Removing locking wheel nuts

[Shaw]

Well Vauxhall were pretty much useless i tried 2 different dealerships that told me the same thing, that they will not have a key as they only keep a few and as my car is over 3 years old so will be different to the current ones. But they were willing to "chisel" them off and this would take about 2-3 hours to do all 4 wheels.

A local alloy wheel shop are willing to try all the keys they have for a few quid so will see how they get on when I get chance to take it in.

If the above fails it cheap sockets and a hammer to the rescue.

Although one of the engineers I deal with through work is convinced that he can weld something onto the locking wheels nuts to unscrew them.

 

[zain]

Determined thieves!

I found my wheel had 3 bolts and 2 missing, someone tried to have my wheel but gave up when they saw the locking nut I guess...

 

[sigma]

Although one of the engineers I deal with through work is convinced that he can weld something onto the locking wheels nuts to unscrew them.

That'll work.

 

[Jez]

his point is that they can be removed by bashing a £5 chinese socket set onto them

same as any other locking wheel nut. They are a deterrant.

Nothing more.

I dont see how any socket could be driven onto mine, see the back right of the picture for what they look like...

How would it grip it?

 

[sigma]

If the socket is a very similar size and of poor quality then it'll more than likely get stuck on it if you hit it head on. Although the only time I've been in the situation of forgetting my locking nut, it was taken off using the welding a nut method.

 

[Kitchster_uk]

I dont see how any socket could be driven onto mine, see the back right of the picture for what they look like...

How would it grip it?

It would have to be a *slightly* samller socket, made from harder metal basically as when you hammer it on, the socket cuts into the metal if they are totally round. You can buy extractors that follow the same principle but are easier to remove afterwards. That said, as a deterrant, it would put off 99.9% or alloy thieves looking at those bad boys!

 

[Jez]

They are very very hard. I tried extremely hard to get them off myself and got absolutely nowhere, didnt even cause a mark on them using the method described. Ended up at the main dealer who had a set of keys. Then had to buy a new set.

TBH i think the easiest way would be to remove the other 4 bolts, jack the car up, then smash the wheel off with a massive sledgehammer and a block of wood. Bound to sheer the bolt.

 

[SB118]

I dont see how any socket could be driven onto mine, see the back right of the picture for what they look like...

How would it grip it?

The wheel bolt at the back right of the picture is the same type that i took off in my earlier photograph.

 

[Jez]

The wheel bolt at the back right of the picture is the same type that i took off in my earlier photograph.

You are a hell of a lot stronger than me then mate! I couldnt even cause a mark on mine when i broke the key

 

[SB118]

Need a bigger hammer mate

 

[loltim]

It's not the locking nut that you're mashing, it's the cheap socket piece.

Wouldn't you need to buy a new hub if you knocked a stud off?

 

[DannyW]

You are a hell of a lot stronger than me then mate! I couldnt even cause a mark on mine when i broke the key

did you use a proper lump hammer?
it's easier with cheap chineese car boot sale sockets, but my mate has used snap-on and top quality ones in the past and still have no problem

 

[MofoKilla]

his point is that they can be removed by bashing a £5 chinese socket set onto them

same as any other locking wheel nut. They are a deterrant.

Nothing more.

Hardly the mcgard ones have the thread on the inside on the nut not the outside so banging on a socket is out of the question

 

[SB118]

Hardly the mcgard ones have the thread on the inside on the nut not the outside so banging on a socket is out of the question

Obviously this thread was too long to read in detail but ...

..they ain't all that.

 

[BigglesPiP]

Driiiiiiiiiil

 

[snarloas1982]

any decent tyre dealer should be able to remove them, most near me would charge about 6 pounds, i remember i lost mine and the guy asked me for proof it was my car, maybe not essential but kept him right incase i had stole the car lol

 

[Fr0dders]

Hardly the mcgard ones have the thread on the inside on the nut not the outside so banging on a socket is out of the question

See above

you dont need a thread. Its just a matter of having a big enough hammer.

Having said that, at least your alloys wont got stolen from outside your house on a night. Removing them this way makes so much noise, it would only be viable for thieves if you'd left it in a deserted underground carpark or something.

 

[Wicksta]

TBH i think the easiest way would be to remove the other 4 bolts, jack the car up, then smash the wheel off with a massive sledgehammer and a block of wood. Bound to sheer the bolt.

lol, no.

You would probably damage both the wheel and rip the thread out of the hub even if you did finally manage to get if off that way.

 

[AmDaMan]

The McGuard ones with a rotating collar are very hard to get off, even after you have smashed the collar it's still hard.

About 4 garages tried before having to ring McGard up for a replacement key and using an impact wrench.

Never put them on again.

 

[Firestar_3x]

So to steal your wheels with sockets you would need at least 8, (to cover two different sized wheel nuts) then the correct size tool to remove the factory nuts also, large hammer and extension bar.

Can't see many people going to that much effort unless the wheels an your car are worth a fair amount, even then you can fit two styles of locking nut on the same wheel.