Wheel nut caps spinning

I've searched and search and can't seem to find a solution…

Need to remove one of the wheels to investigate some wheel play and the nut caps are just spinning. Sure it's doing some stripping damage to the lug nuts underneath, so I think I need to get them off to get a good fitting socket on the lugs.

Any ideas? I know they aren't mean to come off - but they are going to have to - unless anyone has a suggestion. 4 of them are spinning away when pressure is applied and the lug is holding fast.

Cheers,

I have a d2 there are no caps covering the wheel nuts , the only nut that has a cap on is the locking wheel nut there is a removal tool in the kit containing tools for the jack(to be found in the rear door). 1 locking nut per wheel.

are you talking about the alloy nut caps(27mm socket) underneath is a 26mm nut. i took a screw driver to the cap to get it off. replacement caps are available.

all my nuts have caps.

Yes I think i'm talking about the same ones. When you say you took a screw driver to do it - how? They are on the wheel at the moment and the wheel is stuck on!

sharp screwdriver used like a chisel to peel off the cap to get to the 26mm nut under it. its something to do with the different metals corroding together. my wheels were stuck to the hub too. i got some replacement caps online(still haven't put them on yet)

bloody hell - that sounds like an all nighter!

right I'm off with a hammer and a screw driver.

just glad i found it and sorted it before i NEEDED to do it.

Haven't even done one and I've given up till morning. this might quickly become the worst job on the landy.

I'm not getting this guys. The alloy wheel nuts on a Disco have a chromed steel outer shell on them. It is supposed to be there. It is a 27mm brace that is required, and when used nothing should "spin". The only one that will spin is the lock nut. The cover for this will have a dimple in the centre. If you pry the cover of the standard nuts....their F----d.

I had the same problem on mine. the outer steel shell expands due to corrosion meaning the correct socket no longer fits. if you find one that does fit it just bends the steel shell as though its spinning. I had to do the same as the others and chissel the outer bit off and use the smaller socket. re used them and didn't see a problem. the mounting surface is still the same where it comes into contact with the wheel.

The reason that no one 'gets' this problem and can't understand the pain your in is another reason this is painful. :Cry:

I have a wheel stuck on the car and I can't get a socket onto the nuts, and if I hammer one on the cap spins!

NiallRussell said:

The reason that no one 'gets' this problem and can't understand the pain your in is another reason this is painful. :Cry:

I have a wheel stuck on the car and I can't get a socket onto the nuts, and if I hammer one on the cap spins!

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What size socket are you using. A 27mm hammered on should still create enough grip on a 26mm beneath the cap to remove them. You mentioned 4 of them are stuck. Are they all on one wheel?

yeah all on one wheel.

I've hammed on a socket so its a tight fit, but it still just spins when you put force on it. Now I've got a socket stuck on there too.

I think the lugs must have been stripped a bit and thats making the situation worse.

yeah. that sound like a different problem to what I had.

If its the chrome caps, my D1 had them. I couldnt get the damm wheels off, as the prev owner deformed them all. I ended up hammering a socket over the nuts, getting them off then putting the nuts in a vice and smashing the caps off. Now i have a slgihtly smaller whitworth socket thats a perfect fit, so i keep it in the landy

I had the same problem with my spare wheel.
I got a screw driver and punched a hole in the end, then with a small chisel just smashed it off. So now i have bare nuts. Think i had to use a 1 1/8 or 1 3/16 on them though.

I had the same problem with my old 300tdi, even the garage I sent it to for some work struggled and in the end had to strip of the covers, stripped them all in the end and left them bare, they were more trouble than they were worth

Another reason for using flank drive sockets:
Silverline 501792 Socket 1/2-inch Drive Metric 27mm:Amazon.co.ukIY & Tools

Well I'm three days in and I've got two caps removed -

it's hot, I'm ****ed off and I'm bleeding from the eyes with rage.

Lugs are a bit bashed, alloy is very scratched up. But got the damn wheel off!