Locking wheel nut issue!

[Funkyboy]

My locking wheel nut socket has sheared off meaning I can't remove the nut! Anyone any tips as there doesn't seem enough room to get another socket over it?



Thanks

 

[m80]

If you can remove the broken piece and get a new key onto the wheel bolt, new keys are available on eBay.
Your documentation might tell you the code for the key, otherwise it's matching up from photo's on eBay.
Take a photo of the bolt head, enlarge, and compare.

 

[Mickyh7]

Once it's sorted, throw the Lockers away, they are nothing but trouble.
When was the last time you heard of wheels being stolen?
It doesn't happen nowadays, because most cars have alloys anyway.
Bad enough having problems with lockers, imagine the same problem on a hard shoulder!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

My locking wheel nut socket has sheared off meaning I can't remove the nut! Anyone any tips as there doesn't seem enough room to get another socket over it?



Thanks

Google locking wheel nut removal and you’ll find someone who specialise in it. I had to have one removed a few years ago and for £20 it really isn’t worth trying yourself. Whereabouts are you?

 

[markjay]

Google locking wheel nut removal and you’ll find someone who specialise in it. I had to have one removed a few years ago and for £20 it really isn’t worth trying yourself. Whereabouts are you?

Agreed, though if the key broke, and not the wheel bolt, then it would make sense to try and obtain a key off eBay? Unless the key broke because the wheel bolt it too tight.

 

[stressd]

…
When was the last time you heard of wheels being stolen?
…

That made me consider getting rid of my lockers. Then a quick search turns out that wheels are still high-theft items.

https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/commonly-stolen-car-parts/?amp

Maybe I’ll still keep my locking wheelnuts.

 

[stressd]

For the OP, maybe try very careful application of super glue? Is any part of the socket sticking out further than the wheelnut?

 

[m80]

After I replaced my key, for the same reason (it broke), the bolt came out. Admittedly I may have been lucky.

To stay lucky I now tighten 4 to spec and the locking bolt maybe 10Nm less.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Agreed, though if the key broke, and not the wheel bolt, then it would make sense to try and obtain a key off eBay? Unless the key broke because the wheel bolt it too tight.

Indeed you could, depends if you can pick up the right key at the right price.

 

[Funkyboy]

Google locking wheel nut removal and you’ll find someone who specialise in it. I had to have one removed a few years ago and for £20 it really isn’t worth trying yourself. Whereabouts are you?

Liverpool

 

[DITTRICH]

I paid £20 some years ago to have a stubborn locking nut removed. My next purchase was 4x ordinary bolts. If I remember, the gentleman used a hammer and chisel to persuade the locking nut to work one last time.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Liverpool

If you do decide to get another key rather than have the bolt removed, then use a very very long bar so that you can apply huge amounts of torque torque very smoothly and progressively to minimise the risk of the locking bolt or key shearing again.

Try to remove it without using impact force, ie bouncing up and down or striking bar - or using power or air tools - as it will will increase the risk of the replacement key or locking bolt shearing. If you don’t have a very very long bar then I would just use a locking wheel nut removal specialist.

Also remove the wheel bolt that sheared the key last, as you know that one has been over tightened.the others might not have been, so do those first. Finally, whilst the long bar is out, loosen and re torque correctly every bolt on every wheel, as they’ll probably be too tight too.

 

[slade1]

Once it's sorted, throw the Lockers away, they are nothing but trouble.
When was the last time you heard of wheels being stolen?
It doesn't happen nowadays, because most cars have alloys anyway.
Bad enough having problems with lockers, imagine the same problem on a hard shoulder!

Agree, I got rid of locking wheel bolts, one less thing to go wrong.

 

[Mickyh7]

That made me consider getting rid of my lockers. Then a quick search turns out that wheels are still high-theft items.

https://www.comparethemarket.com/car-insurance/content/commonly-stolen-car-parts/?amp

Maybe I’ll still keep my locking wheelnuts.

So this Insurance Company asked 2000 people (probably claimants) out of a country of 70 million people about thefts from cars.
Talk about rigging statistics!
The number one answer to protect their car was 'Taking out Comprehensive Insurance '
How can that possibly protect a car?
Don't do 'Quick Searches' search properly. Then you might find some truth out there!

 

[RichardF]

I think it depends on your wheels.

I can see some high end AMG/Audi RS/BMW M wheels being vulnerable, less so the everyday stuff. Interestingly the new LR defender spare is easy and attractive.

 

[stressd]

…
Don't do 'Quick Searches' search properly. Then you might find some truth out there!

Search properly? As opposed to what - thinking it doesn’t happen because I haven’t heard of it happening?

It was interesting to read that steering wheel / airbag theft is also quite common, because of the shortage of spare parts (lockdowns, etc).

On the locking nuts, I suppose it would depend on the condition of your wheels. If yours are not in great shape, there’s very little risk of them being stolen. But if they’re in perfect nick and would cost about £4k to replace, there’s probably a market for them. But as it seems they are not that difficult to remove, maybe locking wheel nuts are not worth the hassle.

 

[Mickyh7]

Search properly? As opposed to what - thinking it doesn’t happen because I haven’t heard of it happening?

It was interesting to read that steering wheel / airbag theft is also quite common, because of the shortage of spare parts (lockdowns, etc).

On the locking nuts, I suppose it would depend on the condition of your wheels. If yours are not in great shape, there’s very little risk of them being stolen. But if they’re in perfect nick and would cost about £4k to replace, there’s probably a market for them. But as it seems they are not that difficult to remove, maybe locking wheel nuts are not worth the hassle.

What I mean (and I'm not trying to be rude) is if you google a 'Cough', some sites will tell you to 'Man Up' where as another site will explain in detail that you have 'Lung Cancer'!
So if I want to check a Health Fact, I'll only google the NHS site.
The internet is full of Sh*t! With only a scraping of truth.