‘93 lost wheel lock key
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
‘93 lost wheel lock key
I’m panicking. I am about to start a brake job for the first time on my newly acquired ‘93 vette. Got 4 lugs off and realized I don’t know where the key is. Searched all throughout the car. Not there. What are my options? Are there replicas that can be bought? Or do I have to buy some sort of universal lock key to remove all 4 and just replace with normal 19mm lugs. Pls let me know what to do lol I got my car on stands with locks off and parts here and I got no clue what to do about these locks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 449
From: NJ
I’d try auto parts store or wheel vendor first. The off road wheel place near me has every conceivable adapter for sale. Aftermarket should be available at a corvette vendor but that doesn’t help the here and now. You could try a Chevy dealership or a wheel store. Worst case you weld a lug to the locking lug and replace it with a regular lug. I’d try an advance auto or other parts store first.
Last edited by C4 Steck; Jul 25, 2023 at 07:24 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 396
From: Northwest Ohio
I ran into the same issue with my 93.
I used log nut extractors from the parts store and they worked fine. Only problem was getting the lugs out of the extractor I had to grind flat spots and put them in a vice to spin the extractor off and move to the next one.
Ive also heard you can hammer a cheap 12 point socket onto the lugs and spin them off that way.
Either way I didn’t care to preserve/keep the locking lugs.
I used log nut extractors from the parts store and they worked fine. Only problem was getting the lugs out of the extractor I had to grind flat spots and put them in a vice to spin the extractor off and move to the next one.
Ive also heard you can hammer a cheap 12 point socket onto the lugs and spin them off that way.
Either way I didn’t care to preserve/keep the locking lugs.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,180
Likes: 9,473
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
take the car to a custom tire and wheel shop they will have all kinds of tools to remove them without damage
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,366
Likes: 100
From: IOWA!!!
I ran into the same issue with my 93.
I used log nut extractors from the parts store and they worked fine. Only problem was getting the lugs out of the extractor I had to grind flat spots and put them in a vice to spin the extractor off and move to the next one.
Ive also heard you can hammer a cheap 12 point socket onto the lugs and spin them off that way.
Either way I didn’t care to preserve/keep the locking lugs.
I used log nut extractors from the parts store and they worked fine. Only problem was getting the lugs out of the extractor I had to grind flat spots and put them in a vice to spin the extractor off and move to the next one.
Ive also heard you can hammer a cheap 12 point socket onto the lugs and spin them off that way.
Either way I didn’t care to preserve/keep the locking lugs.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 598
Likes: 357
From: Mt Prospect IL
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Did you check all the usual places for the key? Under the rear storage compartment under the jack is where I think it’s located on the 93. If not there, drop the spare and look for a tool bag with the spare. If still no key, what everyone had already mentioned. Hammer and socket. Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,451
Likes: 6,558
From: Melbourne, FL
I bought inexpensive sockets that were just the right size to bang onto the locks at northern tool when I had this happen to me on our Expedition..a couple of bucks worth of sockets that I threw away if I couldn't get the lock out.
Getting them out can be a real pain, it's a balancing act between getting it on enough to get the lock off and not on so much it's impossible to remove.
Getting them out can be a real pain, it's a balancing act between getting it on enough to get the lock off and not on so much it's impossible to remove.
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Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,228
Likes: 1,333
From: LeClaire Iowa
Nice to know they will gladly sell these kits to any crook. I took mine off and just went to Autozone and bought four standard ones. Nobody is out to steal our wheels anymore. Dan