Need Advice -- Poor Wheel Locks
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
Need Advice -- Poor Wheel Locks
I really did it to myself this time. When I bought the '03 QuickSilver 50th back in September, I was excited and ordered a cheap set of Wheel Locks via the Internet.
They went on just fine.
But now that I need to get the back pair off, it voices the same complaint that my wife usually has:
The 'male' piece is too small and does not make good contact with the 'female' portio of the wheel lock.
So I cannot get them off.
What are my choices from here ??
1. Obviously, don't buy cheap wheel locks.
2. Accept that I cannot make my wife happy. :o
3. Can I just ask my wheel/tire folks to cut-off the poor wheel locks ??
I appreciate anyone's insight and advice.
They went on just fine.
But now that I need to get the back pair off, it voices the same complaint that my wife usually has:
The 'male' piece is too small and does not make good contact with the 'female' portio of the wheel lock.
So I cannot get them off.
What are my choices from here ??
1. Obviously, don't buy cheap wheel locks.
2. Accept that I cannot make my wife happy. :o
3. Can I just ask my wheel/tire folks to cut-off the poor wheel locks ??
I appreciate anyone's insight and advice.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 40
From: Orangevale California
St. Jude Donor '10
Les Schwab can remove most wheel locks.
I had it done on my son's 4Runner last month. It runs about $60. I bought new Gorilla Locks and had them installed at the same time.
I had it done on my son's 4Runner last month. It runs about $60. I bought new Gorilla Locks and had them installed at the same time.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Some use an over sized hex socket which is hammered on over the lug nut/wheel lock. SEAR'S sells a set of sockets which bite into the lug nut/wheel lock and work on the same principle.
DISCOUNT TIRE would probably remove them for you for little if anything if you buy a set of chrome or black GORILLA lug nuts/locks from them. They're regular stock items. They're sold in sets of four or twenty with a socket type key which doesn't deform with repeated use like McGARD type locks do.
DISCOUNT TIRE would probably remove them for you for little if anything if you buy a set of chrome or black GORILLA lug nuts/locks from them. They're regular stock items. They're sold in sets of four or twenty with a socket type key which doesn't deform with repeated use like McGARD type locks do.
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 17
From: Tempe AZ
Sears and others sells fastener removal sockets. They have sharp flutes on the interior of the socket that will bite and dig into the stubborn lock. Most tire shops have similar tools. Or if you have a socket that you don't really like you can tap one on that is just slightly too tight/snug and it will usually come off - but the socket might be dinged up. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
I opt for option
2. Accept that I cannot make my wife happy.
I sledged hammered the F-out of my hand trying to get a 21mm socket over them, and I failed miserably. Anyhoops, I had my local tire/exhaust place take the locks off my rustang about 10 days ago, and since I'm a re-ocurring customer and talk to the owner they didn't even charged me to have them taken off; I just paid for the mount/remount and balancing of tires. IMHO, I don't really like lock-nuts, so I had them put regular lug nuts on the car. If somebody wants the wheels, they will steal them.
2. Accept that I cannot make my wife happy.
I sledged hammered the F-out of my hand trying to get a 21mm socket over them, and I failed miserably. Anyhoops, I had my local tire/exhaust place take the locks off my rustang about 10 days ago, and since I'm a re-ocurring customer and talk to the owner they didn't even charged me to have them taken off; I just paid for the mount/remount and balancing of tires. IMHO, I don't really like lock-nuts, so I had them put regular lug nuts on the car. If somebody wants the wheels, they will steal them.
Last edited by damilleniumboy; Jan 1, 2010 at 01:41 PM.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 600
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From: Bowling Green KY
Very frustrating.
I had driven 35 miles to save $40 on a set of tires for the back and now I have to deal with this. Will probably have to drive back there come Saturday morning.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: Bowling Green KY
I opt for option
2. Accept that I cannot make my wife happy.
I sledged hammered the F-out of my hand trying to get a 21mm socket over them, and I failed miserably. Anyhoops, I had my local tire/exhaust place take the locks off my rustang about 10 days ago, and since I'm a re-ocurring customer and talk to the owner they didn't even charged me to have them taken off; I just paid for the mount/remount and balancing of tires. IMHO, I don't really like lock-nuts, so I had them put regular lug nuts on the car. If somebody wants the wheels, they will steal them.
2. Accept that I cannot make my wife happy.
I sledged hammered the F-out of my hand trying to get a 21mm socket over them, and I failed miserably. Anyhoops, I had my local tire/exhaust place take the locks off my rustang about 10 days ago, and since I'm a re-ocurring customer and talk to the owner they didn't even charged me to have them taken off; I just paid for the mount/remount and balancing of tires. IMHO, I don't really like lock-nuts, so I had them put regular lug nuts on the car. If somebody wants the wheels, they will steal them.
Also, I knew I was in trouble when the Doctor started laughing at the story I told him about how it happened.
:o:o
Team Owner
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 22,830
Likes: 13
From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 66
From: Middletown CT
Sears and others sells fastener removal sockets. They have sharp flutes on the interior of the socket that will bite and dig into the stubborn lock. Most tire shops have similar tools. Or if you have a socket that you don't really like you can tap one on that is just slightly too tight/snug and it will usually come off - but the socket might be dinged up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 6
From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
Interesting. I thought I was the only one that pulls that stuff. I made a full-on hammer of my hand one day. Actually I broke the palate of the hand between the index finger and thumb on my left hand. At least I got one good working hand.
Also, I knew I was in trouble when the Doctor started laughing at the story I told him about how it happened. :o:o
Also, I knew I was in trouble when the Doctor started laughing at the story I told him about how it happened.
:o:o. Eveyone at worked laughed when I told them the story too. I think what helped me a bit is that I used to teach Karate, so my nuckles are kind of harder? Buy boy I felt like I was going to faint
. I still have a small bruise on the side of my nuckle from ten days ago when I hammered it.Harbor Freight sells a set of two sockets for removing wheel lug nuts. They are around $10 if I remember correctly. Your probably never going to use them again, so you probably don't need the Craftsman set. As mentioned above, any good tire shop should have the tools to get them off.
