guys, i'm having a real hard time getting the hub cap off my 560SEL. with 93,000 miles, i think it's the first time it's been pulled off! my rotors are worn way below specs so i'm trying to replace them and do bearings etc.

any hints on best way to get it off? i've tried with my channel lock pliers but no go for me. i'm an accountant so not much of a grip.. maybe i'm too weak!!

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

I never worked on that car, but generally the dust caps have a little lip where they seat to the hub. You can usually tap something at/under that lip, like a wide blade flat screwdriver. Also you can whack it pretty good with a rubber mallet. I suppose a little liquid wrench wouldn't hurt.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

hey thanks. i used a screw driver and a hammer and gently popped it off.

i was being too timid i guess with my other methods. i have new caps so don't have to worry about ruining the old one.

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

Hey you be careful with that hammer and screw driver combination... Try levering your new ones off!

Even though you found it hard to take them off - hub caps sometimes have the habit of falling off - it might be worth your while securing them with a ty-wrap. Just make sure you secure them the wheel and not a bit that doesn't turn.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Sounds like you're confusing the wheel hub's dust cap under which the hub nut exists and the cosmetic wheel "hub caps" which attach and cover the wheel's rim.

Ah ha - that'll be it then - sorry for that

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

If you think it was hard to get off, wait till you try to put i back on. They're pretty tight, I use a 6 inch piece of pipe that makes contact all the way around the lip to tap it on. I think its about 3 inches in diameter (you'll have to measure it). You can waste a half hour easy trying to tap it on without something that contacts it all the way around (or at least contacting opposite sides at once).

i just saw this post after spending an hour trying to tap the hub cap back on!! thanks for the tip.. i'll try your idea

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K

i cleaned up the old cap and put it on. it was still in very good shape and went on much easier. the aftermarket cap i got probably isn't exactly to specs!

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R Martin
Dallas, TX (Addison)

86 560SEL, 128K