Replacing Bontrager Race Lite Freehub I had excessive play between my cassette cogs, taking the cassette off revealed that the splines are quite chattered up and I believe this is the source of the play.

I've ordered a new freehub from the Trek dealer (W431450), but for the life of me I can't seem to get the old one off. If I understand correctly, there's "cap" that should come off first (that the thru axle goes through) and then the freehub should pull off easily.

I can't get the cap off and I can't pull the freehub off.

I've tried tapping lightly on the outside of the cap to try and provide a little percussion to break it free, and I've also tried that on the freehub, but no luck. I also (maybe stupidly) tried to use some pliers with a bit of rubber tubing to keep the pliers from scoring the cap, but that also didn't work.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!! 



Side rant: Why is it so hard to figure out these part numbers? I can't find a comprehensive part listing for my bike (2019 model). The part number on the hub takes me to random cookie-cutter webpages from different bike stores that look like they're all using the same Trek backend? To figure out this freehub part number, I had to call the Trek store and have them look at some system they have. If I look up the wheels, the wheel info page doesn't have any information on the freehub either. Very frustrating.
It's hard to know exactly why that cap is so well stuck on, but you are right, it should pop of with a good firm tug. I believe there is a rubber O-ring that keeps it on. I have a DT-Swiss wheel that uses a similar cap, and when mine was stuck on like this,
soapy water helped me. I diluted some dish soap and poured a tad all around the cap and it popped right off. If you have an axle vise or a large drill chuck that might help you grab onto that thing to give it a good pull.