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Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:05 pm
by Beancounter
Other half has lost the locking wheel nut key. Despite the shape matching up the eBay replacement doesn't fit - number 805 for what it's worth. I'd rather not pay Halfords to come to do it so was thinking of trying these:

- Nut & Bolt Extractor.jpg (114.08 KiB) Viewed 1121 times
Anyone tried these before? Appreciate I'll likely muller the locking wheel bolt but I'm fine with that.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:07 pm
by weeksy
That's essentially all a garage is going to use/do. Whether i'd use a set that looks like it's £4.56 on Ebay though... i don't know

Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:09 pm
by Cousin Jack
Will they fit in the wheel recess? My locking nuts are recessed into the wheel, a socket or the proper key will fit, but some of those look to have quite thick walls?
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:26 pm
by Beancounter
weeksy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:07 pm
That's essentially all a garage is going to use/do. Whether i'd use a set that looks like it's £4.56 on Ebay though... i don't know
Yeah, the one pictured was the first set I came across on eBay so is only for pictorial uses.

The other sets are the drill-the-bolt/reverse thread types which always seem a bit of a gamble.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:26 pm
by Cousin Jack
weeksy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:07 pm
That's essentially all a garage is going to use/do. Whether i'd use a set that looks like it's £4.56 on Ebay though... i don't know
I had a cheap set years ago. They were useless.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:33 pm
by weeksy
TBH i'd ring my local polish/rasta/east euro part worn outfit and say "how much to get of 4 locking wheel nuts" i bet it's not much more than the price of the decent version of that tool and a shit load less effort.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 1:15 pm
by Skub
Evil bloody things. They are the first part of any new (to me) car I buy.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:01 pm
by mangocrazy
Is ali wheel theft still a problem these days? I thought the scrotes had moved on to nicking more lucrative parts years ago.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:09 pm
by Mussels
mangocrazy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:01 pm
Is ali wheel theft still a problem these days? I thought the scrotes had moved on to nicking more lucrative parts years ago.
They still cost a lot but I imagine they are harder to shift now.
A Ford Escort probably only had 3 wheel options so easy to find customers but my car probably has 40 or 50 variations of wheels. Also I doubt many cars come without them now.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:29 pm
by Horse
mangocrazy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:01 pm
Is ali wheel theft still a problem these days? I thought the scrotes had moved on to nicking more lucrative parts years ago.
There was a post on LinkedIn that someones sporty BMW was written off after its steering wheel was stolen!
https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/ ... A6.266767/
Apparently a common theft:
https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/la ... e%20window.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:32 pm
by iansoady
Last time I had this problem a local garage did it in a few minutes. Agreed, locking wheel nuts are the work of the devil.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 5:36 pm
by David
Forget a 3/8 inch drive! I have two half inch jobbies...they got the soft as shit Ovlov nuts off....if you are near Weston S M pop by...
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 5:37 pm
by David
The problem is not mullering the nut (it will)....it's getting the wee scrote back out again
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:14 pm
by ZRX61
mangocrazy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:01 pm
Is ali wheel theft still a problem these days? I thought the scrotes had moved on to nicking more lucrative parts years ago.
Bloke on the Explorer ST FB group lost all four wheels off his ST Saturday night.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:37 pm
by cheb
ZRX61 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:14 pm
mangocrazy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:01 pm
Is ali wheel theft still a problem these days? I thought the scrotes had moved on to nicking more lucrative parts years ago.
Bloke on the Explorer ST FB group lost all four wheels off his ST Saturday night.
Any hint of the vehicle's location at the time?
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:04 pm
by Cousin Jack
cheb wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:37 pm
ZRX61 wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:14 pm
mangocrazy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:01 pm
Is ali wheel theft still a problem these days? I thought the scrotes had moved on to nicking more lucrative parts years ago.
Bloke on the Explorer ST FB group lost all four wheels off his ST Saturday night.
Any hint of the vehicle's location at the time?
On several piles of bricks?
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 8:19 pm
by ChrisW
The Irwin extractors are pretty good. Used them a couple of times on lost-key wheel studs.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2024 10:29 pm
by ZRX61
cheb wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:37 pm
Any hint of the vehicle's location at the time?
Texas apparently. Perps cut the locks on the gate to the complex & hit one vehicle at each parking lot

Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2024 8:17 am
by Felix
My locking nuts are in the canal. You could be careful and weld a nut on it or find someone with the same car and wheels and ask if you can loosen your nuts and replace them with normal ones.
Re: Removing locking wheels nuts without the key
Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2024 8:18 am
by Felix
mangocrazy wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:01 pm
Is ali wheel theft still a problem these days? I thought the scrotes had moved on to nicking more lucrative parts years ago.
Never hear it happen in years.