Hub cap removal

Post by **billlobban** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:49 pm

Is there a tool available for removing the hub caps without mangeling the wheel trims?

Post by **aupickup** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 5:54 pm

yes there is esm have them

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 7:49 pm

Should be in your tool kit - with the car! Bent piece of metal - hooks behind the cap. Some use claw hammer - I use large flat blade scewdriver - place the blade under the cap, the shaft on the tyre - and wack the handle with hand.

Post by **mike.perry** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:22 pm

Any good tyre depot will remove them for you and watch them rattle across the concrete floor.

Sat Dec 19, 2009 10:52 am

The little L shaped wheel brace for getting your wheel nuts off has a flat on the other end of the L for hooking off the hub caps.. at least mine does.

I also made one up by taking a thin bit of 1" wide plate and bending it to an L shape over the vice.. it works fine..

if you look at the bottom of this post.. i am talking about item 10 in the pic..

http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/index.ph ... ic&t=29707

Post by **billlobban** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:05 pm

Tool Kit what tool kit? when I bought the car there was nothing I'll need to try and source one possibly via ESM Thanks all

Post by **aupickup** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:07 pm

its ok its doubtful that many morris minors still have the original tool kit

Post by **katy** » Sat Dec 19, 2009 3:48 pm

I obtained one of the;

The little L shaped wheel brace for getting your wheel nuts off

The hooked end works well for removing the hubcaps but the other end doesn't fit the wheel nuts. The car is a '61. Did they make these tools for different sizes of wheel nuts?

Post by **mike.perry** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:05 pm

Wheel nuts should all be 3/8 Whit. spanner size. Mine are 11/16 A/F.

Post by **katy** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:19 pm

The wheel studs (on our '61) are 3/8" UNF thread, but the nuts are more like 18 MM A/F. As stated the "L" shaped tool doesn't fit the nuts, it's considerably smaller.
So I'll ask again: Did they make these tools for different sizes of wheel nuts?

Post by **mike.perry** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:07 pm

The threads are 3/8 unf but the hex is 3/8 Whitworth. See the section on Front Suspension Stub Axle and Wheel Bolt Threads on the Series MM website under Tech. Info.
Series MM and early Series IIs had 5/8 A/F wheel bolts so you could have the wheel brace for one of these.

Post by **katy** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:32 pm

So that's what it is. Thanks.

Post by **simmitc** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:56 pm

To answer the original question, the spare wheel clamp is specifically designed for safe and easy removal of the hubcap without scratching or chipping the paintwork. Assuming that you need to change the wheel, then you'll have released the clamp anyway, and even if you don't need to fit the spare, it's only a moment's work to release the clamp and refit it after use. Used like this:<br>

<br>

Post by **billlobban** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:17 pm

Now why didnt I think of that. Thanks simmitic

Post by **carlosramalho** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:37 pm

Thanks Simmit

c !!!

Post by **Dean** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:52 pm

billlobban wrote:Now why didnt I think of that. Thanks simmitic

Would have been so much funnier if you'd have said.

"Thanks, does anyone have a spare wheel clamp going cheap".

Post by **mike.perry** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:07 pm

I have learnt something new. Now to repaint my wheels and try it out.