Nut job

Ske

Ske

Ske

Associate
Joined
25 Jun 2010
Posts
310
Location
South Wales
Alreet chaps?

Just picked up my car from the garage after undergoing an MOT. A couple of advisory items on the certificate but nothing major. The mechanic mentioned that he needs to take the back driver's side wheel off to look at the the brake as there's some air in them (don't shout if this doesn't sound right) but I've lost my unlocking wheel nut...

Am I able to get a replacement nut? If so, what's the damage? I'm guessing they aren't universal as you'd be able to "swipe" anyones wheels, surely? Anywaaay, anyone stupid enough to have done the same thing as me in the past? :(

The car in question is this, Ford Fiesta Zetec S TDCi - 09 plate:

u74n.jpg


Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
You should have a little plastic bag somewhere with a piece of paper in it, it should have the code for your locking wheel nut key on it, it might be in your handbook. About £20-30 from Ford IIRC. Either that, or take it to a Ford Garage with some replacement nuts, and ask them to remove the nuts with their master set of keys, and replace them with your new ones.
 
I'm pretty certain the said-nut was in said-bag.. Aaaaaaaaaaand I've got no idea where it is! :( there's a Ford garage just up the road. I'll have have to pop in tomorrow.
 
You can buy removal sockets from Machine Mart. It is a tapered socket with a thread cut inside and you tap it onto your locking head and start to unscrew and the threads bite in and it will hopefully undo.
 
TheYoungster said:
If all else fails, I think one method is to basically get a socket close to size or one size smaller and hammer it onto the nut.
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The mechanic mentioned this before I left. I'd need a new set prior to him doing this so he could stick the new set on after reviewing the brake? Hmm. Seems a new set from Ford is circa £45 - worth it or not?
 
Apparently my local Ford dealership will be able to match my chassis number which includes the trim style (alloys differ slightly as I've got the Street Pack on my Fiesta) and get a replacement nut. Talking a tenner max. Brother's are handy after all!
 
Do the wheels need removing on these to bled the brakes? or most cars for that matter.

Had my 182 on the ramps and brakes bled without removing any wheels.
 
BennyC said:
Do the wheels need removing on these to bled the brakes? or most cars for that matter.

Had my 182 on the ramps and brakes bled without removing any wheels.
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Could probably get at the bleed valve without removing the wheel but the wheels should be removable anyway, in case of a flattie.
 
Are they all locking nuts or just one on each wheel?

If that latter, buy 4x second hand non locking nuts and get the garage to remove the lockers and replace with normal nuts.

Unless you live in Merthyr, your wheels won't get stolen.
 
bledd. said:
Are they all locking nuts or just one on each wheel?

If that latter, buy 4x second hand non locking nuts and get the garage to remove the lockers and replace with normal nuts.

Unless you live in Merthyr, your wheels won't get stolen.
Click to expand...

I have said this before!

This is not the 70's!

Alloys are not special!

WTF is the point of locking wheel nuts! Like most "Security" stuff. They only cause significant bother for the legitimate owner! (Anybody who really wanted them could easily get them anyway!) :(

Waste of ****** time! (+ a world of hurt when you lose the key or break the damn thing! (Not so uncommon!))
 
Ske said:
I'm pretty certain the said-nut was in said-bag.. Aaaaaaaaaaand I've got no idea where it is! :( there's a Ford garage just up the road. I'll have have to pop in tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Have you checked under the boot carpet to see if you or the dealer have stored the socket there? There is a storage slot for it there, or at least there have been on the Fiesta's I have owned, and the dealer has put mine in there in the past.
 
Orionaut said:
I have said this before!

This is not the 70's!

Alloys are not special!

WTF is the point of locking wheel nuts! Like most "Security" stuff. They only cause significant bother for the legitimate owner! (Anybody who really wanted them could easily get them anyway!) :(

Waste of ****** time! (+ a world of hurt when you lose the key or break the damn thing! (Not so uncommon!))
Click to expand...

I'm sure you want a £20 set of locking nuts on your new Porka wheels? The problem is where do you stop on the way down the levels of quality and cost?

Some tyres are worth more than wheels.
 
bledd. said:
Are they all locking nuts or just one on each wheel?

If that latter, buy 4x second hand non locking nuts and get the garage to remove the lockers and replace with normal nuts.

Unless you live in Merthyr, your wheels won't get stolen.
Click to expand...

I'm from the Rhondda so there's not much difference ;) aye, one locking nut on each wheel iirc. Also, there's no spare wheel. Instead, there's some puncture-filler gizmo which is common on new'ish cars?

Spoken to the local Ford dealer and Ford don't create them on their own anymore so it's going to have to be a new set which he quoted me at £55. And I ain't paying that!
 
Garage lost my lock nut and just used a bigger socket over it, hammered it on and undid them. Had all 4 lock nuts off in about 10 mins. Got a new set from euro car parts.
 
Try a different ford dealer. I have just snapped my locking wheel nut key as the bolts were done up too tightly. Bought another from Ford on Monday for £25 and it got delivered to my dealer today. You just need to take the key code with you so they can order the correct one.
 
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