how to remove front hub dust cap?
 

In my neverending pursuit of achieving the pillar of infinite awesomeness, I'm sadly again struggling w/ removing the front hub dust cap.

I'd done this years and years ago w/ a puller, a bolt, and a shiit ton of washers.

Heck, I even FOUND the bolt / washer getup I'd put together from back then - must have been feeling smart that day and kept it that way when I'd finished.

Problem is, I'm sitting there w/ the bolt threaded into the center of the cap, looking at my 3prong puller, and wondering exactly how TF do I contrapt this finagled thing so that it threads the center bolt into the bolt I've threaded into the cap - and then have it pull as it's pushing!?!?? Ouch. Painful even to type.

It started making my head hurt looking at it, so I went inside and here I am http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/cut.gif

Anyone care to help placate mah ignoramus?

Thanks in advance, as always...

Here's one way to use a three prong puller on it -

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/911-930-turbo-super-charging-forum/596762-79-930-brake-refresh-progress.html

I use a harbor freight slide hammer with an allen head bolt in the end thing that threads into the dust cap. Could be used as a weapon.

thanks Ronnie - yeah... that's on a '79 mit the protruding caps... '87s have the recessed ones. Awesome.

Great idea on the slide hammer Jim, I'll ask around if any my idjut buds have one local - if not, HF here I come.

The puzzler tho is... I've done this years ago w/ this contraption. But how? D'oh. Brain cells - POOF!

It wasn't my idea, the factory tool for removing them is a slide hammer. It's in the PDF copies of the factory manuals I downloaded from a website we're not supposed to post links to here.

Just go slow with the slide hammer so you don't yank the threaded boss of the dust cap. You can have it tig welded back on if it breaks off... been there.

Woops, I didn't notice that.

Too much Texas. I forgive you.

crykies... that'd be JUST my luck... what with my fecal touch and all! Noooooo thannnnnks.

What a stoopidass design. WTF was wrong with the regular protruding early version??? STUTTGART!!! *raises fist and exclamates in vengeful anger*

My bud's got the 5" thick paper manual... keep meaning to photocopy it 8-)

What was that I was saying about yer mama? :p

1) screw all thread in dust cap
2) place hole in bar/plate over all thread so that it's sticking through
3) align plate or bar to sit on top of 2 or more studs across from each other
4) place washers and nut to hold bar/plate against studs
5) turn nut until cap pops off
6) don't piss off others with your misplaced sense of humor... (Denotes sarcasm ;))

Ha ha ha!!! Tooooooooooo funny! No way Paul can handle step 6! :D

^^this...referring to steps 1-5 of course. :)

Or just get creative and use another method similar to above. It's best to slowly pull the cap off (using threaded bolt action as above) instead of hammering the cap off with slide hammer.

^ +1

I use a 2" muffler clamp, clamp it around the cap and pry it off - about 45* at a time - with a flat head screwdriver, never fails... this works on the 930 (78) and other 911's I've had.

thanks guys

so, a threaded rod through a bar which straddles 2 studs, with a nut/washer on the end to pull the rod thru the bar as you torque it against it - think I've got it, should have been obvious, I'm only 1/4 Polish ya know

thing is, I KNOW I used my puller (entiiiiirely different than Ronnie's favored "puller" a/k/a The Stranger) last time I'd done this... that's the part which was making my head hurt trying to envision the rigging required

Miguel... you've got an early car w/ the exposed caps brutha...

#6 = unpossable... GennyCreams preside!

Then tap it back in with a brass hammer. Harbor Freight has those best price too and their hammers are pretty good.

I'm sure my method will make most cringe, but I grab the nipple with a pair of pliers and smack the pliers from behind with a hammer. Because I track my car, repacking the bearings is a regular maintenance activity, so quick and dirty works for me.

FWIW, I here's a pic of my inexpensive 3lb Harbor Freight slide hammer with the 10mm allen head bolt for the late eightees 930 front hub dust cap in the holder on the end.
A pic of the label on the box it came in too.

I bought this around 6 years ago so the part number may be different now but it's a 3 pound slide hammer that comes with a flat hook and other attachments for the end so it's a useful tool to have.
It works good, just spray a little WD40 or penetrating oil on the cap first and take it easy.. you'll see the cap start to draw out of the hub.
Don't blast on it too hard or the boss could break off the dust cap and you'll have to find someone to tig weld it back on the dust cap while it's still on the car.

The puller tool someone posted would work well too.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1392222807.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1392222826.jpg

Here's a 2 pound brass hammer thats good for tapping the dust cover back into the hub without denting it.
Search results for: 'brass hammer'
I recently got it from Harbor Freight tools. Very good hammer to have.
It's on sale right now and with one of their 25% off coupons it was only $18.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1392224233.jpg

Every garage needs a soft metal hammer, brass or copper. One tap removes stubborn brake disks.

Use a big hammer with small piece of 2x4 stud against the cap.

A garage should have a 3 lb shot filled deadblow hammer too. This one from the same tool store has served me well.
The smaller brass/plastic hammer in this pic broke off the brass part while hammering wheel studs out of a hub and I glued it back on with JB Weld. Still works OK but thats why I recently bought the bigger brass hammer.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1392227539.jpg

Fixed it... ;)

I don't think I've ever had a bill that was as high as $18 at HF... Except that time I bought my bead blast cabinet.

Most I ever spent there was 80 bucks for one of their pressure washers. It works good for a home unit.
Every time I go there I find other things I have a hard time resisting because the price is low and I figure I'll use it someday.
Maybe I should get a job there... lol... just kidding.

thanks for the hammer suggestions Jim, I do need a brass hammer

I've tried to pretty much have sworn off Harbor Freight after buying a few things from them that are more model tools than actual usable tools

angle grinder... side grab handle disintegrated 1st use

cutting wheels that shattered upon slightest contact with lint

etc.

it's a toss up, if you're picky about what to get there and what to avoid - some of it can be OK as you noted (well, 1 out of 2 heh heh)

I just got this flyer, maybe I'll do some shopping tomorrow:

http://s15.postimage.org/dh4l8i617/hazfra01.jpg
http://s13.postimage.org/nh3ptwc5j/hazfra02.jpg
http://s9.postimage.org/sb3jmksqn/hazfra03.jpg
http://s18.postimage.org/omjbm65nd/hazfra04.jpg

That funny stuff Paul :)

Regarding the cut off wheels at harbor freight, I use a die grinder a lot and the cut off wheels I get there in packages of 4 or 5 work just as well and last just as long as any others I've used.

The straight die grinders I have from there that were on sale for 10 bucks just keep on going and havn't had any problems.. and I have a lot of experience over the last 30 years using die grinders with carbide burs and cut off wheels.
A 90 degree die grinder I got there wore the bearings out quickly though.

Some of their stuff is good and some of it isn't.

Paulito, congratulations on the successful modeling gig (the Moron Lamp, of course)! I hope you were well paid for your outstanding work! :D

sorry I should have clarified - was bits in their "dremel" set... rechargeable... which... holds a charge for about 17seconds 8-)

I did buy a sledge there not too long ago - hard to muff THAT up... even in China!

Hmmmm... yes, my experience has garnered me many gigs!:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8...o/IMG_6743.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1322153211.jpg

(Fletch teeth FTMFW!)

The moron light reminds me of an LED video light I have that fits into the hot shoe of a DSLR camera. The face on the guy wearing it cracks me up.

I have some extra bungee cords too and they come in handy... lol
Used to keep a couple strapped over the seat of a BMW motorcycle I used to ride all the time for holding a six pack or whatever on the seat behind me.. even a dive tank sideways on the seat with 3000psi in it once!

Paul, that's you in the pics above? I've seen the lower one before, but didn't realize that was you.

crap, no - sorry - didn't mean to confuse you Ronnalot...

dunno the yutz in them thar pixorz, this is me (sorry, it's an older pic, 1994 IIRC):
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
http://www.fabioifc.com/2009_FOLDER/...t-1994-web.jpg

I see that you obviously had that picture taken prior to having your implants installed, Paulina! :D

allllllllllllllllrighty then...

Used my 38mm socket from my old //S8 oil filter housing slid over the threaded bolt into the cap (as an impromptu "slide hammer") and beat on it w/ my 5lb sledge and off the caps came - woot.

Time for beddyby / beauty sleep (which doesn't appear to be werking)... looked and found the hole in the outer hub to allow allen access to horseshoe 'nut' - duh - knew there was some secret handshake I was forgetting from last time I'd done this. Damn do I need to copy my bud's manual 8-)...