How to safely remove the 19 inch center caps

[Kia Stinger]

Expert mechanic/surgeon level: 0

Where to buy the 19" "E" Stinger wheel caps:
4 Kia Stinger OEM 18 / 19 Inch Center Caps - The Stinger Store

There's a slot in one of the arms for a flat head screwdriver to slide in...

 

[AV8R]

Thanks for putting this up, a few newbies are scratching their heads and I’ve been trying to help them.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Expert mechanic/surgeon level: 0

There's a slot in one of the arms for a flat head screwdriver to slide in...

Yep, pops off easy....

 

[Robert O'Dwyer]

Be sure to order a body trim removal kit from Amazon or elsewhere. They're inexpensive and the nylon tools will prevent scratching anything. Much better than a metal screwdriver.

 

[Wan El Guapo]

Or if you must use a flathead screwdriver wrap it in cloth or scotch/painters tape. The wheels scratch easily, just ask the dealership that replaced my wheels cause their tech was stabbing them like it was Halloween. Remember to always wrap your tools before jamming it in any unseen slots or this can happen.

 

[cire]

How hard is it to switch out just the center cap overlays? i ordered some (red gt logo) but didnt know if it was an easy swap with the oem kia overlay??

thanks in advance.

 

[eflyguy]

They simply pop off when you insert something like a screwdriver or flat trim removal tool into the slot, and twist, as explained in the five posts above yours.

 

[cire]

They simply pop off when you insert something like a screwdriver or flat trim removal tool into the slot, and twist, as explained in the five posts above yours.

but thats for the actual center cap yes? i saw that part but didnt see anything on switching just the overlays, or is that what you are referring to?

 

[WildBill]

The "GT" overlays I bought had pressure sensitive adhesive on the back and you just applied them over the existing ones. Not the most ideal solution but they look just fine and have not lifted a bit in 2 months.

 

[AV8R]

Made this up out of coat hangar wire works great and won’t damage cap. Small piece of tape on one end that you stick in hole in cap and pull.

 

[Kia Stinger]

How hard is it to switch out just the center cap overlays? i ordered some (red gt logo) but didnt know if it was an easy swap with the oem kia overlay??

thanks in advance.

As mentioned, they stick right over/on top of the KIA logo on the stock center cap...

 

[eflyguy]

but thats for the actual center cap yes? i saw that part but didnt see anything on switching just the overlays, or is that what you are referring to?

Ah! apologies! As you posted in a thread about replacing the entire cap, I skipped over the "overlay" part of your question!

 

[kramer17]

Nice, thanks for this info.

 

[cire]

no worries, thank you

 

[cire]

gotcha thanks for the help.. didnt realize they were stickers thought they would replace the stock kia ones thanks again

 

[jsrob905]

easiest thing i found was a paint can opener and its small enough to leave in the center counsel. Best of all they are free at you big box home stores

 

[Dreadnaut12]

Thanks I will remember this for the future.

 

[antonini311]

Or if you must use a flathead screwdriver wrap it in cloth or scotch/painters tape. The wheels scratch easily, just ask the dealership that replaced my wheels cause their tech was stabbing them like it was Halloween. Remember to always wrap your tools before jamming it in any unseen slots or this can happen.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I'm not scratching my rims with a metal screwdriver.

 

[Dinger]

Harbor Freight sells a four piece pry bar set for 12 bucks, less when they're on sale. The smallest one is 8 inches, and it's almost as if it was made specifically for prying off the center cap. The blade fits perfectly in the slot, and the curvature is just right for popping the cap off. The bars are covered with a heavy duty paint or vinyl, so they don't scratch, but it that ever wears off you could certainly tape it up.

For some reason the system won't let me add a link but the HF stock numbers are 1654 or 69281.

 

[Kando]

Or if you must use a flathead screwdriver wrap it in cloth or scotch/painters tape. The wheels scratch easily, just ask the dealership that replaced my wheels cause their tech was stabbing them like it was Halloween. Remember to always wrap your tools before jamming it in any unseen slots or this can happen.

Yep, will be taking mine off at home before service