How can I remove wheels locks without key ???
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 45
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From: Mokena Illinois
How can I remove wheels locks without key ???
I just jacked up car to paint calipers before I have new wheels installed next week. I found wheel locks on my standard 98 wheels, I searched entire car, no key. How can I get lugs off without key 
???? Any help would be appreciated .........
???? Any help would be appreciated .........
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
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From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
I believe what thieves do is to jam a socket onto them. It may cost you a socket ot two but it seems to work for them. The most common places for the key to be is in the center console or in the rear compartment.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
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From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
I believe what thieves do is to jam a socket onto them. It may cost you a socket or two but it seems to work for them. The most common places for the key to be is in the center console or in the rear compartment.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville AR
I had a similar problem with my 01. I bought it used last summer and a week later wanted to check the brakes. When I took the plastic caps off I found they had lug nut locks on it. I search the car for the key but I could not find any. They looked like factory type locks. I called the previous owner and he said he did not have a key. So I called 3 tire shops and my local GM dealer. None of the had an easy solution. GM wanted to charge like $65 per hour until they got them off. So I looked at it again and took assortment of sockets. I found a metric one that would slide over it and fit really tight. I hit it with a hammer two or three times to really get it on tight and then used my breaker bar on it. I had all 4 off in 15 or 20 min with zero damage to the rims. Give this a try. My 01 factory rims had enough room to use a socket over it, check yours so you don’t damage the rim with the oversized socket. Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,038
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07
The storage area for the key is in the left storage compartment in the
rear of the car. When you removed the lid, there is a nitch next to the
compartment where the key is supposed to be stored.
rear of the car. When you removed the lid, there is a nitch next to the
compartment where the key is supposed to be stored.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Broomfield Colorado
Originally Posted by Vetteran
The storage area for the key is in the left storage compartment in the
rear of the car. When you removed the lid, there is a nitch next to the
compartment where the key is supposed to be stored.
rear of the car. When you removed the lid, there is a nitch next to the
compartment where the key is supposed to be stored.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by hokievette03
Try the glovebox where most small factory accesories are located
as mentioned there is a little (notch?) in the rear of the vehicle in the trunk (under the carpet?) for the key.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,966
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From: Wichita Falls Tx
I'm glad someone asked about this. I've been meaning to address this issue.
I've got an 02 vert. Should I expect to find a lock on my wheels when I take the nut caps off? I have looked all over the car including the left well in the rear and can't even find the "pocket" you are talking about, even with the carpet pulled out. I'm sure my car has the original tires on it, so it's possible the lock would never have been used.
Do 02 verts come from the factory with wheel locks?
I've got an 02 vert. Should I expect to find a lock on my wheels when I take the nut caps off? I have looked all over the car including the left well in the rear and can't even find the "pocket" you are talking about, even with the carpet pulled out. I'm sure my car has the original tires on it, so it's possible the lock would never have been used.
Do 02 verts come from the factory with wheel locks?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
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From: San Diego
Originally Posted by JEEP/C5
.... GM wanted to charge like $65 per hour until they got them off...
..rickko..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,402
Likes: 3
From: Raymore Mo
Mine came from the factory. They were on so tight that I twisted the key and broke it. Ended up chiseling the darn things. Once the locks had some good size burs, I drove an oversize socket onto the lock and used a half inch impact and backed them right off. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,213
Likes: 1
From: South Alabama
Originally Posted by TexasMadMan
I'm glad someone asked about this. I've been meaning to address this issue.
I've got an 02 vert. Should I expect to find a lock on my wheels when I take the nut caps off? I have looked all over the car including the left well in the rear and can't even find the "pocket" you are talking about, even with the carpet pulled out. I'm sure my car has the original tires on it, so it's possible the lock would never have been used.
I've got an 02 vert. Should I expect to find a lock on my wheels when I take the nut caps off? I have looked all over the car including the left well in the rear and can't even find the "pocket" you are talking about, even with the carpet pulled out. I'm sure my car has the original tires on it, so it's possible the lock would never have been used.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,080
Likes: 2
I had same prob with my old C4. Orig factory locking nuts but no key.
I found a socket that slid on nice and snug. Then cut up some steel nails and slid then into the grooves on the lock nut then slid the socket over them and after a bit of adjustment all 4 came off with no trouble.
The pieces of steel nail take up the slack for when you slide the socket over. Just be sure to cut them to a suitable length.
I found a socket that slid on nice and snug. Then cut up some steel nails and slid then into the grooves on the lock nut then slid the socket over them and after a bit of adjustment all 4 came off with no trouble.
The pieces of steel nail take up the slack for when you slide the socket over. Just be sure to cut them to a suitable length.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,966
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From: Wichita Falls Tx
cajun99:
Thanks for the help. The factory must not want anyone to find that hiding place. I found it with your help, BUT someone must have taken the key out. After pulling up all the carpet in the back, I was very surprised to find 3 rounds of automatic handgun ammo that was hidden under the carpet. That might have proven interesting in a rear end crash.
The key ain't there. For grins I'm going to look under the seats, but it looks like I will have to do as others have done.
After reading all of the posts above, I have to wonder how all of these keys could have been lost or thrown away. Is it possible the factory is having the last laugh?
Thanks for the help. The factory must not want anyone to find that hiding place. I found it with your help, BUT someone must have taken the key out. After pulling up all the carpet in the back, I was very surprised to find 3 rounds of automatic handgun ammo that was hidden under the carpet. That might have proven interesting in a rear end crash.
The key ain't there. For grins I'm going to look under the seats, but it looks like I will have to do as others have done.
After reading all of the posts above, I have to wonder how all of these keys could have been lost or thrown away. Is it possible the factory is having the last laugh?
Last edited by TexasMadMan; Jul 1, 2005 at 02:51 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I accidently put my key in storage and needed to take my wheels off. I took it to SEARS and the service manage had a socket designed to remove the "GORILLA" locks I had on my 2000. They charged me $10 a wheel (one lock on each wheel) and told me they would not be responsible for damages. Well, I was nervous, but went ahead and they took the locks out of each wheel and not a scratch! I tried jamming a smaller socket on the lock and torq wrenching it out, but that became cumbersome, with no results, so I wanted to ask folks that deal with this more often than I.
SEARS, they took care of my problem and my car.
Mcah
SEARS, they took care of my problem and my car.
Mcah
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Good luck getting them off. I had a dealer take mine off on an older car when the key to the locks stripped out. But, if it ever happened again, I would be trying the "hammer the socket on the lug" routine.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Originally Posted by TexasMadMan
Last question (I hope).
Is everyone replacing the locks with new ones or just using a regular lug nut?
Is everyone replacing the locks with new ones or just using a regular lug nut?
If you can remove them with sockets and a little effort.....why would you want them on?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by TexasMadMan
Last question (I hope).
Is everyone replacing the locks with new ones or just using a regular lug nut?
Is everyone replacing the locks with new ones or just using a regular lug nut?