Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Tee Tops off all year FL
Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck
My lock wheel nut special lug seems to be stripped. I can't seem to get the lug off. Last guy must have power wrenched this thing on there. Can these be replaced? How else can I get this thing off? Vise grip and hammer? Is there a special tool to grip the round lug?
[Modified by Dk Met Grn 80 L82, 10:11 PM 3/14/2004]
[Modified by Dk Met Grn 80 L82, 10:11 PM 3/14/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: A high school diploma fixing what a college degree broke TN
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
I have heard of people buying cars and not getting the puzzle locks with them,most take a cheap socket and hammer it over the outside and remove it that way.I suppose a vise grip could work also.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Goose Creek SC
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (moosie982)
Find a SnapOn dealer. There is a special socket made to remove them. Most good tire shops have them. When I purchased my 96 C4 it had wheel locks and there was no key in the car and the dealer had no clue how to remove them. I took it to a large tire shop and they removed them. With the special socket.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
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From: I can walk to MA
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (Robert8096)
:iagree: Snapon tool works. So does welding a bolt to the end of it.
Vice grips will fail, due to the case hardened exterior.
Angle grinder will turn the round to a hex ... then socket it.
:seeya
Vice grips will fail, due to the case hardened exterior.
Angle grinder will turn the round to a hex ... then socket it.
:seeya
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 150
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From: Pecatonica IL
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (FEDX)
I have heard of people buying cars and not getting the puzzle locks with them,most take a cheap socket and hammer it over the outside and remove it that way.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
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From: San Jose CA
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (c3-4me)
I have heard of people buying cars and not getting the puzzle locks with them,most take a cheap socket and hammer it over the outside and remove it that way.
Thats what I just did with mine! Works great! :cheers:
Thats what I just did with mine! Works great! :cheers:
Think about what you're doing to the suspension when you're hammering directly on the stud. :smash:
Welding a socket/nut on the end or otherwise is a much better idea... or have a professional do it. As long as they don't take a hammer to it...
-Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
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From: largo florida
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (Pacin'California)
You would be hitting the lugnut, not the stud. The force from the hammer is passed from the lugnut to the rim. Although it seems like alot of force and potential damage from a hammer, there is less overall force from a hammer then from a good strong kick. If you dont believe it, consider trying to break a piece of wood. Hitting it with a hammer wont break it, give it a good kick and the piece of wood breaks in half.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
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Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (lostpatrolman)
You would be hitting the lugnut, not the stud. The force from the hammer is passed from the lugnut to the rim. Although it seems like alot of force and potential damage from a hammer, there is less overall force from a hammer then from a good strong kick. If you dont believe it, consider trying to break a piece of wood. Hitting it with a hammer wont break it, give it a good kick and the piece of wood breaks in half.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,490
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From: A high school diploma fixing what a college degree broke TN
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (Pacin'California)
I have heard of people buying cars and not getting the puzzle locks with them,most take a cheap socket and hammer it over the outside and remove it that way.
Thats what I just did with mine! Works great! :cheers:
I've suggested this in the past and got railed by members for it...
Think about what you're doing to the suspension when you're hammering directly on the stud. :smash:
Welding a socket/nut on the end or otherwise is a much better idea... or have a professional do it. As long as they don't take a hammer to it...
-Steve
Thats what I just did with mine! Works great! :cheers:
I've suggested this in the past and got railed by members for it...
Think about what you're doing to the suspension when you're hammering directly on the stud. :smash:
Welding a socket/nut on the end or otherwise is a much better idea... or have a professional do it. As long as they don't take a hammer to it...
-Steve
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (FEDX)
The hammer on ye old socket works great and it won't damage anything, you just hammer the socket on till it's tight enough to make it grab. I did this to remove 4 locks on my truck and I used the same cheap socket for all 4, that's how lightly I had to hammer them on. You can not ruin the studs, the wheel will take the punishing first and mine have no marks (chromed steel cheapy wheels)
the side load on the bearings from the hammer will probably be nothing compared to the load of the car cornering at a respectable speed and it's not like you're out banging the studs daily
the problem with the fancy tools is they always end up in the same spot where the key is and that place is somewhere you have never been :) :D
[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 2:46 AM 3/16/2004]
the side load on the bearings from the hammer will probably be nothing compared to the load of the car cornering at a respectable speed and it's not like you're out banging the studs daily
the problem with the fancy tools is they always end up in the same spot where the key is and that place is somewhere you have never been :) :D
[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 2:46 AM 3/16/2004]
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 455
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From: Buffalo New York
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
Be careful hammering a socket on to the lug nut...did it, turned the socket one turn and broke the stud... :rolleyes: I was kinda happy that the stupid locking lug nut was atleast off, but getting a new stud in on the rear wheel was a pita!!!
Good luck!
Good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 12,065
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From: Smalltownville Michigan
Cruise-In 5, 6 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
You can do it with an air chisel but ya gotta be careful. I had them on my truck wheels and after trying to take them off, they found a new home...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
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From: largo florida
Re: Lock Wheel Nuts Stuck (Aflac)
Mike Ward, i said total force, not direct pressure. I am not sure of the actual forces that a hammer and a kick can deliver but lets assume a hammer delivers 200 psi and your foot can deliver 50psi. A hammer head is only 1 sqare inch so the hammer would deliver 200 total pounds of force. A foot is around 27 square inches, so a kick would deliver around 1350 pounds of force. The only reason a hammer can pound a nail into wood is becuase its force is so much more focused. If you made a shoe that had a small heel in the center, your foot could pound the nail in also. I am not saying that no force will be transmitted to the bearings, the force that is transmitted will be minimal. I would worry more about the forces taking corners delivers to your bearings then a hammer hitting a lugnut.
[Modified by lostpatrolman, 6:35 PM 3/16/2004]
[Modified by lostpatrolman, 6:35 PM 3/16/2004]
