how to remove bearing dust cap

[vwmiker]

hi,

for the lif of me i cannot get my front bearing dust caps off!!!! any help?

mike

[face-ache]

some carefull finessing with hammer. lightly tap around the circumference of the cap in an outward motion. should eventually come loose enough to pry off.

[creaturecat]

sharp cold chisel works well

[Zeke]

These threads come up frequently. Since it's here again, what years had the cap that fit outside the hub center? My '71 has these and I prefer them to the later ones that fit inside the hub center.

I assume that's the ones he is asking about. Some use a muffler clamp in the groove and pry against that. Some buy turbo caps and use the bolt in them to remove.

Mine come off in a breeze with a small pry bar carefully placed on the inner edge at a couple of places around the circumference and walk it off. Much simpler.

[Joe Bob]

Big ******* Channel lock pliers....grip top and bottom, rock em off....

[Warviking]

I clamped on a 2" exhaust clamp and then pried on that with a full size crowbar. They came off pretty easy.

[vwmiker]

thank god, finally, I read through the archives and found a two hammer way of getting them off.
wow!! that was difficult!!!!

thanks guys

mike

[Wil Ferch]

BEST answer here......

Removal of Dust Cap on Frt wheels bearings

Wil

[911Atlanta]

I used big Vice Grip designed to fit around round objects like exhaust pipes (the area between the clamps is round/open when in closed position). Put a shop rag or two on the cap to avoid excessive scratching, and lock on tight. Clamp on with the tool pointing into the wheel, not parallel with it.


I used a combination of rocking by hand and hitting the handle of the tool with a hammer/rubber mallet. Reposition the tool one quarter around the cap after a few rocks/hits. You'll start to see new metal shortly, but keep on rotating. I put some anti-sieze on them before reinsertion to ease removal next time. Cheers!

[no substitute]

The claw hammer method worked for me only I didn't use the muffler clamps. Tap the hammer head with another hammer, the area between the claw and head acts as a fulcrum, and work around the hub one tap at a time. Don't tap the threads or you'll be sorry.

[david c.]

I had to use a lot of hate to get them off my '76. Yeah, it was pretty much hate and angst that got them off. Like when you stand up and bang your head on an open cabinet door. Take that reaction and aim toward the cap with a chisel and hammer. I destroyed both of mine getting them off and installed new ones.

[jbrinkley]

since mine are comming off again I was wondering if anyone has just welded a bead on two sides to pry against?
I'm starting to notice that if I take mine off more than a couple times more there's going to be some serious pits and gouges in them.

[Wil Ferch]

Jeez....are we simply ignoring and bypassing *this* ..???

It is by far the easiest, least painful solution yet...as I posted before here....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/show...ing+cap+removal


Wil

[jbrinkley]

Yes, but I want a ZERO cost for a fix without having to go to the store, or having to buying new caps. Clamps didn't work for me

link didn't either (firefox)

[JeremyD]

linklink

several in the search

[911Atlanta]

Cardone really nailed it (above). Perfect description of the rage required to work on a 911 sometimes. Bravo !

[vwmiker]

guys and gals,

thanks a million for your help!!

all done!!

Mike

[masraum]

The exhaust clamp works great and only costs about $1.

[Superman]

Plastic explosives.

[ChrisBennet]

Piece of 2x4 and a hammer, gentle taps around and around using the 2x4 like a punch. Comes right off, no hate, no hammer hitting the wheel studs and cost $0.
-Chris