locking wheel nuts problem.
 

erm ive lost the key:(

mcgard locking wheels nuts, one on each wheel, lost the key when recently painting calipers. have no way of getting the barcode thingy for a replacement to be made. how do i remove them. bot bothered about destroying them, will buy new ones. cars going on friday to be repaired after an accident and was looking at having the wheels refurbed too.

andy

Not sure about the nuts you refer to but a way of doing it is to get a socket which is slightly under the size of the locking nut. Add to the recipe one large hammer, beat the socket onto the nut and with a fair and following wind you should be able to get it off .........

Why do I know this sort of thing :D :D :D

if you can get @ it weld another nut onto the face of the locking one and use that to get it out

i thought the welding idea too as the mcgard nuts are perfectly round on the outside with the flowery shape engraved within. hoping some sort of pressure would work. remains to be seen.

Tyre shops are used to dealing with this sort of thing. Easier to take it to the experts rather than making a mess.

You can get a special socket with a left-hand spiral blade inside it which digs into the nut and will undo it. I paid £17 for mine a few years ago - try a local tool factor. A lot of garages have these, also your local AA/RAC man will probably have one.

Andy I had the exact same problem. I sent off to McGard for a replacement, when I got the replacement it did not fit :(

So I returned that socket and made clay molds (bought from modelling shop whereby you put them in the oven) along with photographs as a last desperate attempt to get the correct key. A replacement was sent and it fitted :D

If you do the same I am sure they will try to help.

HTH.

i recently broke my key

rang McGard , in germany and they told me to take photos of the locking nuts and e-mail the pics to them , within 2 days i had 2 brand new keys on my doorstep

bit worrying when i could have been anyone taking the photos of anyones wheels but they came, they fitted and i binned them once i got them off and fitted some inferior ones that i have had no problems with

If you can't get a new key, they are easy enough to remove without....and McGuard are supposed to be the "better" ones :lol1:

Locking nut removal kit (can't remember which make it is, can go and check though) and a hammer....wheelnuts are ruined afterwards though :D

as said not fussed about the locking nuts themselves, as il buy a nice new set for the hopefully refurbed wheels anyway. my car came with two on each wheel:lol1: , one set mcgards, one set some other inferior rusty one. have one lock, but not the other. d'oh

Have to agree, and most crims also use this method. I've done the very same on quite a few of sets of them, legally ;), as said get a socket (not hexagonal but a Bi-hexangonal) it WILL grip on the round smooth surface when you hit on it ;)

Tony

Does anyone actually steal alloy wheels these days?? :confused:

I would have thought the market had disappeared for them as most cars now have them fitted.

Halfords sell the lefthand threaded sockeds for removing locking nuts/bolts, asuming that they will fit in the recess of the rim!!

I had to use the threaded sockets from halfords they are £16 for a pair.I couldnt use them coz im not strong enough,my boyfriend did it and his words were you have to get the threaded socket to grip the barrel of the wheel nut and then rag the f%"ckers off, they worked well. They seemed to grip better if you try and thread the socket on a slight angle almost as if you are trying to cross thread it.

Won't the socket be sh*gged afterwards though?

have u tried a large pair of 'Mole' grips. just lock them on and give the end a tap with a hammer........

alan

appreciate the suggestions, something heres bound to work.

pete, im not trying to steal my own alloys fella, and i dont really know any theives with "tricks of the trade".

andy

Do they have the revolving outer case, or not? If so they may be much more difficult to remove.

I've removed a set of Mc Guards using the socket and big hammer method after the key split. :cry:

pop to see your local snap on man they do a set of 3 sockets that fit all shapes and sizes of wheel nut ,,
you can probly go to your nearest quick fit type place they may have em
you are welcome to use my ones if you are near buy
drop me a mail if you need em, hope you get it sorted

appreciate the offer - but... scu.nthorpe/berkshire hmmm.:lol1: