Skip to content
Aussieveedubbers

Annoying hub caps

0 likes
Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Reddit

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#93542
Bloody hubcaps

I have a 1971 super beetle which was given to me very nicely by a lady down my road who is very genreous (thankyou)........it is however not in tip top condition as u can expect. I am going to attempt to restore it back to its origional greatness (or at least to road worthy)......however my first problem is Hub caps .....i cant for the life of me get them off ......this might sound stupid to all u hardcore dubbers out there but i hav no idea......it has the origional VW chrome hub caps and i would like to remove them to paint the wheels (let alone if i hav to change a tire).......if any one can please help me i would be very greatful:thumb
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

squizy Thinking about another dub...maybe

4,082 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#93564
If you have a look around the rim of each hubcap, you will see two small holes.

Get yourself a coat hanger, and cut it to about 4 inches in length....then fold it in half.

Get yourself the rod used to raise / lower the car jack. Bend the coat hanger around the rod, and hook it into the two holes. Using the tyre itself for purchase, pull the rod, making sure the coat hanger wire is in the holes deep enough. If you don't have the lever, grab a long screw driver, and put it under the rim of the hub cap, and gently prise it up.

Squiz........

breville Slammed & Awesome Dubber

80 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#93568
Masive big screw driver i have. tip under the lip of the hubcap and push hard with the rim being a fulcrum.
original caps have two little holes.
i had a screwdriver that was more like an awl - it was a point no head
grind of an old small screwdriver to a point and then put a 90% bend half inch from the end.
poke point in one of the holes on the hubcap and pull hard.
of course there is probably a genuine tool just for the job but ive never owned one

regards and happy dubbing

david

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#93607
thanks guys ill give that a go tomorow

big help
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Black_math Blaupunkt

1,111 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#93687
Grab a baseball bat make sure its aluminium then proceede to bashe the hubcap and about one minute fo bashing the hubcap should fall off🙂

wadd Seriously Crusin Dubber

179 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#93701
i`m glad that he asked the question 😀
i have not got any on yet but intent to ..i though you would lever them off like holden hub caps now i know ,he just saved me swearing like a salior and impressing the neibours again:bounce

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#93705
i think ill pass on the baseball bat techniuqe black math but thanks n e way
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Black_math Blaupunkt

1,111 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#93728
It depend do you want to keep the guards or not? and if you do you can just hammer them out again witn your trusty bat:thumb😀

[Edited on 10/1/2003 by Black_math]

Boozer Demented But Determined

1,999 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#93907
uhhh he said he's restoring it. therefore he would want the hubcaps in good condition....psycho

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#93913
i got the hubcaps off (i used a crow bar it worked good) however when i was removing the last one on the passenger front.....i turned the steering to get better leverage on the tire.....this resulted in the steering locking up...so i got the keys and went to start the thing and now the key wont turn in the tumbler......wont even go to the on position.......i sense this may be a major problem .....perhaps a new ignition is in order?
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Black_math Blaupunkt

1,111 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#94008
🙁dam its always god to smack something with a basebal batt.......and lee your the physco with all of your crazyness.

Starbug rustbag

2,408 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#94009
have you unlocked the steering? it helps🙂
as for the wheels, a nice set of mags will solve all your hubcap problems, both now and in the future🙂 hehehe

congrats on the new bug🙂 i see it is making its personality very apparent 😀

Purple Martin Fahrvergnugen

913 posts · joined Feb 2003 ·

#94012
Anthiron wrote:.....i turned the steering to get better leverage on the tire.....this resulted in the steering locking up...so i got the keys and went to start the thing and now the key wont turn in the tumbler......wont even go to the on position.......i sense this may be a major problem .....perhaps a new ignition is in order?
Turn the steering wheel side to side while you try to turn the ignition key on. It should then unlock. You may have to be very firm with the steering wheel, but be gentle with the key so you don't break it.
1959 red & white Beetle
1975 Kombi camper

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#95022
yeh my mate told me about the turning thing the afternoon it happend and we fixed it........i spose it seemed like a bit of a stupid question to u guys 🙁
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

scooter Seriously Crusin Dubber

172 posts · joined Aug 2003 ·

#95068
Ah dont worry I drove around in my first beetle for a few months complaining that reverse didnt work.....

DUH

Push DOWN and back.

Needless to say that was a little while ago.... Honestly...

Black_math Blaupunkt

1,111 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#95082
I stil cant drive my 57' but i still do have the original hubcaps😀

wadd Seriously Crusin Dubber

179 posts · joined Apr 2003 ·

#95087
i`m supprised they are still in one peice Black_math ... (hubcaps that is )

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#95114
I always just lever the hubcaps off with a large screwdriver.
There used to be a special tool (I have one somewhere) a round bar with a flat lip on one end to prise the hubcaps off..
whatever You do don't dent the hubcaps good ones are now getting hard to come by.... Good German chrome that is...
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Black_math Blaupunkt

1,111 posts · joined Sep 2003 ·

#95116
Well when i was checking out the bug i was using them as frisbys😀 but i dont need em so im gonna sell em at a later date, but firts of all i gotta get soem kool mags😀

[Edited on 4/10/2003 by Black_math]

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#95479
thought u would hav bashed the shit out of them with a base ball bat by now black math😀
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

oval TOFU Bitte, ein Bit!

2,946 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#95633
My preferred method of removign hubcaps of any vintage on ta VW is to utilise those hooks one uses to hang tools from in the garage? (kapeisch?) They look like a double ended hook with one end being larger than the other. The gauge of this wire is something like twice the thickness of coathanger wire and wont bend when taking off the hubcaps. Use a cloth to hang onto the larger hooked end and slip the smaller hook into the hole in the hubcap..... and Bob's your uncles brother! No scratched rims or sore hands!


BO SELECTA!
...and Robert's ya father's brother...

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#96888
are kombi wheels the same as those on a bug?
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

57kombi Hannover Elder

2,544 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#96890
Kombi wheels are differant but the hub caps are the same.

modulus Veteran Volks Folk

2,009 posts · joined Jul 2003 ·

#97322
One wire coat hanger died in the production of this device...

1 attachment · Log in to view

Peter Hill
1975 Type 2 Double Cab
modulus.com.au

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#103151
i am thinking that some beetles in the 70s had IRS can someone tell me which models these were? plz
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#103184
All super beetles 1972-2 (1302) and 73-75 (1303)

Standards i think were 1970 semi auto's and 1976's
Futue te ipsum!!!

Anthiron The Baja Rejuvenation Begins

4,936 posts · joined Oct 2003 ·

#103653
thanks
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#103664
All semi autos had the true IRS same as the 1971> superbugs and 1976 torsion bar Beetles.
Standard beetles, even 1972 models still had the old swing axles and drum brakes all round.
and to the person who mentioned Holden hubcap pullers... Yes they are the type I use... My hubcaps were on VERY tight also... takes a bit of pulling off... I don't think a piece of wire would have gotten mine off. The brazillian ones are a bit easier to pull off... Brazillians themselves aren't as strong as Us Aussies....
Lee
😀😀😀😀😀😀
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---