Jenn2007

Hello, I bought some cute little metal dust caps for the car, now a year on they have all corroded. Unfortunately I can not get them off to check the tyre pressures. They screwed on and then had a little pin you did up with an Allen key to make them un-nicker-ble. Well it certainly worked as they are stuck fast. We have tried WD40, pliers but still stuck fast. Does any one else have any ideas before I have to pay £40 per tyre to be re-valved? Thank you.

sarnyboy

junior hacksaw one edge off CAREFULLY then prise off with a small screwdriver.. i had 4 like that!

Jenn2007

thank you, will give it a go, All four of mine are knackered !

sarnyboy

bloody things, if you fit new ones which are alloy make sure you put a smidge of grease inside it first

Jenn2007

OK, brother has tried already to drill the end off and it seems to be quite a tough material as it didnt work. Abit worried about using a saw and keeping it steady. Any other ideas ??

DarrenSTI

iTrader: (3)

How about using a spanner, I used one to tighten them up when I had none nickable ones.

magicgreg

I had this same issue mate and I was stumped for around 2 weeks trying to get them off as they were completely seized up.

In the end I got them off by going out during the early hours of the morning when they were freezing and then the allen key worked and the pin snapped out, could try that method.

G

Stephen Pope

I've got an idea - don't leave your tyre pressures unchecked for a year!!!!!!!!!! That is ridiculous mate, not checking your tyre pressures regularly, no matter what the car however especially on a performance car!!!!

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

always copper slip metal valve caps on

Jenn2007

Stephen Pope I've got an idea - don't leave your tyre pressures unchecked for a year!!!!!!!!!! That is ridiculous mate, not checking your tyre pressures regularly, no matter what the car however especially on a performance car!!!!

I had checked them within the year, wet weather over the last couple of months destroyed them ! learnt my lesson thank you and will put on some trusty black ones from Halfords! The allen ket socket has corroded therefore the allen key just slips round. OK thanks for your ideas. Will give it one last go and then find a tyre company tomorrow

Turbotits

iTrader: (2)

just wack a 10mm socket on them and hold valves just under the cap with a pair of pliers

wrx,sti

iTrader: (2)

bring your car to my street and the kids will get them off

nigel s

That principle worked for me, even when I didn'y want them off

robby

freeze them off - you can buy a can of ? (forgot its name) which literly freezes seized nuts/ bolts therefore unseizeing them by contracting the 2 metals.

as for the £40 per wheel for re-valving? shouldn't cost more than £5 per rim

Jenn2007

Will that work on releasing the pin from sticking into the valve bit? Because the allen key socket bit has corroded to nothing there is no way of releasing the pin. Dont think the socket thing will work as the dust caps are round and have no edges for the socket to grip to, but then willing to try anything, will give that a go in the morning. I am a bit wary about trying to hard with the pliers in case it breaks the valve off and I am left with a flat tyre? So you think £5 per tyre? thats OK if thats the case.

bob r

iTrader: (46)

Exactly the same problem I experienced yesterday.
I also couldn't turn the allen key so I just got a set of molegrips on them and twisted the things off and threw them away. Plastic ones for me in the future.

Shark Man

Slap whoever quoted you that...more like £40 for all four, and that's being generous!

Next time use some copper-eze on the thread...or check the tyre pressure at a minimum of one a fortnight (like you should )

M444GY

iTrader: (72)

id do it for 15 quid , break one side of the bead cut the old valve out slap new valve in and put stainless steel non corrosive valve cars on (nice and shiney ) 15 spondoolies

40 quid per wheel you would have to be fooking mental to pay that !!!!

who quoted that ???

DarrenSTI

iTrader: (3)

You could always go and see Jeremy Clarkson, he is pretty handy with a 12bore shot gun these days, weeding, tree trimming, valve cap removal.

53

iTrader: (41)

Never ever had a problem with these, and my car is out in all weathers. Bit of vaseline on the thread, easy.

Spinning Anti Theft Caps



Have you a friend with a dremel ?

Jenn2007

The very nice men down at the local garage took them off for £15 unfortunately he found a nail so now need a new tyre

M444GY

iTrader: (72)

why didnt they repair it ????

Steve vRS

I bought some of those for my sister. She had 2 nicked one week and the other two the week after. The little ******* must have the key or there is another way of removing them.

Steve

Jenn2007

Because the nail is somewhere that isnt repairable (on the edge?), they didnt have the tyre in stock but have found another garage that have the tyre available tomorrow. Real bum was that I had a nail in a tyre about 8 months ago, the tyres that the car came with were not available in the UK, so had to replace all 4 tyres after having the car for 6 months. Now I have another puncture! not fair. Has cost me £625 on tyres in less than a year

GlesgaKiss

PMSL

M444GY

iTrader: (72)

hmm how on the edge was it ? alot of big tyre garages eg kwic fit etc on the edge is normally near the middle , so that u have to buy a new tyre

i repair them within a cm from the edge and never had a problem or comeback . u have to be careful some of these garages will fleece you for a new tyre then repair your old one and resell it on as a partworn .

or never use a big chain like kwic fit as they are scamming *******s with not alot of experiance tbh.

Jenn2007

Hi, it was quite near if not on the edge of the tyre. Its not a massive nail. I went originally to a local garage (not a chain), but I am not getting the tyre from them. To be honest I didnt really really look as to where it was, maybe when the other garage go to fit the new tyre I can ask them? Why cant they mend a puncture if its near the edge then?

Shark Man

Its due to the internal struture of the tyre:

There are steel belts, and nylon belts and corded plies encased in the rubber (yes, tyres have steel in them). This is across the main tread area of the tyre. However, towards the shoulder they end - with enception to the corded plies which cover the sidewall as well as the main part of the tyre. So there is less re-inforcement at the sidewall. Also the shoulder areas have seperate belted areas to aid re-infocement, hold teh steel belts in place and maintain tyre integrity. But these are narrow and must not be damaged or repaired as it reduces their strength. Because of this, it is a weak point.

At the edge of the tread or near it, you could "repair" it. But its at the edge of the belts. Which can cause a stress point to initate a tear the belts under high load/speed. That can lead to a catostrophic tyre failure. And let me tell you- you don't want to have a blow-out at 70mph on a motorway - it can cost you your life.



So the rule of thumb is to keep the repair several inches away from the shoulder: Otherwise safety of the tyre cannot be guaranteed.

Also ALL repaired tyres will have a lower maximum speed and load rating due to the repair...So the speed rating on the sidewall no longer applies. This is why some supercar tyres should not be repaired at all...can't have a 160mph+ car with a repaired tyre only safe for 130mph.