Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Big lumps of metals and spanners. Including servicing and fluids.

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Post Reply
Piratepete
Registered user
Posts: 123
Joined: 26 Oct 2019, 13:46
80-90 Mem No: 17272
Location: Warwickshire

Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by Piratepete »

Hi Guys
Cybil has just gone for her annual service. As I've moved I'm using a more local garage but one who lives and breathes T25s
Man says that the locking nuts are damaged and the key lugs just slip out of the holes which are elongated.
He has a locking nut removal tool but this won't fit because the nuts are recessed in the alloy wheels.
He's now talking about chiselling the nuts out - risking damaging the wheels and costing a lot of time.

Has anyone else had this problem? Have you got a solution/clever removal method, please?

The wheels were last removed a year ago.

!990 T25 2.1DJ Petrol VW Alloy Wheels.


Image

 

User avatar
tobydog
Registered user
Posts: 1478
Joined: 07 Mar 2009, 21:03
80-90 Mem No: 6484
Location: Near Saarfend, Essex

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by tobydog »

Knowledge is power
1970 CU

TwinTurbo
Registered user
Posts: 374
Joined: 04 Sep 2024, 03:49
80-90 Mem No: 17758
Location: carlisle

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by TwinTurbo »

I can give you the number of a garage that will instruct you to "Go Procreate" .... They had Maisie in and were instructed to remove the locekers. 2 Per wheel... My bill for two rear wheel cylinders, MOT and locker remval was £550!!! My mechanic Mark was rather displeased with the job.
TwinTurbo

1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma

User avatar
tobydog
Registered user
Posts: 1478
Joined: 07 Mar 2009, 21:03
80-90 Mem No: 6484
Location: Near Saarfend, Essex

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by tobydog »

Years ago I was employed designing injection moulds for a toolmaking company. Steve, one of the cnc millers needing new tyres, went to the local tyre garage knowing that he had a seized wheelnut that he couldn't get off. He thought they might have some special tool or way of undoing it. No, the fitter just smashed it off. He said to the fitter “are they hard” (meaning heat treated), not getting the meaning he replied “no, easy mate”. :rofl

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375660177040


 
Knowledge is power
1970 CU

User avatar
Aidan
Trader
Posts: 6993
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 19:21
80-90 Mem No: 742
Location: Llanfyllin, mid Wales : )
Contact:

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by Aidan »

the biggest of these , the 19mm, Irwin 5 Piece BOLT-GRIP™ Fastener Remover Expansion Set 5/16in - 3/4in. 10504635 | eBay
will usually grab hold of the locking nut, (and render it useless for future reuse but should clear the rim, just) I have in the past had to position van adjacent to a solid pillar (door way etc.) so as to be able to lever onto of the breaker bar with a suitable long length of wood (with other lumps of wood to fill the space between the pillar and wheel) to maintain pressure on the socket (you lump it onto the nut with a lump hammer till it grips) whilst undoing the initial tension, once cracked impact gun will usually spin them off as long as threads are ok.
Snap On and others sell the sockets individually so if they have a man they could just buy a 19mm/3/4" one, but Snap On prices may mean that the set is cheaper than 1 socket from them; 2 man job, half an hour labour/fanny on factor but not £500

TwinTurbo
Registered user
Posts: 374
Joined: 04 Sep 2024, 03:49
80-90 Mem No: 17758
Location: carlisle

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by TwinTurbo »

Aidan wrote: 15 Nov 2024, 11:16 the biggest of these , the 19mm, Irwin 5 Piece BOLT-GRIP™ Fastener Remover Expansion Set 5/16in - 3/4in. 10504635 | eBay
will usually grab hold of the locking nut, (and render it useless for future reuse but should clear the rim, just) I have in the past had to position van adjacent to a solid pillar (door way etc.) so as to be able to lever onto of the breaker bar with a suitable long length of wood (with other lumps of wood to fill the space between the pillar and wheel) to maintain pressure on the socket (you lump it onto the nut with a lump hammer till it grips) whilst undoing the initial tension, once cracked impact gun will usually spin them off as long as threads are ok.
Snap On and others sell the sockets individually so if they have a man they could just buy a 19mm/3/4" one, but Snap On prices may mean that the set is cheaper than 1 socket from them; 2 man job, half an hour labour/fanny on factor but not £500

Depends if there is enough room to get the socket in to even begin to bash it on. With my BRM wheels my garage had nothing that would fit in the tiny space , the wheels use Tuner Bolts that only just fit.

Rob
TwinTurbo

1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma

User avatar
Aidan
Trader
Posts: 6993
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 19:21
80-90 Mem No: 742
Location: Llanfyllin, mid Wales : )
Contact:

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by Aidan »

there may be a bit more room on a factory alloy - I have successfully removed a locking nut from these alloys myself but it may depend on brand of locking bolt/nut and how tight they were torqued last year - can't do them up to the full torque with a locking nut, maybe why they are frelled, some one used a big f o rattle gun and damaged them maybe ?

User avatar
tobydog
Registered user
Posts: 1478
Joined: 07 Mar 2009, 21:03
80-90 Mem No: 6484
Location: Near Saarfend, Essex

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by tobydog »

Build the end up with weld and then weld a nut on?
Knowledge is power
1970 CU

silverbullet
Trader
Posts: 17210
Joined: 08 Jun 2009, 09:51
80-90 Mem No: 6908
Location: Surrey Syncronaut #156
Contact:

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by silverbullet »

tobydog wrote: 15 Nov 2024, 15:54 Build the end up with weld and then weld a nut on?

:rofl
1985 Oettinger 3.2 Caravelle RHD syncro twin slider. SA Microbus bumpers, duplex winch system, ARC 7X15 period alloys

User avatar
tobydog
Registered user
Posts: 1478
Joined: 07 Mar 2009, 21:03
80-90 Mem No: 6484
Location: Near Saarfend, Essex

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by tobydog »

Anyone have a big sparker? :rofl
Knowledge is power
1970 CU

User avatar
Jim San
Registered user
Posts: 2252
Joined: 21 Jan 2014, 20:01
80-90 Mem No: 13133
Location: Wales / Shropshire border
Contact:

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by Jim San »

'Lost' my security nut for my passat, vw main dealer removed all 4 and supplied 4 new for £55 and they washed the car. I was pleasantly surprised and I know some places guarantee removal and do it cheaper.

2 weeks later, found the original removal tool - so have a very expensive spare set of security locking wheel nuts!!
1991 (LHD) Syncro kombi 1.9MTDi 1Z (Landy fuel pump) 215/70/16
Life's to short to drink s@@t beer.
'Roads? We don't need roads where we're going'

TwinTurbo
Registered user
Posts: 374
Joined: 04 Sep 2024, 03:49
80-90 Mem No: 17758
Location: carlisle

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by TwinTurbo »

If it's an original manufacturer supplied set you stand a chance. The type on Maisie was like VW but matched none of the patterns.

Locking wheen nuts go straight in the bin round here, I have never personaly heard (including forums) of someone having wheels nicked.
TwinTurbo

1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma

User avatar
slowcoach
Registered user
Posts: 1634
Joined: 06 May 2010, 10:23
80-90 Mem No: 8892
Location: West Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by slowcoach »

We had some on our panda 4x4 too, just a pain in the a***. I also haven't heard of people having wheels pinched for A very long time (and certainly panda oem ones!).

I do remember seeing a lone car in the middle of a Glastonbury festival field carpark, up on blocks with all of the wheels missing though long time ago though.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

===================
1984 TRAKKA Conversion Subaru EJ20 5 Speed

TwinTurbo
Registered user
Posts: 374
Joined: 04 Sep 2024, 03:49
80-90 Mem No: 17758
Location: carlisle

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by TwinTurbo »

2petty thieves are to lasy now, organised thives have better goals.

Only rare wheels are worth thinking about securing, but it's more likely the car will get nicked.

There will be a demographic profile for "Locking Nut Buyers" ... :)
TwinTurbo

1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma

User avatar
hubcap61
Registered user
Posts: 459
Joined: 20 Feb 2019, 10:55
80-90 Mem No: 16853
Location: Wirral

Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts

Post by hubcap61 »

tobydog wrote: 15 Nov 2024, 15:54 Build the end up with weld and then weld a nut on?
Worked for me a few weeks ago. A Peugeot 308 with 2 extremely stubborn lock nuts. A friend bought the car without a locking wheel nut key. Tried all my removal sockets. Got the N/S one off with that but O/S wasn't budging. Welded an old wheel bolt on to it and off it came.
:ok
 
1984 Caravelle 1.9 DG 34 DAT
2008 Audi TT 2.0 Tdi 170 Quattro
2010 Audi A4 Avant 2.0 Tdi

Post Reply