Easy way to get center caps off without taking the wheels off? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

drhoades · 04-20-2010, 02:04 PM

Ok, newb question here...

Is there an easy way to take the center caps off without damaging the wheel and without taking it off?

2010 2-Tone · 04-20-2010, 02:13 PM

Never tried!

Michael_Js · 04-20-2010, 03:56 PM

They just pop out! Use a small, thin plastic tool - or a covered (thin towel) very thin flat screwdriver. They are plastic and are only held in by pressure...

Nine Ball · 04-20-2010, 04:49 PM

Why be lazy and chance damaging your wheels or cap? They are purposely made difficult to remove so that people won't steal them.

PQ · 04-20-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

Why be lazy and chance damaging your wheels or cap? They are purposely made difficult to remove so that people won't steal them.

I've damaged mine before. One little slip could be ugly.

drhoades · 04-20-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

Why be lazy and chance damaging your wheels or cap? They are purposely made difficult to remove so that people won't steal them.

Yeah, I think I'm going to just take the opportunity and replace my lug nuts at the same time I replace the center caps.

RedJewel2SS · 04-20-2010, 05:20 PM

takes maybe 5 minutes to lift on end, unbolt the wheel, pop off the cap, and re-install.

if it takes you more than half an hour to complete all 4 wheels, your either drunk or doing something wrong

brtaus · 04-20-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nine Ball

Why be lazy and chance damaging your wheels or cap? They are purposely made difficult to remove so that people won't steal them.

That's funny you say that because my friend had all four of his stolen without any damage to any of his wheels.

PQ · 04-20-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brtaus

That's funny you say that because my friend had all four of his stolen without any damage to any of his wheels.

But you don't know if the caps were damaged. The time I did mine it was the cap that was scratched. Not the wheel. You typicaly will pry toward the cap and not the wheel.

I've also gotten them off before without any damage.

They aren't theft proof. Just make it harder to steal.

Michael_Js · 04-20-2010, 11:36 PM

Wow, such an easy thing to do; why go through all the bother of removing the wheel? Hmmm...I've painted my own set and installed and removed them - no issues, no scratches. It's a $4 plastic cap for Pete's sake - whomever Pete is

PQ · 04-21-2010, 09:39 AM

Not all caps are 4.00 but and it's not really the cost that's a pita, but driving around with one missing till you can get one. Dealers don't always have them.

BUT, I don't care either way. On stock rims, I'd take them off without removing the wheel if I needed them real quick. NOT on a good set of am wheels though.

the85darkknight · 08-31-2020, 12:54 PM

I will say now to use a plastic pry tool. The clear on that plastic is soft and damages very easily.

Deputy347k9 · 08-31-2020, 02:09 PM

It's well worth the time to jack the car up and remove one wheel at a time! Think of what you can learn and do at the same time! For one take the time to clean the back side of your wheels, inspect the brakes and so on!

1JEWLDSSRS · 08-31-2020, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deputy347k9

It's well worth the time to jack the car up and remove one wheel at a time! Think of what you can learn and do at the same time! For one take the time to clean the back side of your wheels, inspect the brakes and so on!

^^^^^ this for sure !! Don't risk damaging anything, plus you can do a safety check, and as stated, clean the back side of your wheels and put a good coat of wax on them !!

..Then go have a cold one, or 2..

04-20-2010, 02:04 PM	#1
drhoades Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: KC Posts: 29	Easy way to get center caps off without taking the wheels off? Ok, newb question here... Is there an easy way to take the center caps off without damaging the wheel and without taking it off?

04-20-2010, 03:56 PM	#3
Michael_Js SoCal C5 Family Member Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS - Black w/IOM; 6M Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 5,299 View My Garage	They just pop out! Use a small, thin plastic tool - or a covered (thin towel) very thin flat screwdriver. They are plastic and are only held in by pressure... __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2010 Black 2SS/RS; 6M; IOM, GFX, sunroof; ADM Race CAI; Zoomers CB; Viper Alarm; Pdaft F&R sways, Adj Endlinks, Rtrailing arms, Camber kit, strut brace, Front Trailing Arm Bushing; SLP Skip-Shift Elim; Tinted lights/windows; Hurst Short-throw; LoJack; Door & Dash ABL Mods; ********; JBA Shorty headers; AACStyle LEDs; Stillen DS rotors, Hawk Ceramic pads; Havoc Blk Chrome wheels: 20x9s; Lingenfelter Blk Al Pedals; RevXtreme Catch Can; Goodridge SS lines; Ported TB; RK Sport hood; Hotchkis chassis brace; KW V3 coilovers;

04-20-2010, 04:49 PM	#4
Nine Ball Drives: 1969 & 2016 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,849	Why be lazy and chance damaging your wheels or cap? They are purposely made difficult to remove so that people won't steal them. __________________ Fquick.com/NineBall

04-20-2010, 05:20 PM	#7
RedJewel2SS 12.23s@113mph Drives: 2SS/RS, A6, just a few bolt ons Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,197	takes maybe 5 minutes to lift on end, unbolt the wheel, pop off the cap, and re-install. if it takes you more than half an hour to complete all 4 wheels, your either drunk or doing something wrong __________________ RIP Cammie 7/15/2009 - 4/1/2011

04-20-2010, 11:36 PM	#10
Michael_Js SoCal C5 Family Member Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS - Black w/IOM; 6M Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 5,299 View My Garage	Wow, such an easy thing to do; why go through all the bother of removing the wheel? Hmmm...I've painted my own set and installed and removed them - no issues, no scratches. It's a $4 plastic cap for Pete's sake - whomever Pete is __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2010 Black 2SS/RS; 6M; IOM, GFX, sunroof; ADM Race CAI; Zoomers CB; Viper Alarm; Pdaft F&R sways, Adj Endlinks, Rtrailing arms, Camber kit, strut brace, Front Trailing Arm Bushing; SLP Skip-Shift Elim; Tinted lights/windows; Hurst Short-throw; LoJack; Door & Dash ABL Mods; ********; JBA Shorty headers; AACStyle LEDs; Stillen DS rotors, Hawk Ceramic pads; Havoc Blk Chrome wheels: 20x9s; Lingenfelter Blk Al Pedals; RevXtreme Catch Can; Goodridge SS lines; Ported TB; RK Sport hood; Hotchkis chassis brace; KW V3 coilovers;

04-20-2010, 02:13 PM	#2
2010 2-Tone Drives: 2010 RY 2SS with Custom Stripes Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Jennings, La. Posts: 2,220 View My Garage	Never tried!

04-21-2010, 09:39 AM	#11
PQ Booooosted. Drives: 2010 Supercharged SS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 36,716 View My Garage	Not all caps are 4.00 but and it's not really the cost that's a pita, but driving around with one missing till you can get one. Dealers don't always have them. BUT, I don't care either way. On stock rims, I'd take them off without removing the wheel if I needed them real quick. NOT on a good set of am wheels though. __________________

08-31-2020, 12:54 PM	#12
the85darkknight Drives: 2015 Camaro 2SS Green Flash Edition Join Date: May 2017 Location: Warner Robins, Ga Posts: 130 View My Garage	I will say now to use a plastic pry tool. The clear on that plastic is soft and damages very easily. __________________ StarSaber Mk. II IG: StarSaber85(https://www.instagram.com/starsaber85/) Performance Mods: CAI, Inc. Cold Air Intake; ADM Racing Scoop; Bo White Ported Throttle Body; GPI Ported Rod Mod Intake; Kooks 1-7/8" Headers with Catted Connections; Solo Mach XL Axle-Back Exhaust

08-31-2020, 02:09 PM	#13
Deputy347k9 Drives: 2014 Ashen Gray Convertible Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Havelock, NC Posts: 1,328	It's well worth the time to jack the car up and remove one wheel at a time! Think of what you can learn and do at the same time! For one take the time to clean the back side of your wheels, inspect the brakes and so on! __________________

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