Removing dually hubcaps?

[DBoyd]

Okay, I give up!! What is the best way to remove the center hubcaps from an 06 rear axle. With 4000 miles on it, I have to pull the inside dual to replace a faulty valve stem.

Thanks for your help.

Don

 

[Grizzly]

Your truck came with tire changing tools and a jack. With the tools there are two or three rods for cranking the spare tire up or down. One of those rods has a hook at one end. You set the hook in the notch on the inside cap and pull the cap off. This is better explained in your owners guide.

 

[abrankod]

The hook end is on the wrench. place the hook into the small slot on the hub cap, and smartly jerk it outwards. The hubcap should pop off. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it.

-Dan

 

[DBoyd]

Thank you for the reply. I read the info in the owner's manual and used the hook device and succeeded in popping the cap off and cracking it when it flew across the driveway. I figured there just had to be a better way.

Thanks again.

Don

 

[DBoyd]

I used the hook on the end of the rod to pop the cap. It would be tempting to rig up a slide hammer to pop it off. They should come off easier next time since I am smearing anti sieze on the clamping areas on the hubcap and bling ring.

 

[phloop]

Sorry for the late post.



If you remove the wheel cover first, the center cap will just pop off with it.





Make sure you catch it as it will cause scratches if you don't.









Something I know, don't ask.

 

[Grizzly]

Thank you for the reply. I read the info in the owner's manual and used the hook device and succeeded in popping the cap off and cracking it when it flew across the driveway. I figured there just had to be a better way.

Thanks again.

Don

Happy to be of help! I hold the cap in my left hand while I pop the it off.

 

[DennyDay]

I've used a brake adjustment tool in the past. Just use the sharp bend end and pry out, that way you can catch the cap before it hits the ground.



Besides the is little else you can use a brake spoon for on todays trucks except the e-brake



Denny

 

[DZLFREK]

Another tool to buy

Try this tool. This helps remove the wheel skin and makes changing or rotating the tires a lot easier.



Grip Tire and Hub Cap Remover | Tire Equipment | Northern Tool + Equipment



David

 

[phloop]

Try this tool. This helps remove the wheel skin and makes changing or rotating the tires a lot easier.



Grip Tire and Hub Cap Remover | Tire Equipment | Northern Tool + Equipment



David

DAng, thats a decent price and looks like it may work a tad bit better than the 2' screw driver I use.

 

[Blu-meanie]

That's a great tool, combination finger nail remover/smasher!

I do the "PHLOOP" method too.

 

[CharlesHoward]

Ah, I have to remove mine every time I check lug nut torque and oftentimes just to air up the tires. Guess I should invest in some duallie valve extenders. In the meantime, I've gotten fairly good at popping them off just using the jackset tools.

 

[Grizzly]

Ah, I have to remove mine every time I check lug nut torque and oftentimes just to air up the tires. Guess I should invest in some duallie valve extenders. In the meantime, I've gotten fairly good at popping them off just using the jackset tools.

I've used those dually valve extenders and eventually they will break off and leave you with a flat tire. I don't use them any more on my dually. I use the long stem handle double chuck trucker's gauge. Use the outside chuck for the inside dually and the inside chuck for the outer dually. I also have the same type chuck to fill the tires. I don't have to remove the skins.

 

[CharlesHoward]

Yes, I have the trucker's inflater and a digital trucker's tire gauge.
Unfortunately, based on the slightly smaller wheel skin opening vice the wheel openings, there's always one valve (inner or outer) that seems to not be correctly accessible to properly connect (argh), so off they come... I do my best to line up the skins when I put them back on. Maybe I'll have more positioning luck in the future...

 

[abrankod]

Agreed 100% on the dually tire stem extenders... they stink. Worst money I've ever spent. All they did was get flung around into an impossible to reach location.

-Dan

 

[Grizzly]

I've used a brake adjustment tool in the past. Just use the sharp bend end and pry out, that way you can catch the cap before it hits the ground.

Besides the is little else you can use a brake spoon for on todays trucks except the e-brake

Denny

It makes a good back scratcher!!!

 

[Burner]

One of the first "things to do" items is to replace the rubber valve stems with steel stems. I used Geno's extensions and they almost got me killed. I was loaded pretty heavy last year and one of the stems started leaking... . long story short, one tire deflated and one blew. Tried them again and had the same problem.

 

[AWay]

I use a 10 inche pole barn nail. Wrap tape around the pointed end for a handle. Then slip the head of the nail in the notch, fits perfect and pops it right off.



I replaced the rubber valve stems with metal right away. My elbow extensions from Geno's would work their way lose and give me a flat. Read in here somewhere another guy did this, so I tried it. Take a Dremal tool with a good cutter head and open the wheel skin opening over the valve stems to the full size of the wheel opening. If you are careful, it's not noticible unless you know it's there. Now I can get my hand in there with the air chuck. No more extensions.



I have never been able to get my skins off the rear wheels. Didn't think they would. Only time I tried it, took a chunk of crome off the edge of the skin.

 

[LHanks]

Agree with Burner, install metal valve stems. Had this done at my local tire shop a while back. They also had the metal ridgid extenders (not flex hoses). I have no problem checking/filling tires without removing bling rings. Oo.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Sorry for the late post.

If you remove the wheel cover first, the center cap will just pop off with it.

That's what I did on my '01 and my '04. 5 until I got the 19. 5's. Much much easier than waiting for it to pop off and go flying as you watch it while trying to do a backwards summersault.