I'm getting ready to put new tires on. I'm going to take the wheels (and old tires) to the tire place in pairs (I don't trust them putting my car on a lift). That is the best technique for removing the Dino center cap from the alloy wheel without scratching the wheel? Thanks!
I will answer my own question since no help here. I learned how to do it with zero chance of scratching your wheels. PM if interested.
What's the secret!!? Also, what is the best technique for polishing the center caps? Or is that a bad idea and should just leave alone? The black center paint from mine has started chipping slightly in the corners and there are several spots where someone removing lug nuts in the past banged the metal with their tools marring the surface.
I pried one off years ago by wrapping a screwdriver with a bunch of tape, tried to pry it like an old fashioned beer can opener, i.e., tip in slot lifted handle toward the center. This didn't work, so I twisted the screwdriver in the slot and, of course, gouged the alloy. The correct way: Wheel on floor. Kneel with your right knee on the right side of the tire to hold it down. (I'm a lefty, reverse if you were not born so lucky) Use long, wide screwdriver with tip stuck inside a loose folded cloth, put cloth covered tip in one of the slots on the left. Push the handle down sharply, toward the floor, USING ONLY THE RUBBER TIRE AS A FULCRUM. My experience, the first slot pops it up about 3 mm, second effort in the next slot pops it off. Screwdriver doesn't press on the wheel at all.
How do folks solve rattling of the center caps when driving? Two of mine were quite noisy years ago and I put double sided sticky tape behind which completely dampened the rattling. Is this expected?
