Sparesafe bolt cap

[Milly]

I recently tried to take off my sparesafe to check the bolts and found taking the silver cap off the bolt virtually impossible. Resulted in my spitting the plastic cap remover tool. on closer inspection the cap is too big to fit in the plastic tool. ?anyone else had this issue and any tips on how to get the silver cap off would be good - just picturing removing this on a dark rainy night. Thanks

 

[Perfectos]

The plastic tool is tapered, the cap is an interference fit so the plastic grips the thin metal cap.

It's not the best design given the cost of the spare safe.

Mine has split , which appears to make it grip the cap better , it will eventually break though.

The Club shop may be able to supply replacement.

If you find a replacement post here to help other in future

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Removing Sparesafe.

Hello - even though I have owned my Cali since September 2020 I have never ventured to remove the pre fitted Sparesafe. So - how do I do it? There seems to be various bits in a bag in the toolbox. Thanks.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Milly]

Removing Sparesafe.

Hello - even though I have owned my Cali since September 2020 I have never ventured to remove the pre fitted Sparesafe. So - how do I do it? There seems to be various bits in a bag in the toolbox. Thanks.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Hi
The black plastic tool supposedly fits the thin silver metal cap. When pulled off(my issue) it reveals the sparesafe bolt which will undo with the supplied ‘key’ .There are two bolts the other standard hex. When loose the frame jigs to the right and drops down allowing the wheel to be accessed. This is said to be difficult if you have a rear flat!
I failed at step one on this occasion so others may have better knowledge!
Thankfully I have never had to do this in anger either but maybe a try in the garage first could be useful. Good luck (there’s always the AA)
PS I will try and access a new black plastic cap tool if possible

 

[Perfectos]

If you cannot get the metal cap off, use a flat blade screwdriver to prise the edge of the cap downward. Work your way around the perimeter of the cap a little at a time, it should come off.

 

[Milly]

If you cannot get the metal cap off, use a flat blade screwdriver to prise the edge of the cap downward. Work your way around the perimeter of the cap a little at a time, it should come off.

The cap sits inside the sparesafe so is inaccessible

 

[WelshGas]

The cap sits inside the sparesafe so is inaccessibleView attachment 140167

Needle nosed pliers.

 

[Milly]

Needle nosed pliers.

Thanks will try this next
Bit of a design fault!

 

[MickyBlue]

I had this problem & in the end I drilled a tiny pilot hole in the centre of the cap & screwed a self tapper in to then grab it with a pair of needle nose pliers.

 

[Milly]

I had this problem & in the end I drilled a tiny pilot hole in the centre of the cap & screwed a self tapper in to then grab it with a pair of needle nose pliers.

Top idea
Thanks for you help

 

[Perfectos]

The cap sits inside the sparesafe so is inaccessibleView attachment 140167

The cap sits inside the recess against the shoulder of the bolt head , a screw driver forced at an angle , with downward pressure will apply friction to the edge where it meets the shoulder and by working around the perimeter will work it loose.

 

[Milly]

The cap sits inside the recess against the shoulder of the bolt head , a screw driver forced at an angle , with downward pressure will apply friction to the edge where it meets the shoulder and by working around the perimeter will work it loose.

I will try this as well
I think the longer term solution will be to drill and tap in a screw.
Club shop unable to source any spare parts - just the whole bolt kit
Thanks everyone for your excellent advice

 

[Perfectos]

I'm going down the @Viktorgeorge route , change the metal cap for a rubber end cap & Chuck the broken puller

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I'm going down the @Viktorgeorge route , change the metal cap for a rubber end cap & Chuck the broken puller

It has worked perfectly for me for more than two years. I have removed the sparesafe several times - including the occasional clean up and black Hammerite of the sparesafe to beat the rust - and the red rubber end cap once returned stays in place and blocks any dust etc. but is easy to see and remove.

 

[Anthony1]

I recently tried to take off my sparesafe to check the bolts and found taking the silver cap off the bolt virtually impossible. Resulted in my spitting the plastic cap remover tool. on closer inspection the cap is too big to fit in the plastic tool. ?anyone else had this issue and any tips on how to get the silver cap off would be good - just picturing removing this on a dark rainy night. Thanks View attachment 140160

I removed my Spare Safe completely. I had grounded it going round and up a steep slope in Cornwall. Luckily I found this out at home, as I hade to file/grind the scrape off, othwise the tool would not fit. Removing the spare is hard enough without the Spare Safe.

 

[Blanco]

Not sure from the picture if sparesafe is the same as this one I got. It has a keyed head like the wheel bolts.

https:///product/campervan-parts/wh...beach-campervan-alloy-wheels-zgb-701-071-592/

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Not sure from the picture if sparesafe is the same as this one I got. It has a keyed head like the wheel bolts.

https:///product/campervan-parts/wh...beach-campervan-alloy-wheels-zgb-701-071-592/

I think you may have missed the point @Blanco, the photo in #6 is of the "keyed head" covered over by a "silver cap" the latter being the concern of the OP.

 

[Blanco]

Proffering an alternative with no enclosure. Dust cap comes off easily,

 

[WelshGas]

Proffering an alternative with no enclosure. Dust cap comes off easily, View attachment 140505

So does the security bolt with a compression wrench.

 

[Blanco]

I take your point and food for thought .. although the head encased in a rotating ring hopefully makes exerting sufficient pressure to crush it and grip the bolt within slightly difficult. Can't say I've put it to the test tho.

 

[MickyBlue]

The other thing is most ‘wheel tea-leaf’s’ would have one of these or similar making the spin collar irrelevant

Just my 2p

 

[Blanco]

As well as presumably the notion of what a secure bolt is. Although .. the stuff crammed into the back when we go away might hopefully make nicking the wheel without first jacking up the rear several inches nearly impossible. There's perhaps a silver lining to every cloud.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Lack of Maintenance!
Especially in a country where all the road users whinge every year that the roads aren't gritted enough!