Removing Fuch Centercaps

[stone43]

My right rear centercap is rattling up a storm, all of the rest are tight. I have never removed these, don't really understand what those two little holes are for and figured that I have better write a post before, in typical bloke fashion, I grab the vice grips and employ some brute force and ignorance.

So how do I figure out the problem, remove, etc?

[R22tech]

I take them off with my finger nails slowly and carefully, however, there is a tool for this. DO NOT USE PLIERS- you will make those holes show up like sore thumbs on a supermodel! You could probably make one yourself out of something like a clothes hanger made into a "V' with feet. Or: you could make an incomplete square and "thread" one end through both holes and then use two pliers to pull both ends of the hanger. The caps pull straight out.

[old seventy six]

Method one is to bend a coat hanger to look/work like the special $22 tool to remove the caps. Insert into holes and pull the cap off. Method two is remove the wheel and push the cap out from the inside.

[ChrisBennet]

The cap is made of two pieces. The black part you see (the "cap") and a yellowish "backing piece" that fits into the hole in the wheel. Pulling the cap off from the sides (with your fingers) will tend to pry the front of the cap off the backing piece. BTDT. Use a hammer handle to tap the cap out of the wheel from the back.
The Fix: Looking at the back of the cap you'll see 3 (?) little studs sticking out. The studs protrude from the back of the black "cap" through the backing piece. The ends are squished flat (like a rivet) to hold the backing piece to the cap. Re-flatten these studs to tighten up the cap and stop the rattling.
-Chris

[stone43]

Thanks guys, I will try it out tonight

[old_skul]

I use the cap retainers bought here at PP. They have three allen screws in a ring that fits inside the inner rim of the cap - and when you tighten them up, there's no rattle, and no disrespectful punk making off with your fancy caps, either.

[Joe Bob]

The allen's are nice, but require the wheel to be pulled to remove them. If you race in AX or DEs, that can be a PITA, some race techs make you remove them. But if you use race tires not a problem.

The backs may be pinched IN as well, a little outward pull with a channel lock plier will tighten it up. Also a little dab of clear silicone along the back edge of the cap will help.

[ChrisBennet]

When mine rattled it was the 2 pieces of the cap rattling, not a loose fit in the wheel.
-Chris