My car came with the cheap Nismo valve stem caps that you get from the stealership. Because they are rounded, edgeless, and metallic, they are now stuck to the valve stems.

How do I remove these friggin' things without damaging the wheels? I have no problem scratching up the caps themselves, they are going in the trash as soon as they come off. I can post pics later.

 

I would try pliers, channel lock pliers, or vise grips.

 

beat them into submission!

 

aaaahhhhh wait dont beat them into submission take your time heat the cap with a small butane torch, to free up the corrision, and slowly and softly turn the cap with pliers back and fourth until the cap turns freely, keep heating if needed. YOU will break the stem if u arent careful. and loose all pressure, now ure in for a tpm and a trip to the dealer.

 

 

^ sounds precisely right

 

If they are sensors which they probably are, be very careful. Pliers will get them off but you may break a sensor if they are stuck on there good enough.

 

i say just be careful with a razor and cut away

 

In for pics but pliers are probably your best option

 

Thanks for the replies, folks.

As you can see from the scratches on the cap, I tried with the pliers (using a rubber glove over the cap to get some grip) and so far, I managed to get one of the four off.

Someone suggested WD40 but I'm guessing that if I spray that stuff on, I will not be able to get the pliers to grip the cap properly to twist. Again, I'm open to suggestions and I have no concerns about damaging the caps themselves (but I'd rather not damage the wheels).

 

Vise grip, you won't have to worry about clamping it down or slipping, just turn it. Just make sure not to crush it.

 

It looks like your valve stems have flat spots so you can use a small open end wrench to hold them in place while you attempt to twist off the valve caps. I'd strongly recommend you take the time to locate the proper size wrench and use it before you make any further attempts at removal of the caps. You definitely don't want to break off a valve stem in you attempt to remove a cap. I would also apply some WD-40 using a Q-tip or some similar instrument to place one drop at the base of the cap so it can penetrate underneath to the threads. If you are careful and pay attention to what you are doing you should be able to do this without getting the oil all over the outside of the cap making it difficult to grip with your pliers.

 

I'd put some heat on them...small torch or,even a hair dryer

Or,that does'nt work...use a moto tool with a small cutting blade...cut e'm off.
Should be easy ...tool used for small hobby stuff/tight spaces.I've had this tool
(DREMEL) for years.Works great on stuff like this.

 

The flat spots aren't on the stems; they're the outer-clamp for the TPMS sensors; using those for this purpose may cause other issues as it will tighten the tpms clamp and overall probably do nothing for removing the caps. Other than this I agree with your penetrating oil suggestion and failing that, the dremel suggestion.

As you are trying to remove them I would suggest being as close to the end as you can, if not on it. It will provide the most support for pliers in addition to you not squeezing the actual valve stem as you're trying to remove something from said valve stem