Help with front axle dust cap

[Indy88Targa]

I recently purchased a beautiful 1988 Red 911 Targa that is in excellent shape. This is my first Porsche, so I am new to working on them.

At about 85 mph on the highway, I feel a shake in the steering wheel. I had the two front tires balanced last weekend. The brakes appear to be in excellent condition. I wanted to get my two front rotors turned just to make sure, but I was unable to remove one of the dust caps on the end of the axle that snaps in over the wheel bearings. I was able to remove one of them by using penetrating oil, a hammer and a screwdriver. The other is stuck and will not budge.

Is there a better way to remove this cap? Is there a special tool I can buy?

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

Rich

[don911]

I remove mine with a medium length punch/drift. A few "taps" around the cap and it will start to work its way out.

[cary]

I use a GIANT pair of channel locks. Wiggling back and forth, the walk it out.

[GeorgeM]

I had to remove one at the track once and found that it came off quite easily when it was hot.

So the next time I did it at home, I heated it up a bit with a propane torch. A quick tug with a set of channel locks and it came right off.

[john_colasante]

I grip it firmly with large channel locks and then bang on the head of the channel lock with a hammer, rotating the channel lock around periodically to free it up around the perimeter. Eventually when it slides out a bit it can be pulled off. It can be tough.

[Don Plumley]

I've had great success using a large drift punch, angled away from the car, tapped with a hammer and continue rotating about 3/4 each hit. It did not chew up the cap like my channel locks did. A brass bar would be an even better impact item.

[k9handler]

Cary has it! Channel Locks worked for me as well...just takes some good ol elbow grease.

[NapTownSpeedy]

See Rich, you just needed to put some a$$ into it!
Bravo for getting on the board.
Puts some pics of the Pcar and the hooptey on your profile.

[bell]

i recently did this on my 85' and had to use a punch and hammer to break it free then i used the real big channel locks. be VERY carefull not to hit or damage the hub (it can be damaged easily), if you nick the hub the wheel may not go back on properly.

[marcesq]

If Cary's idea does not work, use a regular claw hammer, placing the claw in between the ridge of the cap and the rotor, with the back of the hammer against the rotor. Using another hammer, tap the underside of the head of the hammer which will leverage the claw outward pushing the cap.

Work around the cap and it will come out.

[billwagnon]

I tried everything, then checked the board, and saw the thread that said to beat the hell out of it with a hammer.

So I did and it worked. But the gentle methods seem so much more appropriate...