OZ wheels - Centre Cap Removal Tool

[PV7998]

I've got a set of OZ wheels with a Centre Cap like this.................



What I haven't got is the tool to remove the Centre Cap - it's not an allen key, the aperture you can see is circular with an smaller (and offset) aperture in it.

Does anyone have any idea where I could get this tool from?

[Number 7]

Should have come with the car / wheels (if the latter were bought later). I think there are variations in the pin placement on the tool. Can one be made by grinding down a bolt?

[PV7998]

Worst comes to worst I can make a mould using P38 and get some steel turned down from the mould - but it'd be much easier to buy the tool if it's still available.

[Number 7]

I'd be amazed if there were any of these still available anywhere.

While it wouldn't have the same level of security, if you manage to get them out (maybe by borrowing a tool) you could replace them with cap head bolts, or a security type torx bolt.

[PV7998]

I guess that might be the cheaper option - get the old ones out and replace with torx or an allen bolt..............anyone near Chelmsford/Braintree got one for a 5 minute borrow?

[adam quantrill]

They are countersunk so you would need to machine the bolt head a bit, or get countersunk security ones.

[GV]

Just get a flat blade driver to fit....easy.

[PV7998]

Without a tool, getting the old ones out is the first problem. Hammering in a torx or similar might work, but the centre caps are plastic and 25 years old - and they really are difficult to get hold of, so the last thing I want to do is to damage them.

Once they're out, I can get allen or torx bolts and get them turned down to fit in the recess.

[wedgeman]

Different sets of these bolts have different tools to match up with them as the countersunk hole is located in different places in different sets.

I would recommend making a removal tool if you can, as drilling these bolts out without damaging the caps is pretty much impossible.

[marcus1875]

Are yours plastic? Mines are metal. Often wondered how i would remove them if i lost my tool (phnaar phnaar). I had thought a flat blade would do it.
Would there be enough interest to take mine to a shop and get some machined?
Marcus

[PV7998]

Yep...........these are the plastic ones, so they'd be easy to chew up if I was a bit heavy handed.

Once they are out I'd be able to fit something I had a tool for.

[ElvisWedgely]

I had this problem on an earlier Wedge I used to own and wasn't given a removal tool. I tried everything I could think of to remove them but with no success. At the time, David Gerald was in the process of ordering some to be made for some customers and I caught them just in time and they ordered one for me. So they are worth a try. It wasn't cheap but I needed one so ordered and received a short while after. Unfortunately I sold that with the car. I have these same wheels now, but off hand I can't remember if the bolts have a hexagon head or the normal offset. There is a tool in the boot but like I say I can't remember which fitting as the car isn't here at the minute. However, I will check during this week,and post. If it's the same as yours, you are welcome to pop over to me and undo your bolts. I am in North London, ten minutes drive from the M25 Potters Bar junction. I will let you know unless you get hold of a tool before then.

Tony. TCB.

[PV7998]

Thanks for the offer Tony, I can't see one coming up any time soon so if you've got one to use that'll be great

[JumboBeef]

Borrow one from someone. I had one with my 400. Once out, throw them away and replace with a hex bolt.

No one is going to nick your wheels, so loose the locking nuts etc. I have had two cars in the past suffer from locking nut key failure which has cost a lot of money, pain and marks on the wheels to put right. Locking nuts etc are completely pointless nowadays (if someone wants your locked wheels, they'll just put your window through to get the key, so completely useless).

[ElvisWedgely]

JumboBeef said:

No one is going to nick your wheels, so loose the locking nuts etc. I have had two cars in the past suffer from locking nut key failure which has cost a lot of money, pain and marks on the wheels to put right. Locking nuts etc are completely pointless nowadays (if someone wants your locked wheels, they'll just put your window through to get the key, so completely useless).

I disagree. I suppose it depends where you live, but here in London, they'll nick the wheels off a jumbo jet if it flies in low enough. It must be something to do with the increase of car boot sales and online auction sites. My advise is, if it's lockable, then lock it, or lose it.

Tony. TCB.

[JumboBeef]

ElvisWedgely said:

JumboBeef said:

No one is going to nick your wheels, so loose the locking nuts etc. I have had two cars in the past suffer from locking nut key failure which has cost a lot of money, pain and marks on the wheels to put right. Locking nuts etc are completely pointless nowadays (if someone wants your locked wheels, they'll just put your window through to get the key, so completely useless).

I disagree. I suppose it depends where you live, but here in London, they'll nick the wheels off a jumbo jet if it flies in low enough. It must be something to do with the increase of car boot sales and online auction sites. My advise is, if it's lockable, then lock it, or lose it.

Tony. TCB.

But where to you keep the key? In the car? So all they'll do is force their way in to get the key and then take your wheels.

Certainly any car which is tucked up in a garage at night does not need locking wheels, and they are just a pain waiting to happen.

[ElvisWedgely]

JumboBeef said:

But where to you keep the key? In the car? So all they'll do is force their way in to get the key and then take your wheels.

Certainly any car which is tucked up in a garage at night does not need locking wheels, and they are just a pain waiting to happen.

I can't tell you where I keep the keys, but it's somewhere so safe, not even the cat can get at it. In an ideal world your theory sounds good, but in reality, depending where you live, lock it. Never mind the garage, what about the times you go out shopping etc. and leave the car?

Tony. TCB.

[marcus1875]

PV7998 said:

Yep...........these are the plastic ones, so they'd be easy to chew up if I was a bit heavy handed.

Once they are out I'd be able to fit something I had a tool for.

I had no idea there were plastic ones, just assumed they were all metal. Anyway check out this on the bay, 121778505006
Perhaps somebody with one to hand could double check it for you, looks the same as mine, but I haven't seen it in a week and wont be near it again till Sunday.

Marcus

[JumboBeef]

ElvisWedgely said:

JumboBeef said:

But where to you keep the key? In the car? So all they'll do is force their way in to get the key and then take your wheels.

Certainly any car which is tucked up in a garage at night does not need locking wheels, and they are just a pain waiting to happen.

I can't tell you where I keep the keys, but it's somewhere so safe, not even the cat can get at it. In an ideal world your theory sounds good, but in reality, depending where you live, lock it. Never mind the garage, what about the times you go out shopping etc. and leave the car?

Tony. TCB.

Ah but 99% of people keep the key in the central box, glove box or in the boot. So some muppet will still put your window through looking for it.

I've never heard of wheels being stolen from supermarkets etc. In fact, when was the last time wheels were stolen from cars at all....?

But I can tell you of two cases where the keys have been damaged, which has resulted in stress/cost/damage to wheels to get the buggers off. Me!

[PV7998]

marcus1875 said:

I had no idea there were plastic ones, just assumed they were all metal. Anyway check out this on the bay, 121778505006
Perhaps somebody with one to hand could double check it for you, looks the same as mine, but I haven't seen it in a week and wont be near it again till Sunday.

Marcus

Doesn't look like what I need..................this is more like it: