Trying to pull my front hubs off and can't get the dust cap off.

Tried large channel locks and tapping with a hammer, but all I am doing is messing up the dust cap.

Must be an easy way.



I just don't know it.

Click to view attachment

I've used a u-shaped muffler clamp that fits snug in the cap's groove. Once clamped in place, you use a screwdriver to pry against it working your way around the hub.

i always get the best luck with a large pipe wrench

I knock it off with a hammer. Takes 10 seconds.

Tried knocking it off with a hammer, that didn't work for me.

It just beat up the cap.

Ended up using a long brass drift and hammer, that gave me a little angle on it.

So there isn't a tool for this?

Muffler clamp idea sounds good though.

I would not pry against the centric ring though. Not without protection

You have to hit it with an outward glancing blow, different spot every time.
You can fix the cap easy with a couple big sockets and a vice, plus a body hammer or a blunt drift and a hammer.

I like the muffler clamp idea, but don't really like the prying bit. Next time I'll try it with a big slide hammer I have.

There is an 'outie' version of the cap that's on a set of 3" struts I have here, don't know if they have them for 3.5", but I do like them better than the inset caps.

“You have to hit it with an outward glancing blow,”
Yep

Great idea! Maybe whack a drift on the muffler clamp?

Yeah they can be tight. I use a hammer and work my way around the cap gently and it walks it out.

I agree with the hammer, I used a plastic hammer and it didn't mess them up, even after I painted them and had to adjust the bearings. I also agree that whacking on them just doesn't feel right.

The picture shows' that the cap is installed too deep?
You might have to heat the hub slightly?
Matt

The ridge on the caps let’s you hit it on a slight angle. A couple hard hits will do it. I took apart dozens of old struts and hubs when I worked at the shop.

While we are on the topic of dust caps, I'm looking for a couple if anyone has some spares laying around.

Anyone know what is the right cap for a stock 914? Are they the same for all? This is what AA shows.
http://www.autoatlanta.com/Porsche-Wheel-B...1434168400.html

but on the exploded diagram it shows a 5 bolt hub...

All 4 bolt 914 dust caps are the same. 5 bolt are different from 4 bolt and there is an early (large) and late (small)

Are we sure that is the right cap and not one that 'looks like it will fit..'. The caps that go on the outside of the lip at least give you a pry point to work them off. I can't believe the engineers would design something like this where you would basically have to damage/destroy the cap to get it off. Something doesn't seem right.

Yes. It’s the correct later hub centric cap and if you knock it off like I suggested, you don’t damage or destroy anything.
You don’t pry off the larger early ones. You also knock them off with a hammer. Prying may/will damage the aluminum hub.

Use the small ballpein hammer and wack it from side to side.
Like others are saying, it will come off. I just did one yesterday.
Matt

This is how you do it:



Snap on dust cap pliers. They will pull the cap without damaging it.

There are two bumps on either side of the cap. Put the dust cap pliers behind the bumps. Then wiggle and pull on the pliers until the cap comes off.

Works great!

Clay

Always had really good luck using a socket that fit between the hub and the edge of the cap. Give a couple of taps "down" on the socket, spreads the cap away from the hub. Do that a few times in a few different places. Works like a charm every time.

No damage to anything either.

I have a lead hammer for tapping bolts out, it works well for these caps. It's small but has some weight to it. Rotate the hub and hit like you mean it.

For the 4 bolt hub, I tried this, VWC-111-405-692-B - DUST CAP WITHOUT SPEEDO HOLE (RIGHT SIDE) - BEETLE 66-79 / GHIA 66-74 / TYPE 3 66-74 THING 73-74.
Very close - but too tight to hammer on comfortably with hopes of ever removing it... maybe I could make it work with a quick skim on the lathe.

I have looked for replacement dust caps for the 4 bolt 914 without luck. Does anyone make them or have something that is interchangeable? or is this just one of those scrounge parts?