Thread: How do I get my wheel nut covers off??!!

give the cover on the locking not a quarter turn either way if it is loose yue can give it a few wiggles usually works for me,and i will be replacing my lock nuts asap as well

Originally Posted by Pinelli

Crap. How do you tell them apart?

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow.

The lock nuts have an inward dimple in the centre, the wheel nuts for the spare have an outward dimple & the rest have no dimple!

the lock nut cap remover does not require turning, you just push the slotted end over the nut until the clips at the end go over the lip at the base of the nut, then pull.
you can work the nut cap a little at a time with a flat bladed screwdriver, just levering it off the face of the wheel (you may want to place a thin bit of metal against the wheel to protect it), using an action like you do when you pry the lid off a paint tin. lightly and gently is the key and you will get them off.
once they're off, leave them off until you can get some plain nuts for it, then replace the lock nuts on the road wheels, use the lock nuts for the spare as this is much more likely to get pinched.

Disco1 here. Had same problem today myself. Thought there was a cover over my wheel nuts which appeared to be loose. When i looked at my wheelbrace i realised it was the same size, So i just put it on and undid my whole wheel. Hope this helps because it works!

My security nut key tool split and ended up welding an old socket to the nut (very carefully) to get it off.

Originally Posted by Pinelli

Crap. How do you tell them apart?

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow.

Fear not. For the last 5 years I have had a spare wheel nut (dimple out) on my right rear wheel as I borrowed the lock nut cos I wanted 2 lockers on my spare. The reason for the 2 lock nuts is that with the covers off I could tap out (thread) the end of these nuts to bolt on a bike carrier to my spare wheel. The studs on the spare are longer than the wheel studs and this may be why the dimple is out? Other than that there is no difference, I hope!
A non dimple wheel nut may not have room for the longer stud on the spare so I guess don't use one, but the other way, no problem.