tyre dust cap problem

[sicknote]

i have these over the top bmw aluminium dust caps on the wheels which came with the car

but they wont come off. ive tried wd 40, penetrating oil and even using pliers to hold the valve in place while i try and wrench the cap loose but all 4 of them will not budge

do they have an opposite thread on them does anyone know?

is it anti clockwise or what?

either ways does anyone have any ideas because the tyres are looking quite soft

thanks

[DaveD]

you have had it ...take the car to a tyre fitter and get him to put new valves in,,,,the aluminium and the steel have corroded together...it happens all the time according to my mate at kwik fit...and it happened to me...if you use them again fill them with grease

[DanThe]

Check at the backside of them, some have 'theft proof' grub screws.

If not get some decent mole grips around the valve.

Always right-hand thread

[d6dph]

Agreed on the corroded theory.

if you are going to try the mole grips on them, i'd strongly reccomend you do it outside your local tyre fitters.

The valves have a habit of ripping out when trying to wrench the caps off.

hth

[sicknote]

the corosion theory does sound about right. they look just like the crap ones you get off ebay for a fiver and if all 4 of them are'nt budging then it must be that.

i was just thinking about the clockwise theory because they just werent undoing anti-clockwise.....would be a good idea to have opposite threads so they think they were undoing them! then again you'd go to take them off and the buggers would have tightened em too much!

well i'll have to take it to the tire fitters to get the valves swapped over

thanks everyone for the input

tip o' the hat to you all

[DaveD]

corrosion is NOT a theory you could not have got my old ones off with a vice

and the fitters told me it happens all the time.............

[ollielsd]

yep electrolytic corrosion - between two dis-similar metals

[sicknote]

yeah it sounds about right

well got them fixed and re valved

how much?

started off at one place for £15 per wheel

then a random amount of £34 for al 4 at another

and finally down to a tenner from kwikfit

jobs a goodun

thanks for the help people