's cross spoked alloys were better ie they were an ally cover that covered all bolts/nuts & were bolted in place. ;)
(picture borrowed from Car & Classics)

MBl2TIfkrF7mSRR1bBw9edsPuBU0DcCuUSqzmqk0.jpg
 

KennyN

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Bet they're more than £5 for a set of four though :)

Depends of you want OEM . £165 for genuine or £20 from eBay. The cheepo ones will probably look better for longer as well as genuine ones look pretty shoddy after a couple of years.



K
 

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