Wheel hub grease cap removal?

Hi all,

I want to adjust the play in my front wheel bearings but am having a devil of a time removing the grease cap. Do any of you have any tips for getting this done without explosives ? Thanks in advance.

Rod Walter
'88 911 Coupe

Well, on the later models I just tap them off with a small hammer. They usually come off really easily. On the early ones I use a screw driver. Yours must be a bit corroded on.

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Tyson Schmidt
72 911 Cabriolet

sorry, double post.

[This message has been edited by BRAINIAC (edited 01-08-2001).]

Apply Liquid Wrench or equiv.

Scribe a line around the grease cap just at the point where it meets the hub. Gently tap the edges using a stroke that moves the hammer away from the hub towards the grease cap. Tap at 12:00, rotate hub, tap at opposite face (now at 12:00 position). Continue to tap at the 12/3/6/9 positions equally and note the scribe line for any major "off tilt", correcting by hitting cap across from the tilted area.

Keep at it. The cap will come off.

Jdub

Here we go again. If you do a search, you will find extensive discussion.

the method I prefer involves a HUGE pair of "clannel-lock" type pliers. I mean HUGE. And I used cloth to protect the cap from scratches. rock back and forth, use various angles, and they'll come off.. Not easily but they'll come off.

Others have their own preferred method.

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'83 SC

simple, just superman stated. grab it with a big pair of vise grips and rock back and forth. it will come right off

Guys,
They changed the dust cap for the Carrera and the good old days went away. You must get a muffler clamp, 2 1/8 inch and clamp the cover. Then lever the clamp until ready to say 'voila'
Ned Monaghan

Use a big crow bar and pry against the wheel stubs with the edge in the recess of the cap.

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8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.

Thanks all, for the suggestions - and for the reminder that the archives are often helpful. I suppose that, even collectively, it is only infrequently that we stumble upon an entirely new problem.

I didn't have time to work on the cap today but now I have an arsenal of methods to try. As a last resort I can always drill a hole, fill the sucker with black powder, insert a fuse and let her rip!

That's a good idea. It's probably blow the grease out of the hub and bearings, blow the rear seal off and maybe even remove the entire assembly for you. Let us know how it turned out.

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'83 SC

I had an opportunity to work on removing the grease caps on my front wheels tonight. They came off fairly easily using a 2 inch muffler clamp wrapped around the cap to provide leverage for a rather large screw driver. Thanks to Ned Monaghan for posting this idea on the board

Just thought I would let you know what worked for me.

that does sound like a good idea. My method ( the HUGE channel-lock) is not the one used by the concours crowd.

But I was hoping the Instant Hub, Seal and Bearing Removal Procedure would be tried. Guess I'll have to try it myself. Seems like a time saver.

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'83 SC

I've read that the turbos have a hole in the middle of the cap, must have some sort of bolt in the whole. I would think this would make for easier removal as you could then use an inside puller / slide hammer. Anyone modified their caps to be like the turbos?

Superman,

I would have tried the channel locks but the muffler clamp was only $1.89 and my pliers are 12 inches long or so and I needed more leverage (I tried my smaller pliers first).

Maybe I'll try the all-in-one method when I need a new dog or cat door in the side of my garage so that I can truly kill two or more birds with one stone.

That's the spirit, Ron. Wheel bearings take a lot of time and solvent to clean the conventional way. I'm excited about this new approach.

Glad you were victorious over the recalcitrant caps.

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'83 SC