Alloy Wheel Centre Cap Removal?

TD4_4x4 · Oct 22, 2010

Hi.

I wanted to ask please if anyone knows how to remove the centre caps on a Freelander 1 alloy wheel? (I'm removing mine as the lacquer has gone yellow and flaked off)

I've searched and can't find a removal tool and was guessing maybe the wheels have to be taken off first and then they then maybe get pushed out from inside with a thumb?

With the wheels mounted I tried getting my nails behind the plastic and pulling them out and couldn't shift them.

They look like this
RRJ500030MNH SILVER ALLOY WHEEL CENTRE CAP | shop | www.lrseries.com | L. R. Series

Thanks for any tips.

lerk · Oct 22, 2010

You're right...

...although if they're anything like the doors on freelanders, just get them wet and they'll fall off!

Psycho_uk · Oct 22, 2010

Tried taking the wheels off and unclipping them from the inside...?

Hippo · Oct 23, 2010

Took mine off with a small straight edge screwdriver. Just push it in at the side, and tilt 10 degrees.

TD4_4x4 · Oct 23, 2010

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

I did what Hippo suggested and got a small flat screwdriver, and wrapped the blade in sellotape (except the tip). When levering the cap out this reduced but didn't totally stop a few dents in the silver 'sparkle' paint on the wheels. I needn't have worried as the wheels are badly marked anyway from the previous owner/mechanic bashing the paint off where the wheel nuts go! So I'll probably have to get them resprayed anyway.

From looking at the wheel rim (18'' Landrover) it appears to be an alloy wheel sprayed silver by LR (so it sparkles). A strange idea as the laquer has failed and the silver paint has fallen off looking pretty rubbish to be honest.

I've never seen an alloy wheel spray painted before, it's usual just raw metal and lacquered.

markyzs180 · Feb 27, 2011

TD4_4x4 said:
Thanks to everyone for their advice.

I did what Hippo suggested and got a small flat screwdriver, and wrapped the blade in sellotape (except the tip). When levering the cap out this reduced but didn't totally stop a few dents in the silver 'sparkle' paint on the wheels. I needn't have worried as the wheels are badly marked anyway from the previous owner/mechanic bashing the paint off where the wheel nuts go! So I'll probably have to get them resprayed anyway.

From looking at the wheel rim (18'' Landrover) it appears to be an alloy wheel sprayed silver by LR (so it sparkles). A strange idea as the laquer has failed and the silver paint has fallen off looking pretty rubbish to be honest.

I've never seen an alloy wheel spray painted before, it's usual just raw metal and lacquered.

They are designed to be pushed out once the wheel is removed but it does save all the hassle if your ok with a bit of damage to the wheel!

All alloy wheels by all manufacturers are spray painted to give the metallic finish. The reason the paint falls off is as soon as you get any damage to the paint/lacquer all the lovely salt off the roads gets into the damage and starts the alloy oxidising causing the top layer to become dusty and anything above it fall off!

WorcsSimon · Dec 21, 2012

I used a thin table knife with a rounded edge thats not sharp to lever it carefully, came out easily with no damage at all. Perhaps they'd been loosened in the past.

Singvogel · Dec 21, 2012

I don't know what tool the toe-rag bar stewards used to steal all 5 of mine a few months back

- but I was lucky that the wheels were not damaged at all.

The older wheel centres were aluminium faced and as said they suffer from the salt getting in and lifting the laquered coloured bit off.

The later all plastic extra sparkly version might just last a few winters longer.

Plenty on eBay.

SV

IndiTd4 · Dec 21, 2012

If your just throwing them away then drill a hole in the cap,
and stick an Alen Key in the hole and pull..

Simples..

WLJayne · Dec 21, 2012

Singvogel said:
I don't know what tool the toe-rag bar stewards used to steal all 5 of mine a few months back - but I was lucky that the wheels were not damaged at all.

Why in odin's name would anyone steal them? They are utterly worthless!!

I changed mine when I got new tyres, knocked them out when the wheels were off

.

Diesel Do · Dec 21, 2012

If yer chuckin em, I beat a screw driver thru the middle and pop em out! Quick easy and no damage to the rim!

Hippo · Dec 21, 2012

Peeps nick them to sell them on ebay. they may want them for their own Freelander. Kids nick them as a keep sake. Mine are a little scratched due to oft road use. Alloys are a bit scratched too. Perfect protection.

Alloy Wheel Centre Cap Removal?

TD4_4x4

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