Wheel Locks??? help!!!!!

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Oct 29, 2001 | 02:47 PM

Izover4u

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Drifting

Joined: Jun 2000

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From: Northwest Suburbs of Chicago IL

Wheel Locks??? help!!!!!

hey guys i was wondering if anyone knows how to break off wheel locks... i got a flat the other day and need to take off my tire and bring it to get new ones...unfotunately i lost my wheel lock key and need to get the locks off.. i would usually just bring it to NTB and they would take it off but my car is sitting in my garage with a totally flat tire... it got a rip in the side wall from a sewer cap...(dam construction) :mad anywayz any help would be great thanks guys :cheers:

Oct 29, 2001 | 02:56 PM

65Z01

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From: SE NY

Cruise-In II Veteran

Re: Wheel Locks??? help!!!!! (Izover4u)

If you mean a locking lug nut, go to Sears and get a 12-pt socket just a little smaller, drive it on and it should come off. I saw a guy at the local tire store do this very effectively.

Oct 29, 2001 | 03:59 PM

scorp508

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 83,383

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From: Boston, MA

I lost my lock at the dragstrip, and did exactly what 65Z01 prescribed. It worked and they were off in 3 minutes. :)

Oct 29, 2001 | 04:27 PM

Jeffvette

Race Director

Joined: May 2000

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From: No more yankee my wankee, the Donger is tired!

Re: Wheel Locks??? help!!!!! (Izover4u)

If they're the factory locking nuts, any dealership will have a key and can get it off for you. Plus order another one for you.

Oct 29, 2001 | 04:34 PM

khornet

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Joined: Sep 2001

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From: Phx/but its a dry blast furnace kinda heat AZ

Re: Wheel Locks??? help!!!!! (Izover4u)

I was able to go to my local Chevy dealer and they removed all the wheel locks without damaging the wheels, since the previous owner of my vette had lost the key. Cost me $40

Nov 1, 2001 | 03:30 AM

Kevin 88

Instructor

Joined: Jul 2001

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From: Torrance CA

Re: Wheel Locks??? help!!!!! (Izover4u)

I had these Gorilla locks, nobody could get them off using the socket trick. In fact they couldn't get the socket off either! I had to pay a little old man with a welder to weld a bolt onto each one, then wrench it off. Didn't mar the wheels at all - the old man was good.

[Modified by Kevin 88, 1:31 AM 11/1/2001]

Nov 1, 2001 | 01:30 PM

jaa1992

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Joined: Mar 2001

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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps

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St. Jude Donor '12

Re: Wheel Locks??? help!!!!! (Izover4u)

If it is the lock to the center cap, I used needle nose pliers and an thin bladed screwdriver to get them off.

Bought a new set with wrench.
If it is a locking lug nut I'd try the other suggestions.

Nov 1, 2001 | 03:37 PM

Plasticman

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Joined: Nov 2000

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From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida

Re: Wheel Locks??? help!!!!! (jaa1988)

Beware of using the "Socket Trick" when removing locking lug nuts. When you hammer on the socket, the wheel bearing is taking the hits! This causes what is called "brinneling" (indentations of the rollers into the race of the bearing). Replacement of the bearing is the next step.

A Ox-Ac. torch is a far better way to remove the lock nuts, but it must be done by a pro who won't damage the wheel. Most of the time, you only need to heat up the lock nut, and then turn it with a large screwdriver. Don't go cherry red (too hot and you will damage the wheel). Just hot enough to expand the nut and stud. Don't try this with propane (it does not have the heat necessary - you end up heating the wheel and nut, which defeats what you are trying to do, which is get the nut / stud to expand away from the cool wheel so you can turn it).

Plasticman