How do you get the chrome center hub covers off?

[fla2ri]

Do you have to remove the lug nuts and wheel first in order to get the chrome hub covers off, or do they pry off?

 

[Guybmoto]

Very carefully. The end caps are hard to get off (screwdriver under the plastic end cap) without cracking them.

No, you don't have to remove the lug nuts or wheels.

 

[fla2ri]

Thank you for the reply. My center caps are metal, like a 4" deep metal cup.

 

[keyser soze]

Mine were also steel and held in place by the wheels, had to remove wheel to get cap off.

 

[fourfourto]

Mine were also steel and held in place by the wheels, had to remove wheel to get cap off.

X2 there are tabs that will be damaged by prying off.
A couple of them jiggled and rattled and I tightened them up when I removed the wheel to grease the hubs.

 

[rondi-FUN]

On my rig they are plastic. I started with a small screwdriver to pry the end cap loose just a bit, then i used a larger screwdriver. There are plastic fingers which snap to the inside of the part which sticks out from the wheel. I was careful to not force the screwdriver, but i still knicked the plastic, the chrome "plating" just flakes off. It "looks" like the whole hub cover is sandwiched between the wheel and brake drum---I won't know until i remove a wheel.

hth, Ron

 

[bobandmuriel]

Somewhat related.....can you tell me what size socket to use on the lug nugs? We are new to trailers, I see that I should have been checking the lug nuts for tightness...a 3/4" socket seems to be a bit loose....are the lug nuts metric?

 

[LJAZ]

As I recall mine is 3/4". What wrench are you using? Sometimes lug wrenches aren't all that precisely sized or have gotten worn a bit with use/time. If yours is a metric size it would be 19mm which is 0.748", just a bit smaller than 3/4". Try putting a 19 mm socket on the nut just to see if it fits.

 

[bobandmuriel]

I don't have a lug wrench for the trailer. I tried a 3/4" socket yesterday when I was winterizing the water system, and it fit, but seemed unusually loose.
Thank you. I'll try the 19 mm when I am at the trailer next time.
My snooty neighbors don't allow trailer trash to keep their trailers at home, so I need to store mine elsewhere.