96 f150 4x4

Going to remove my automatic hubs and replace them with manuals but ran into a problem. I took the 4x4 hub cap off and there was another cap under it. It has some kind of c ring on it and i can't take it off. I'm not sure if thats the way its suppossed to be or it was rigged like that. I thought you would expose the interior of the hub just by taking off the cap. Can I take to whole rotor and spindle off so it comes out with the cap? Any info will help. Thanks

That ring has to come out and it is a pain in the butt. Actually you need three hands to do it. Jamb the ring, then using two small screwdrivers, drive one under the ring and then use the other to get it started out. Last time I tried it it took me 30 minutes to get the dang thing out. I figure Ford has a $100 tool that brings it right out.