Problem solved - not the original nuts and bad fit on the wheel brace

 

tonyodo,

Just as a matter of interest, why did you want to take them off?

Paul

 

There is no easy way, you can:

Use a cold chisel and cut the aluminum covers off. There will be a hex underneath, but it is not a standard size.
You can take a socket you don't really need and pound it on.
Or get a special tool, such as:
The threads are standard, I think, 1/2 x 20
Make sure that the new nuts are shouldered, like the picture, not the cone shaped ones.