dust caps stuck on!!

[kennygray81]

as title really, bought some nice shiney metal seat dust caps from flebay, after my wheels got refurbed, went to blow my tyres up the other day only to discover the dust caps are solid! ive tried mole grips etc, but wont budge!! any ideas other than tyres off and new valves??

 

[CupraR210.DJM]

have you tried a lube on them. WD40 might loosen them up abit. Not sure though

 

[mike2926]

carefully heat the valve caps, they should then expand and come off with maul grips.


cheers

 

[rhumber]

carefully heat the valve caps, they should then expand and come off with maul grips.

is that with 'Darth Maul' grips?

 

[Mark51]

WD40 and two sets of mole (sp) grips should sort them. clamp onto the cap and one just under it on the valve and twist the top one whilst holding the bottom one steady.

i wouldnt put them back on if it was me. the ones from egay are cheap metal and they tend to corrode to the valve. if you do put them back on then id get some copper grease in them before you tighten them up

Good luck

 

[lc_allan]

Got a link m8? I want a set of these anti-theft caps.

 

[kennygray81]

Got a link m8? I want a set of these anti-theft caps.

i actually bought these ones because my old ones kept getting nicked! think it was the milk delivery boys!! needless to say these ones havent went missing, id be bloody delighted if they did!!

going to try getting them off 2nite!

 

[daboy3000]

Were they cheap metal ones by any chance? I had this problem, i think they melt a bit and then get stuck, i found it easier to sell the wheels!!

 

[sykesytdi]

this happened to mine..... i had to have 4 new valves put in!!!!

 

[Cupra Ross]

I had exactly the same problem, no amount of WD40 or mole-grip action will get them off. All is not lost though.

Take the car to a back street garage, I have a local mechanic who does the work I either can't do or can't be bothered to do. He used a cutting disc, the kind that goes on the end of a compressor hose, to gradually shave down a corner of the dust cap until the valve thread was visible. Once you've broken that seal they'll come off easy enough.

I only ever fit plastic dust caps now.

 

[daboy3000]

Here's a little tip, get 6 brand new plastic caps, spray them silver/same colour as wheels, then it doesn't matter if someone steals them, they will always unscrew and you have replacements! job done!!

 

[kennygray81]

thanks for the advice mate! wish id thought of that 3 wks ago !! still cant get them off! nitemare!

 

[olliep]

Here's a little tip, get 6 brand new plastic caps, spray them silver/same colour as wheels, then it doesn't matter if someone steals them, they will always unscrew and you have replacements! job done!!

I had this issue over the winter as the salt got in. I tried with every tool i could find but i ended up lascerating the rubber valve tube and twisting it all up. 4 new valves, and some red nailvarnish was the answer!!

Got a link m8? I want a set of these anti-theft caps.

 

[godber225r]

I had this with some cheap ebay caps on my old laguna. i managed to get 3 off with 2 pairs of pliars ( 1 to grip cap and the other to grip valve ) but then 1 snapped off and i was stranded with a flat tyre!!!! ended up costing me 20 odd quid for new valves and i only payed a fiver for the caps. BIG MISTAKE!!!!!

 

[olliep]

I had this with some cheap ebay caps on my old laguna. i managed to get 3 off with 2 pairs of pliars ( 1 to grip cap and the other to grip valve ) but then 1 snapped off and i was stranded with a flat tyre!!!! ended up costing me 20 odd quid for new valves and i only payed a fiver for the caps. BIG MISTAKE!!!!!

yeah same as buddy. i think theyre alright so long as every time you clean the car you make a point to unscrew them and screw them on again to prevent them from corroding.

 

[godber225r]

Or put a bit of copper grease on the threads?? but just use the black plastic caps there hassle free!!!!!

 

[J0N]

The Missus had some on her A3, the type with the grub screw to stop them from getting nicked. I ended up grinding through the grub screw with a pointy dremmel head.

 

[Trublu07]

My cheap fleabay ones corroded on aswell. As for the anti theft ones you can still unscrew them by hand.

 

[Phoenix27]

Alloy dust caps should ALWAYS be lubed before fixing. Unfortunately dissimilar metals have the corroding effect, combined with salt it's even worse.

New valve's are £4 fitted each round my area.

Just keep them greased and you should be fine, check your tyre pressures regularly too.

 

[sidy64]

i had the same problem, best put plastic ones on, or put some vaseline on the thread, that stops them seizing on.