Locking wheelnuts

[cotty]

I have just found out my car has come with locking wheelnuts but no key. I cant see an identification mark so how the hell do I get them off.
I done want to end up with a puncture and not be able to change the tyre.

Any ideas chaps and chapesses

Paul

[Deester]

I had the same problem with my BMW.

In the end I got a smaller socket than the nut and a big hammer. Hammered the socket over the locking nut then off she comes.

If you do not fancy a hands on approach take it to kwikfit or something and they may have a key to fit your nut as a lot are generic, otherwise they will do the hammering for you.

Deester.

[JMGS4]

You'll probably find the special nut packed with the wrench in the toolkit if its factory fitted (audi, jag, merc etc even ford do it this way) If its after market add-on then tough, there are dozens of them........

[SGirl]

I did what Deester did. That seemed to work - just don't use your best socket set!

You can drill some of them out, too - depends on what kind they are. Or if they're a make-specific kind of locking nut, you could always ask at your nearest dealership to see whether they keep spares.

Edited to add: Don't bother asking Rover....

>> Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 8th January 13:56

[cotty]

I have the original spec sheet from 1992 and they were not added as an option. Although they could have been added at a later date. I will give KwikFit and the local dealer (car) a try

Cheers
Paul

[Deester]

SGirl said: I did what Deester did. That seemed to work - just don't use your best socket set!

SGirl if I remember correctly it was you who first gave me this advice when I had this problem and posted on here for advice.

Well it worked!

Deester

[McNab]

The local dealer should sort this out for you. Most of these devices come with the necessary item in the tool kit. Weird situation - tell us how you get on.

[Graham.J]

I had the same problem with my westfield, the key was mashed and didn't work at all, the nuts were soon off with a bit of pursuasion from a 10.5mm titanium plated drill bit (well opened up to a 10.5, started going in with a 5)

I don't reccommend it though, nackers your drill bits.

[Animal]

Paul,

Why don't you just get a nice set of Hartge alloys put on? That would solve the problem!!

PS - did you get those Lotus Cortina wheels?

[Cotty]

No but still tempted. You never know when a set of Lotus steels will come in handy

[rob.ellis]

I managed to get the knackered locking nuts off my golf with the "hammer-a-socket-over-the-top" approach. You WILL knacker your socket though..

Where did you buy the car? Does the PO have any records? If it was a dealer i'd say put the ball back in their court.

I did see in halfords the other day a tool that looked like it would help here. Wheel lug removal kit or something it was called.

[McNab]

Cotty, where/how did you buy it? If a dealer you could roast him (legally), or if private surely it would be worth a phone call to the previous owner.

Either way the ball's in your court because the vehicle was sold to you 'unfit for use, etc etc'

[cotty]

Bought at private dealer one year and four days ago. To be honest the dealer probably did not know it had locking wheels nuts as they are hidden