Phil C Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 Morning all, Having just had my Vitesse wheels refurbished I'm wondering what the correct method is to remove hub caps without damaging the paint? I see a number of "special" tools online but what is the best option. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigolf Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 If you are talking about Rostyle wheel trims (mk 2 vit, gt6mk2), the supplied tool kit should have a smallish tyre lever which had a cranked end. Insert cranked end through one of the trim holes, not the edge, and lever. Trim should pop off. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 It can be very difficult to so without crushing the trim, so all you can do is take care or try to cushion it, maybe by wrapping the hub cap tool in masking tape or soft foam. These come up from time to time online; a little rubber or plastic cover on the two feet should help preserve the wheel paint: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil C Posted January 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 It is a Mk2 but not being a fan of the Rostyle trims I am going old school and using simple chrome hub caps. Colin - that gizmo might work but I have yet to fix a hubcap in place so not sure what kind of gap will be available to get any purchase on? I don't want to fix one on until I have a suitable plan to get it off again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 33 minutes ago, Phil C said: that gizmo might work but I have yet to fix a hubcap in place so not sure what kind of gap will be available to get any purchase on? There are three lugs on the wheel, which hold the nave plate, and are slightly raised from the rest of the circle. That difference is what you have to work with (you operate the removal tool, whether Colin's one or the OE lever, just to one side of one of the lugs). I've found the OE lever from the toolkit in the boot to be fairly good at not damaging the wheel paint, but a bit of rubber or heatshrink sleeving over the bend would make it even better. The paint that will be removed is right on the lug, where the nave plate itself scratches it off during fitting and removal. That's hidden, though, so a bit of non-setting mastic or similar will keep rust at bay. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 I've the same type of hub caps on my 13/60. I remove them with the tool referred to by Trigolf. I have a short piece of hose pipe on it which protects paint. I would post a photo but car & tool are up the road having work done, which happens to be to rear brakes so I removed the hub caps before hand - easier than letting the mechanic try and do it 🙄 Oh, I'm surprised Mr Lindsay didn't point out the difference between a hub cap and nave plate - he must be slipping 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 who remembers the gadget similar to Colins post that put a kink in the handbrake cable to take up slack outlawed by MOT tests Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil C Posted January 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 43 minutes ago, NonMember said: There are three lugs on the wheel, which hold the nave plate, and are slightly raised from the rest of the circle. That difference is what you have to work with (you operate the removal tool, whether Colin's one or the OE lever, just to one side of one of the lugs). Thanks, that makes sense. I don't have any original tool but from google photos I am guessing the OE tool is the cranked lever? Probably not difficult to make something up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 this all reminds me of the past when they facelifted the Commer/Dodge PB van to 14" wheels the 3 lugs were not compatible with the rim of the nave plate they were flying off all over Dunstable and kyboshed a few inspectors on the rolling road so we converted some giant bolt croppers to re swage the lug and afford a fit that gripped the nave plate and at 48 vans per shift gave some guys some good work outs of 1440 squeezes a day or the nave plates flew off at the first corner Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamB Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 29 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: who remembers the gadget similar to Colins post that put a kink in the handbrake cable to take up slack outlawed by MOT tests I have probably still got one in the bottom of my reserve tool box ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 23, 2023 Report Share Posted January 23, 2023 1 hour ago, Chris A said: Oh, I'm surprised Mr Lindsay didn't point out the difference between a hub cap and nave plate - he must be slipping 😁 I may miss out on a nave, but I recognise a knave when I see one. 1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said: who remembers the gadget similar to Colins post that put a kink in the handbrake cable to take up slack outlawed by MOT tests That jogged a long forgotten memory!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark powell Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 Still got two of those handbrake adjusters lurking somewhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 1 minute ago, mark powell said: Still got two of those handbrake adjusters lurking somewhere... I'm sure you've got them well locked up as you wouldn't want them finding their way onto a car somewhere would you, not that anyone would want to fit such a thing . . .🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark powell Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 Can't think why they have not been binned. It's that "they may come in useful for something" syndrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlubikey Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 On 23/01/2023 at 12:51, Chris A said: Oh, I'm surprised Mr Lindsay didn't point out the difference between a hub cap and nave plate - he must be slipping 😁 Well, you've got me Chris. What is the difference please? Cheers, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 As far as I am aware there is no difference, other than the term Hub Cap was more American, and since WW2 has become the "English" standard term for the Nave plate. (two countries divded by a common language) Tire/tyre, Color/Colour------------------etc; As for hub cap removal, Difficulty appears not to affect certain members of society when one is parked?. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 It's possible that a nave plate was a larger wheel-sized plate that completely covered the wheel, in particular spoked wheels, to keep the spokes clean or to make the car look classier. The hub cap just covers the centre area. I could be completely wrong in that, but then again I've just read on a web site that nave plate is the British term for a hub cap - I had thought we were hub and the US was nave? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 I was told (by an elderly Riley enthusiast) that what I was removing was the nave plate and the hub cap was the thing behind it. His definition was that a true "hub cap" seals the hub so the grease doesn't fly out (and our cars do have such a cap on the front hubs) whereas a nave plate is mostly decorative but probably hides the wheel nuts. I've found some support for that but most just fall back on the old "American" excuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 its simple the hub cap fits the hub a nave plate is fitted to the Wheel cant see the wikapedia notes about it being a british name for a hub cap the drawings that are used to produce a car would be clear hubs are hubs and nave plates are wheel trims Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 17 minutes ago, NonMember said: I was told (by an elderly Riley enthusiast) that what I was removing was the nave plate and the hub cap was the thing behind it. His definition was that a true "hub cap" seals the hub so the grease doesn't fly out (and our cars do have such a cap on the front hubs) whereas a nave plate is mostly decorative but probably hides the wheel nuts. I've found some support for that but most just fall back on the old "American" excuse. TBF, that would make a lot of sense, In the USA, they only talk Hub Caps. The old Rileys and Rovers had huge "Hub Caps" (nave plates?) which covered the whole wheel as I recall, and the small caps which I knew back in the 50`s as a grease cap could conceivably have been the "hub cap"? Refered to in the Haynes Herald Manual as "the cap" p139. item 15 and the 1st edition 1200 herald repair manual P72/3, AS the HUB CAP.) Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Truman Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 Interesting, but I bet we will all still call that chrome thing a Hub Cap, wonder what the GT6 III, Spit IV/1500, & TR6 center wheel trim that is held in place by the wheel nuts is called, it doesn't hide the wheel nuts? I'll get my cap & leave now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted January 24, 2023 Report Share Posted January 24, 2023 Part number 122806 Plate, nave. Part number 134336 Nave plate removal tool. Vitesse 1600 & 2L parts manual. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted January 25, 2023 Report Share Posted January 25, 2023 9 hours ago, Peter Truman said: wonder what the GT6 III, Spit IV/1500, & TR6 center wheel trim that is held in place by the wheel nuts is called, it doesn't hide the wheel nuts? OR that stupid thing fiat fit, "Plastic wheel finisher"? (hub cap?) held in place by two of the wheel nuts, but takes forever to decide which two?🙄 Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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