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Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 14 Nov 2024, 21:13
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.
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 14 Nov 2024, 21:58
by tobydog
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 14 Nov 2024, 22:24
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.
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 15 Nov 2024, 09:44
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”.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/375660177040
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 15 Nov 2024, 11:16
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
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 15 Nov 2024, 12:09
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
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 15 Nov 2024, 15:44
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 ?
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 15 Nov 2024, 15:54
by tobydog
Build the end up with weld and then weld a nut on?
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 15 Nov 2024, 17:06
by silverbullet
tobydog wrote: ↑15 Nov 2024, 15:54
Build the end up with weld and then weld a nut on?
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 15 Nov 2024, 19:27
by tobydog
Anyone have a big sparker?
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 15 Nov 2024, 19:58
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!!
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 16 Nov 2024, 08:49
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.
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 16 Nov 2024, 09:30
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
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 16 Nov 2024, 09:42
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" ...
Re: Can't Undo the Locking Wheelnuts
Posted: 17 Nov 2024, 18:04
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.
