Team,
A fellow Cobra owner documented this detail procedure to remove and reinstall knock-off wheels:
- Removal process
- Remove old safety wire. Tight means it was coming loose. Cut wire and remove it. SAVE rubber piece that goes over wire and wheel.
- Spinner Cap (lock cap): Spinner cap loosens the opposite way of the spinner. Use a wrench to loosen the spinner cap. It may be marked. May be a plastic ring as well as cap.
- Driver Side Spinner Cap: Loosen is clockwise.
- Passenger Side Spinner Cap: Loosen is counterclockwise.
- Passenger Side Spinner: Loosen is clockwise for spinner. This means wire should flow counter-clockwise from spinner.
- Drivers Side Spinner: Loosen is counter-clockwise for spinner. This means wire should flow clockwise from spinner.
- 911 Spinner Tool: Read directions and use 25 ft lbs max torque.
- Lead Hammer: Whack in the correct direction. Use 911 spinner tool as required. Rotate the wheel and hit each spinner arm separately. READ lead hammer instructions!
- Remove Spinner and save/mark which wheel/side of car it came from.
- Inspect Brakes…
- Installation process
- When installing, keep anti-seize OFF of brake pads/rotors and everything else!
- Anti-Seize: Thin coat on edge of spinner threads. Very small amount on inside where lock cap/spinner cap goes.
- Installing Pin Drive Wheels: IMPORTANT!!! Lugs MUST fit into holes in wheels. Be patient.
- Installing Spinner: Small amount of anti-seize on inside of spinner.
- Passenger Side Spinner: Tighten is counter-clockwise for spinner. This means wire should flow counter-clockwise from spinner.
- Drivers Side Spinner: Tighten is clockwise for spinner. This means wire should flow clockwise from spinner. Get the spinner hand tight and then drop the car for final torque using lead hammer.
- Lead Hammer Tighten: READ lead hammer instructions! Sound/tone of hammer has a higher tone when tight enough.
- Spinner Cap (lock cap) Installation: Wipe off excess anti-seize so it does not fling anywhere when driving.
- Driver Side Spinner Cap: Tighten is counterclockwise. Make it “snug” and not tight.
- Passenger Side Spinner Cap: Tighten is clockwise. Make it “snug” and not tight.
- Safety Wire Installation: Wear safety goggles.
- 24 inches of wire to start. Install rubber tubing over wire.
- Form a loop so cut ends are together with rubber cover on opposite side.
- Drivers Side Wire: Spinner loosens counter-clockwise so safety wire should flow clockwise from spinner. Wrap wire around wheel roughly three wheel openings away.
- Passenger Side Wire: Spinner loosens clockwise so safety wire should flow counter-clockwise from spinner. Wrap wire around wheel roughly three wheel openings away.
- Stretch two wires together to where it meets the spinner hole it is going in. Read safety wire instructions and follow them. 12 twists per inch is goal.
- Release pliers and pick longer end of wire and thread it from the back of the hole in spinner. Bring other end of wire over to side of spinner where wire is heading to wheel.
- Attach both wires together and tighten using pliers. Three spins.
- Cut off extra safety wire leaving an inch outside of spinner hole. Bend that wire over and stick it back through the spinner hole.
And here is a good video from our friend Dennis: