How do I remove locking lug nut?
 

I am changing tires and wheels on a 73 convertible I have recently acquired. I did not receive the locking lug key. How do I remove the locking lug? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Take it to a tire install store. They have tools for that. Costs like $20. Better than you messing with it.

I'd take it to a place that installs tires, they will probably have a tool that does it.

There is a tool that is for removing bolts and screws with stripped heads, get your hands on one of those and it should work. Harbor Freight, maybe?


Scott

Find a 12 point socket thats just smaller then the locking lug, and hammer it on. you should be able to get it off.

:iagree::iagree:

If its only 1 the tighten the other 4 real tight then grab the locking one with vice grips and turn it off.

:iagree:

:iagree:
I've done this before. :thumbs:

If you have a welder, weld an old lugnut to the locking lugnuts. :D

Had the same problem with my car a few years back. Took it to the tire store (lees Tires)here in va beach and they did not have a lock that fit it. Used a socket and pounded it over the lug nut and it came right off. It took two sockets because the first one split down the side. 10 minutes per tire. cost 60 bucks. I guess I could have done it at home if I would have thought of it.

There's actually special gripper sockets with sharp edges to bite in some shops have. Combine this with their air impact wrenches, and pretty difficult to replicate for most home users. Some locks, like McGard are hardened, and hard to grip into. For fun try drilling a hole in one. A little torch heat usually solves the problem, but at the risk of damaging the wheel.

It was for just such applications that Harbor Freight was hatched.

:hide:

DO NOT do this. It's bad juju for the wheel hubs. You wouldn't torque a single lug to spec at full capacity before doing any of the others, right? Would you be willing to put a 200+ lb impact load on a single stud?

get an impact socket and drive it on with a hammer. impact sockets are much stronger.

locking lug nut removal
 

Thanks all. I used 12 point socket worked fine. Thanks again!

Yep, buy 4 of them. Had to do that to the wife's car when the damn service tech lost the key years ago.

What in the hell are you talking about???? We're talking about removing the lock nut, not installing one. No one is torqing down 200+ lbs??? :crazy2:

:cheers:
Glad it worked for you.

Any damage to the hub??? :D

How much force do you think you're applying to the hub when you hammer the socket on?

Where do you think the force is being applied?

Do you check the rotor surface before and after with a dial indicator?



Anything I can say to respond to this would be a violation of the forum rules.

Did you even read my post? Do you know the difference between "impact load" and torque?

While getting a bit off topic, kinda freaky thing happened. Been using a set of McGards for years transfered to 3 seperate cars. Bought another new set for a different car. I'll be damned, if it wasn't the exact same pattern, using the same lug key. I always buy an extra key, and hang it with a copy of the number card on the basement wall.