Front wheel bearing dust cap removal

[Silver Machine]

Looking for some advice/guidance in removing the dust caps from the front wheel bearings. Car is a 1997 super sport. When I saw it done at a GTKY7 session the dust cap seemed to be compliant in removal. Mine has not been removed for a few years and seems reluctant to come away. New replacement dust caps should be arriving today so removing originals undamaged is not an issue. All advice gratefully appreciated.

 

[Jonathan Kay]

Several methods.

I'd drive a self-tapping screw into the centre.

Jonathan

[Jonathan Kay]

.

[Silver Machine]

Jonathan you are a star.  Used a self tapping into steel screw and it worked a treat. M

any thanks

[Tony P]

I put a small rivnut in the centre of the dustcap, so that it can be driven out with a bolt or setscrew. The rivnut has to be short enough to allow the cap to be driven fully home.
Overkill?  Yes, probably, but a satisfying solution (and I have an ingrained aversion to self-tapping screws).
If the larger hole this creates in the cap is a concern, then a blob of an 'adhesive' grease (such as Castrol CL or some other marine-use grease) fills it adequately.

[Drumster]

I've done the same as Tony above but use (from memory) a 16 or 20mm caphead bolt to extract the dustcap and then on replacement use an 8mm dome-headed bolt to 'fill' the hole. I used a 4mm rivnut and still have the original 1993 dustcaps.

[Tony P]

Ah - that's an even neater solution (if adding yet more imperceptible amounts of unsprung weight!).

[Wrightpayne]

I thought the originals had a hole in the middle to allow for air expansion when it all heats up, rather than force the grease out of the felt seal at the back.

[Tony P]

I had wondered about the hole - but since I'd had no issues whatsoever re. grease seepage, then wondered if it was there simply to hang the components on a wire frame when they were plated (as happens for lots of very basic, not overly critical components). Interesting point...

[Silver Machine]

Thank you all for your guidance. Bearings now regreased and all back in place. 

 

[Nigel Riches]

If your front wheel bearings are the Triumph type and have a hemispherical  cap with a small hole in the top, driving a self tapping screw in has probably knackered the thread which is usually in there, the idea being, use a screw of the correct thread form and suitable length to wind down into the end of the stub axle, thus drawing out the cap. you don't really think back in the dim darks self tapping screws were available, and this method of doing things falls firmly in the bodge field, but at least it achieved the desired result.  

[Iamscotticus]

I would like to see a picture of a cap with threadded holes.

I had an idea of making a mini puller from a Cleco pin...

[Silver Machine]

In case I damaged the original caps I ordered two new ones from Caterham. Can't comment on the originals as they now have self tapped threads but the new ones definitely have no thread in the hole. Perhaps in the past the caps had a thread already tapped. Thanks again for all advice/guidance.

[ECR]

I don't think that I have ever seen those caps with a threaded hole from new... I brazed a nut on mine which turned out to be not a very good idea as the heat required for brazing softened the cap to the extent that tapping the cap back in deformed the crown slightly. If I was repeating the exercise I'd try a rivnut.