I know this is going to sound stupid, but....

[Ondergard]

.... having just had a complete new set of tyres fitted to Betsy Blue (blimey! What difference to the drive!) I thought I'd now fit a set of second-hand wheel trims I just acquired.

The thing is, do I take the hubcaps off and then fit the wheel trims, or should I be able to fit the wheel trims over the hubcaps?

[mmjosh]

you take the hubcaps off then fit the trims and then put the hubcap on which will then hold the trims.

[Ondergard]

Thanks! I thought so, but I thought I'd check... now all I have to do is find a suitably-sized wrench/tyre lever (there wasn't one with the car) so I can lever off the hub caps. I'll be able to adjust the brakes as well, then.

[pfgiz]

I'll be able to adjust the brakes as well, then.

That depends on the age of the wheels. I had a couple of really old ones once that had holes in them allowing access to the adjuster holes in the drum. They also had small clips that held on the hub-cap and not the usual metal affair as on the other wheels.
Usually you need to remove the wheel to get access to adjust the brakes, but it's worth doing.

[ColinP]

Hi,

now all I have to do is find a suitably-sized wrench/tyre lever (there wasn't one with the car) so I can lever off the hub caps

Use a claw hammer to remove the hubcaps...

Colin

[bmcecosse]

Use long wide blade screwdriver - try not to chip the wheel paint. Only the early wheels had provision for brake adjustment - it was very handy on my Rally Minor - I could nip out and adjust up the brakes while my Navvy worked out the next section! You could drill access holes in the wheels if you are really desperate to make these adjustments without removing wheels.

[rayofleamington]

screwdriver is likely to damage the paint.
A cl;aw hammer works wonders although most of them I've managed to get off without tools....

[charlie_morris_minor]

I made up my own removal tool.. just found a bit of steel bar and bent the end at a 90 degree angle just like the original tool

[bmcecosse]

The screw driver is placed blade flat against the inner rim of the hub cap - the stem against the tyre side wall and protruding beyond - then whack the handle, and off pops the cover with no damage to anything.
Bet you thought I would put it between hubcap and wheel - and twist!

[RogerRust]

Like Ray I just pull them off. We must both eat our greens!

With practice you can get a long screw driver under the edge of the cap and bash the other end onto the tyre - this usually springs them off without damaging the paint.

Having said that I have seen some caps that are very tight. I've probably just been fortunate.

[alex_holden]

Like Ray I just pull them off. We must both eat our greens!
Having said that I have seen some caps that are very tight. I've probably just been fortunate.

One of my cars seems to have the original (rather tarnished) hub caps and it is indeed possible to pull them off with your bare fingers. My other car has reproduction stainless ones fitted and they are a ridiculously tight fit. You have to really lean on the claw hammer to get them off, then when they let go they pop off with a loud bang and fly several feet from the car! Re-fitting them involves whacking them hard with a big rubber mallet.

[dp]

I have an old bike tyre lever wrapped in rubber tape so it doesn't (hopefully!) damage paint.

[Declan_Burns]

I use this claw which is used for laying T&G flooring boards and hanging doors-seems everybody has their own idea.The rubber on the end stops the paint chipping.<br><br>

[jaekl]

With stainless hubcaps, I pull them off with my fingers. The chrome steel are too heavy and stiff, and rust,