Wheel Locks & Missing Wheel Nut
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 186
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From: Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Wheel Locks & Missing Wheel Nut
I think this needs to be put out as part of the answer when anyone asks what to look for when buying a Corvette - Make Sure the Wheel Nut is in the car.
Bought my car last October and didn't check - wanted to take wheels off last weekend and couldn't find the wheel nut - called the previous owner and he's moved and don't have new phone number -
Car is 2002 with polished Alum wheels - haven't tried taking wheels off but did all cars come with locking nuts?
Bought my car last October and didn't check - wanted to take wheels off last weekend and couldn't find the wheel nut - called the previous owner and he's moved and don't have new phone number -
Car is 2002 with polished Alum wheels - haven't tried taking wheels off but did all cars come with locking nuts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Look in the left side storage compartment. The key should be in there. If it isn't, and you can't find it, just go to Sears and get the socket that you use for stripped nuts and bolts. I think it's the 19MM size for your wheel nuts, but check to make sure. It has reverse threads inside that grip so that when you crank the socket to remove, they grab the sides of the nut/bolt. Easy, fast, and simple to get wheel nuts off this way. How you think theives get your wheels so fast nowadays?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,190
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From: Fayetteville AR
When I purchased my 01 about 4 years ago - I also found out a week later that it had locks and it was not to be found in the car. I called the owner and he said he would look for it. So I decided to call Chevy dealer and they said they could not get replacement keys but they would try and take them off at $65 per hour and they figured it would take two hours or so.
I went out to the garage to see if I could take them off my self. I grabbed a hand full of sockets and I found one that would just barely go over the locking nuts. I used a hammer and hit it twice and removed the locking nuts without a problem. I removed all 4 nuts in 5 minutes or less.
I went out to the garage to see if I could take them off my self. I grabbed a hand full of sockets and I found one that would just barely go over the locking nuts. I used a hammer and hit it twice and removed the locking nuts without a problem. I removed all 4 nuts in 5 minutes or less.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Dublin Ohio
When I purchased my 01 about 4 years ago - I also found out a week later that it had locks and it was not to be found in the car. I called the owner and he said he would look for it. So I decided to call Chevy dealer and they said they could not get replacement keys but they would try and take them off at $65 per hour and they figured it would take two hours or so.
I went out to the garage to see if I could take them off my self. I grabbed a hand full of sockets and I found one that would just barely go over the locking nuts. I used a hammer and hit it twice and removed the locking nuts without a problem. I removed all 4 nuts in 5 minutes or less.
I went out to the garage to see if I could take them off my self. I grabbed a hand full of sockets and I found one that would just barely go over the locking nuts. I used a hammer and hit it twice and removed the locking nuts without a problem. I removed all 4 nuts in 5 minutes or less.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 1
From: LEBANON PA.
Wheel Locks & missing Wheel Nut
HI there,
I was wondering if you searched in the glove box,under the seats, center console & all the compartments in the trunk for your wheel locking socket.
I can tell you that model years 2000-2004 all came from the factory with wheel locks.What happens is most non mechanics & sometimes mechanics round-off the splined nut on the wheel.So instead of buying a new wheel locking kit from gm for $32. dollars. They go to auto zone like I did & either buy 1 or 4 regular steel lug nuts as replacements.The other case is that the lug nuts are badly corroded like happened to me on my 01 vette with 9700 miles on. So I heated mine very carefully with a house hold propane torch & used a long handled braker bar to break free a rounded off splined lug nut using locking socket.(Wouldn't you know it that locking lug nut happened to be the last one.) I replaced it with a plain steel lug nut.I kept the locking socket for the other 3 wheels. The socket size is 3/4".
I,am in central Pa. Are you close by? I have the tools & backround to correct your problem.Check my profile.
robsc501
I was wondering if you searched in the glove box,under the seats, center console & all the compartments in the trunk for your wheel locking socket.
I can tell you that model years 2000-2004 all came from the factory with wheel locks.What happens is most non mechanics & sometimes mechanics round-off the splined nut on the wheel.So instead of buying a new wheel locking kit from gm for $32. dollars. They go to auto zone like I did & either buy 1 or 4 regular steel lug nuts as replacements.The other case is that the lug nuts are badly corroded like happened to me on my 01 vette with 9700 miles on. So I heated mine very carefully with a house hold propane torch & used a long handled braker bar to break free a rounded off splined lug nut using locking socket.(Wouldn't you know it that locking lug nut happened to be the last one.) I replaced it with a plain steel lug nut.I kept the locking socket for the other 3 wheels. The socket size is 3/4".
I,am in central Pa. Are you close by? I have the tools & backround to correct your problem.Check my profile.
robsc501
Last edited by robsc501; Mar 13, 2008 at 09:26 AM.
