Any point? Locking wheel bolts/nuts

Iron-man said:
You can remove them with a basic socket and also online you can buy proper tools to remove them simply so not really any point, Maybe at best a detterent
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only the male type surely? not sure how you would go about removing a locking nut with a freely spinning outer collar? short of smashing the outer collar off somehow?
 
Rich1988 said:
only the male type surely? not sure how you would go about removing a locking nut with a freely spinning outer collar? short of smashing the outer collar off somehow?
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Took all of a 10 minutes to remove 4 of the spinning collar type off my MX5 earlier this year. Most of that time was spent walking to the shed and back to remove the old nut from the socket.
 
I've seen them removed (legally!) using an impact socket, it took about 10 seconds to line it up and get it on...

Again, totally up to you as to whether it's worth the hassle of having them.
 
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Sin_Chase said:
Echoing what Gayjin said.

For the opportunist thief even the smallest of deterrent is worth it. In his/her mind, why go for the hardened target when there is a softer one available elsewhere?
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That doesn't really work for things like wheels - if they're after a set of nice aftermarket wheels to fit a Honda Civic, they're hardly going to think "oh well, those have locking nuts, instead I'll steal the OEM ones off that Passat!"

An extra minute or 2 isn't going to make them decide to steal a £100 set of wheels instead of a £1000 set
 
Frozennova said:
Took all of a 10 minutes to remove 4 of the spinning collar type off my MX5 earlier this year. Most of that time was spent walking to the shed and back to remove the old nut from the socket.
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But you most likely did it the same way as I do to removed them..

By hammering an impact socket onto them which of cause makes lots of noise so I can't see a thief doing it this way in the middle of the night..
 
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Haggisman said:
That doesn't really work for things like wheels - if they're after a set of nice aftermarket wheels to fit a Honda Civic, they're hardly going to think "oh well, those have locking nuts, instead I'll steal the OEM ones off that Passat!"

An extra minute or 2 is hardly going to make them decide to steal a £100 set of wheels instead of a £1000 set
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I think the "opportunistic" theif's logic probably doesnt extend much further than "dem rims luk wikkid bruv bet dey wort a bit"
 
sigma said:
I've seen them removed (legally!) using an impact socket, it took about 10 seconds to line it up and get it on...

Again, totally up to you as to whether it's worth the hassle of having them.
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Which is fine, however few are going to be foolish enough to hammer an impact socket onto my wheels at the dead of night which my car is on the drive.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Which is fine, however few are going to be foolish enough to hammer an impact socket onto my wheels at the dead of night which my car is on the drive.
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Is that the only time they're going to be stolen though? What about if they use a removal tool?

Also, if someone really wants them they'll just take the car surely.
 
adolf hamster said:
I think the "opportunistic" theif's logic probably doesnt extend much further than "dem rims luk wikkid bruv bet dey wort a bit"
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Is there really such a thing as an opportunist wheel theif? It's not like walking through an open door and stealing a laptop, there would have to be intent in the first place, so logically they'd most likely have the right tools.

Having said that I'm on the fence, it still provides some comfort that you've at least tried to do something to slow them down, even if it's not a huge deterrence.
 
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sigma said:
Is there really such a thing as an opportunist wheel theif? It's not like walking through an open door and stealing a laptop, there would have to be intent in the first place, so logically they'd most likely have the right tools.
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That's exactly what I was just thinking. To steal even non locking nut wheels you'll need to be carrying some kit and then have some way of getting away with them all.

Wheel thieves are going to be the same sort of people who know what they want and strip complete chunks of body work off cars in the middle of the night, not so much dodgy Dave walking down the road that would nab an abandoned bike off your drive just because.
 
chaparral said:
Now most car stereo's are built in they just steal the whole car instead........:p
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Many years ago a mate of mine had his car nicked from a multi story, It was an ancient wreck of a Cortina. He couldn't understand why anybody would nick it.

My analysis, in all seriousness at the time, was that it did actually have a half decent radio and that nicking the whole car was easier/safer than walking out of a car park carrying a car radio!
 
tom_e said:
That's exactly what I was just thinking. To steal even non locking nut wheels you'll need to be carrying some kit and then have some way of getting away with them all.

Wheel thieves are going to be the same sort of people who know what they want and strip complete chunks of body work off cars in the middle of the night, not so much dodgy Dave walking down the road that would nab an abandoned bike off your drive just because.
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It is a fair point, tbh i reckon the majority nick either from abandoned places (car workshops in the countryside etc) or tbh if i were to do it i'd dress up as the rac and do it in broad daylight.
 
adolf hamster said:
It is a fair point, tbh i reckon the majority nick either from abandoned places (car workshops in the countryside etc) or tbh if i were to do it i'd dress up as the rac and do it in broad daylight.
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A number of years ago a friend went away on holiday to return and see that their car had been stolen, i seem to recall they were sure that someone took it away on a flatbed.
 
I always get rid of the locking nuts on my cars, all they do is cause inconvenience whether it be me misplacing the socket or them slipping & making it difficult to apply leverage to remove when a garage has done them up too tight with an impact.

Looks better without too :p
 
it's not the 90s....

People don't steal alloys, they just take the whole car :p
Locking nuts aren't worth the drama, just bin em and slap standard ones on
 
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