Hubcap remover

[boomer12831]

The past couple of trucks that I have owned have had aluminum wheels with small hubcaps just covering the wheel lugs. There is a small slot that you insert the end of the lug wrench to pry off the center cap. I have seen several wheels that are gouged and the plastic caps all scraped up. I usually put a rag around the tip of a pry bar to pop off the cap. Does anyone know if there is a tool off one of the tool trucks that protects both the wheel and cap ? Thanks in advance, Ed.

 

[zkling]

They make an actual tool, but what I did was bent the end of an old screwdriver at an angle. Rounded the tips with a grinder, quick buff to remove sharp edges and then slide a piece of heat shrink over the bend so you have something soft to pry against. IIRC the actual tool was ~$20, F that.

This is what I was thinking of.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OCO41K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Karl_B]

I sometimes use a cheap plastic trim tool to pop them out enough to remove them by hand. A fair number of times I've used my old hubcap remover and installer. It has a metal prying tip on the end of a curved shaft and a rubber mallet head. Prying against the wheel coating won't normally hurt them, but a sharp edge on the tool or letting the tool slip will. My last resort is a 1/4" flat tip and a rag, but I think I'll just slip a piece of vacuum line over it next time.

 

[boomer12831]

Shrink tubing or vacuum line over an old screwdriver, what a great idea. I'm sure there is an old screwdriver in the box that can be sacrificed. Thank you very much. I have to rotate the tires this weekend so I will have to " build it " before I do that. Thanks, Ed.

 

[mtwaterguy]

Factory for my '06 Dodge dually. Stored under the pass seat. On mine you don't pry them off. Put one tool on each side take up the slack and pull. Off it comes.