Lost My Keyed Lugnut Socket!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: OH/FL
Lost My Keyed Lugnut Socket!!!
I thought Firestone still had it after an alignment four months ago, but I'm picking up new wheels and tires and for the life of me I can't seem to locate the one lug nut socket for the keyed lugnut on each on the wheels on my '95.
What have you done in the past when it's happened to you? What do other people do??? The local Chebby dealership said they could air-chisel the old one off, but if I were to be that drastic, I wouldn't bother to pay someone else to do it!
Please help! Thanks!
CLay
What have you done in the past when it's happened to you? What do other people do??? The local Chebby dealership said they could air-chisel the old one off, but if I were to be that drastic, I wouldn't bother to pay someone else to do it!
Please help! Thanks!
CLay
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
I used a cheap 1/2" drive 12-point 13/16" socket and tapped it on lightly with a hammer. It grabs enough turn the lugnut. When you get it off use a 3/8" extension through the 1/2" hole in the socket to tap the lugnut out.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,025
Likes: 2
If you're not in a hurry, take a look in your paperwork(owners manual, etc), and look for the McGard key card. It will have the code "color" your lock requires. There will be a phone number on there for you to call to place your order.
On the other hand, any reputable tire shop should have a tool kit to remove the locks. Shouldn't cost too much.
On the other hand, any reputable tire shop should have a tool kit to remove the locks. Shouldn't cost too much.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by nitronick
any reputable tire shop should have a tool kit to remove the locks. Shouldn't cost too much.
NTB removed a set for me for free a couple months ago.
If you have an impact wrench you can buy the extractors from an auto parts store and do it yourself.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 0
From: Poop land
Originally Posted by scorp508
I used a cheap 1/2" drive 12-point 13/16" socket and tapped it on lightly with a hammer. It grabs enough turn the lugnut. When you get it off use a 3/8" extension through the 1/2" hole in the socket to tap the lugnut out.
I tried that one technique on my Honda with a heptagonal lock nut and actually ended up stripping it to the point of getting my oxyacetylene torch out. Got the wheels off but had to replace 1 stud per wheel. Took out 6 hours of my day.
The irony is that the heptagon key was wedged right under my seat after I took off my seat covers for cleaning. I can be so stupid at times.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
From: Schmuckville SA
Monkeys at a shop I *used* to go to wrecked mine and then
wouldnt pay to have em taken off etc etc.. They have soft
sockets for this type of thing.. There are kits to get them
off and not ruin them.. Real easy. Dont sweat it, as mentioned
above, any good shop should have one around.. Good Luck
wouldnt pay to have em taken off etc etc.. They have soft
sockets for this type of thing.. There are kits to get them
off and not ruin them.. Real easy. Dont sweat it, as mentioned
above, any good shop should have one around.. Good Luck
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,383
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
Originally Posted by Unriced
They have soft
sockets for this type of thing.. There are kits to get them
off and not ruin them.. Real easy. Dont sweat it, as mentioned
above, any good shop should have one around.. Good Luck
sockets for this type of thing.. There are kits to get them
off and not ruin them.. Real easy. Dont sweat it, as mentioned
above, any good shop should have one around.. Good Luck
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 729
Likes: 4
From: Yukon OK
Originally Posted by ralph
Any respectable car thief can get them off in seconds. Which, of course, makes them virtually useless as a thief deterent.
One other draw back is that if you have 11" rear rims like I do, the holes are too narrow and deep for most of the extractors that fit over the locking lug. So you may end up damaging a nice set of rims in the attempt to get them off.
I had a similar experience and after I finally got mine off I threw them all in the trash and went with regular acorn lug nuts without the plastic covers (which are another PITA).
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
Originally Posted by LaVidaLoca
One of my friends is a tire dealer and he agrees totally. The locking lugs can be defeated with minimal effort. Which brings up the situation we have here; it is only the owner that gets slowed down by these things
I had a similar experience and after I finally got mine off I threw them all in the trash and went with regular acorn lug nuts without the plastic covers (which are another PITA).
I had a similar experience and after I finally got mine off I threw them all in the trash and went with regular acorn lug nuts without the plastic covers (which are another PITA).
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 2
From: Champaign, IL
St. Jude Donor '05
go to sears and pick up a damaged nut remover set for $20 
here's a link: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952160000
there's even a video you can watch
here's a link: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952160000
there's even a video you can watch
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 0
From: Poop land
Originally Posted by ToyC4
go to sears and pick up a damaged nut remover set for $20
here's a link: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952160000
there's even a video you can watch
here's a link: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952160000
there's even a video you can watch
Good idea! I'm on my way to Sears and will pick that up along the way after I drop off my pressure washer to get repaired/replaced!!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
Originally Posted by ralph
Any respectable car thief can get them off in seconds. Which, of course, makes them virtually useless as a thief deterent.
And we continue to make it even easier for them. Just saw a local Sears ad in the paper for 4 or 5 sockets for $19.95 that will "remove most wheel locks".
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Homer Glen IL
I had a similar problem when I found the alignment shop had stripped the removal tool. I found a new set cheap on ebay, so I took my Dremel with a carbide tip bit and cut a slot in the bolt. After the slots were cut I just used screw driver to back them out.
