Community Forums

TroutScout · 11-07-2009, 05:20 PM

I have a 2003 Ford E-450 Jayco motor home. I need some help on how to get the wheel covers off. I have located two "nut covers" that sound more solid when I thump them, they have indentations on their sides, unlike the other nut covers. I have a tool that look like a "T" handle with a hexagon cup at the other end. I put this cup end on the nut cover and pushed , pulled, twisted and nothing moved.

What do I need to do?

danf7 · 11-07-2009, 06:08 PM

There should be three of them that have the dimples on each wheel. Use your "T tool " to remove those three lugs. That will allow you to remove the covers. Under this you'll find the lugs that hold the tire on. If it's the first time you have removed them they might be on very tight. You might need a little leverage.

Dan

expo · 11-07-2009, 06:23 PM

I've got Dicor wheel liners with the indentations in 2 of the nuts. They don't hold the wheel on at all. I remove the two "nuts" and the wheel liners pull off to expose the real nuts.

I understand you can twist the T-handle into a pretzel trying to break the nuts loose. Try some heat from a heat gun or VERY gingerly from a torch and see if it helps. A regular socket wrench would help immensely. Once they're off put some grease or anti seize compound on the threads to make it easier next time.

TroutScout · 11-07-2009, 10:12 PM

Expo,

You mention "threads". Are these "nut covers" threaded on? Should the normal lefty loosy(counter-clockwise) direction be used. I have no idea if these are snapped on or threaded?

mfire1339 · 11-07-2009, 10:49 PM

Troutscout,

Threaded --lefty loosey

Mike

desertdust · 11-08-2009, 01:09 AM

I had the same issue. i even called for a wrecker who couldn't figure it out. I had to take it to the dealer. When the tires were put on they put the cap with the indentations on with an an air gun. A regular ratchet wasn't good enough. Good luck.

TroutScout · 11-08-2009, 04:07 PM

I got the covers off. I had to use an impact wrench. There were just two nuts holding the cover on. I put anti-seize grease on them, so next time will be easier.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Gary - K7GLD · 11-08-2009, 05:23 PM

Been following this thread with interest - we have wheel covers on our Winnebago class A MH (GM chassis) that seem like what's being discussed here - I thought the lugnut simulators came off with the main portion, now not so sure:

I sure wouldn't want to damage the covers by removing improperly, or applying too much force in the wrong spot - any comments?

KC1BUD · 11-09-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroutScout

I have a 2003 Ford E-450 Jayco motor home. I need some help on how to get the wheel covers off. I have located two "nut covers" that sound more solid when I thump them, they have indentations on their sides, unlike the other nut covers. I have a tool that look like a "T" handle with a hexagon cup at the other end. I put this cup end on the nut cover and pushed , pulled, twisted and nothing moved.

What do I need to do?

I have an 07 Damon with 19.5 inch rims and only two dimpled nuts per wheel. If you run into more than that, it is possible that they have twisted off the wrong ones and replaced them with dimpled ones. The fake ones aren't hard to knock off.

It is possible that they were put back on with an air wrench or ratchet Get a socket the same size as the socket on the T handled wrench and apply a little more force, I have had to do this with mine. Carefully, and incrementally apply more force until they start to move.

When I tried with the T handled wrench that came with the MH all I did was bend the T handle.

John Mo · 11-09-2009, 02:15 PM

On delivery, mine were loose enough that the T-handled thing would remove them. After a trip through the Ford shop for an alignment fix, they won't budge. Somebody put them on too tight with an air gun. And one of my simulators is now cracked.

mfire1339 · 11-09-2009, 02:39 PM

Gary,

I believe your lug nut covers just pry off to reveal the lug nuts. Then lug nuts must all be removed to remove the covers.

Mike

Rick Long · 11-09-2009, 03:05 PM

Gary... Those do NOT look like Dicor covers that the other guys have. Might have to pop over to a Workhorse thread to find someone that has the same ones.

justimagination · 11-09-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfire1339

Gary,

I believe your lug nut covers just pry off to reveal the lug nuts. Then lug nuts must all be removed to remove the covers.

Mike

Gary,
Mike took the words right out of my mouth. My Ford chassis came with DIMPLE COVER'S that simply pull off to reveal the lug nut's to remove the wheel similator. Good luck,
David G.

Gary - K7GLD · 11-10-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfire1339

Gary,

I believe your lug nut covers just pry off to reveal the lug nuts. Then lug nuts must all be removed to remove the covers.

Mike

Partly right, Mike - took a good CLOSE look at mine, and did finally pop one off - ALL lug nut covers have several retaining indentations around their circumference to retain them in place - these covers slip/fit pretty snugly over the actual lug nuts, and provide little-to-no access for any sort of tool to remove them prior to getting to the actual lug nuts for removal - it LOOKS as though the design is for the actual wheel cover to be removed, which will at the same time force the individual lug nut covers to come off with it. The wheel covers themselves - after finally getting one of the covers off - are not at all retained in any way by the lug nuts - and will simply remove freely, once they are carefully pried free of the wheel, THEN the actual lug nuts can be removed to free the wheel.

Remaining question is, is it really necessary to individually remove each of the lug nut covers - or should a owner just go ahead and pry off the whole cover, and hope that the lug nut covers will also release and pop off with the wheel cover itself? The wheel covers AND lug nut covers on our MH are quite pristine, and show NO signs of being weathered or abused in any way - and would probably be pretty hard to find replacements for - so I really want to be cautious about getting stuff apart when/if the need arises...

I suppose it will remain for me to carefully experiment with these on my own, now that I at least know how they are made and assembled - and figure the least abusive means to get them off with minimal damage...

Thanks for the helpful input guys!