locking wheel nuts problem

Amleto

Amleto

Amleto

Soldato
Joined
13 Feb 2003
Posts
6,158
another issue on my wife's car...

I recently tried to put a new pair of tyres on the back. The garage I went to couldn't get the locking wheel nuts off. They did not use a gun but blamed whoever previously tightened the nuts. They said the locking key is now starting to split. It also has some rounding damage now.

My wife had one tyre changed a few months ago, but paid cash (no receipt). She recalls the technician did adjust the nuts on both sides.

Tomorrow we'll be taking the car back to garage that did the previous work, but I'm fearing the worst and assuming that the garage with the guns wont be able to get the nuts off.

If this happens is our only resort to go to Ford and see what they can do? Trying to get a feel for what this is going to cost.
 
What car is it? Ford normal have a master set but you can hammer an 18mm socket on and it will undo (depending how tight etc)
 
Hammer a socket onto it and get a long torque wrench or something for serious leverage. Had similar issue with an MGF, it'll brute off with determination. Crack out the scaffolding pole to extend if necessary.
I swear some garages put them on that tight so you're forced to go back to them with future issues. But rounding them off is just ridiculous and careless. Don't go back.
 
Taking a trip to that garage is a waste of time.

Just remove the locking wheel nuts and but some normal nuts on it. Who's gonna nick some Focus alloys and if they are, locking wheel nuts will not stop them.
 
pepsilol said:
Just remove the locking wheel nuts and but some normal nuts on it. Who's gonna nick some Focus alloys and if they are, locking wheel nuts will not stop them.
Click to expand...

I agree, lockers are much hassle than they are worth. Unless your car has some silly expensive wheels just put normal nuts on, I ditched mine ages ago after having 2 locking nuts stuck with a trashed key/socket.
 
I must have funny locking nuts or something, there's no way anything close to an 18mm will fit, more like 7mm

wait, are you meant to hammer the socket into the pattern or just over the whole nut? guess the nut. I will try again.

e:
turns out I needs something a fair bit bigger - more like 22-24mm.
 
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Get a quote from Ford for a new locking wheel nut.

Bear in mind if the garage has said the locking nut has become damaged, I wonder what the state of the locking nut which would have caused the damage is in!

Any decent garage will be able to get them off for you, just be prepared to buy a new set of locking wheel nuts which will cost you around £20 - This option is usually cheaper than Ford ordering you a new one!
 
I've looked at one of the locking nuts and that has definite rounding damage. I'll just get a single set of new nuts and replace all the locking ones.
 
I once lost my key and had to get tires changed. The tyre man just forced them off using a hammer and something else (can't remember was years ago). Never bothered putting locks again as they were just standard wheels
 
Once you get the locking nuts off just put regular nuts back on. No one is going to steal a standard alloy anymore and if they are some pricey aftermarket ones then a little nut isn't going to stop a determined thief. I think they are far more hassle then they are worth.
 
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Utter pain in the sack tbh
Had them stuck on my focus, ford tried to charge me to take them off.
Spoke to another ford place (just turned up) and out came the tech lad with a try full of keys ried a handfull and advised me to replace them with normal ones rather than buy a set.

My current car was a bti more of a pain, whoever had the car before me absolutely mangled the nuts to the point all that was left was like a 4mm or so collar of the original nut stuck well within the recesses of the alloy.

Went thru about 8 normal drill bits and 3 of them proper cobalt things or whatever they were. Had to drill out the stud and replace it :( Replaced 2 studs ad replaced all wheel nuts with standard Mazda ones.
 
How bad are the nuts? If not too bad you can try shocking them lose by hitting hard with a hammer and 1/2" extension. Failing that some tyre places have a special tool which has a disposable bit which moulds into a key, rac and aa use the same tool would be a lot cheaper than £120
 
Just bought a new car, need to take the locking wheel nuts off, had loads of problems with the ones on my old focus. Not worth the hassle.
 
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