Lugs nut locks

[DWBOX2000]

A friend of mine has wheels with a lock nut that he has no key. How do you get one off?

Thanks.

[Seahawk]

When I bought my Land Cruiser, I got a year or so out of the tires.

I have been going to the same tire place for decades, and they asked for the lock nut thingy…the one in the car wasn’t it.

I drove to the Toyota dealership with a picture of the lock nut key I needed.

They would only sell me one, even though they had one I could have borrowed if they were human.

I bought four lugs and Big Ed drilled out the lock lugs and replaced them.

I live in a rural area so moving on from the locks wasn’t an issue…seems like an odd failure mod if on the road.

[pwd72s]

Search for 1/2" dive Bolt extractor set. Something might pop up. (edit) Then think about it...maybe wheel thieves also know of these sets?

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Search for 1/2" dive Bolt extractor set. Something might pop up. (edit) Then think about it...maybe wheel thieves also know of these sets?

That is really the issue. There are some folks, if they want your tires, they will get yout tires.

[masraum]

It depends upon the nuts, of course. Years ago, I bought a Ford Ranger that had lock lugs but no key. I knew a kid that had been a hoodlum when he was younger. He gave me the solution that worked for me.

I bought a Craftsman 6pt ½ drive socket that just barely didn't fit on the lock lug (in my case, he even gave me the size, I think it was 13/16, but I can't remember for sure). You then hammer the socket onto the lug nut and use a breaker bar to take it off. You're probably going to need 4 sockets because once you get the socket on the nut, you're not going to get it off.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

That is really the issue. There are some folks, if they want your tires, they will get yout tires.

Reminds me of the story where the guy chained his 911 between two trees - long ways - and when he returned from a trip the car had been spun 180 degrees and re-chained and a note was left that said when we want it we'll come and get it.

[afterburn 549]

Can we get a pic of the situation?

[Arizona_928]

P-car ones are simply defeated with a slightly larger socket and mini sledge over the lug nut.

That’s how i snagged my last set of big blacks from the junk yard.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by masraum

It depends upon the nuts, of course. Years ago, I bought a Ford Ranger that had lock lugs but no key. I knew a kid that had been a hoodlum when he was younger. He gave me the solution that worked for me.

I bought a Craftsman 6pt ½ drive socket that just barely didn't fit on the lock lug (in my case, he even gave me the size, I think it was 13/16, but I can't remember for sure). You then hammer the socket onto the lug nut and use a breaker bar to take it off. You're probably going to need 4 sockets because once you get the socket on the nut, you're not going to get it off.

Not really. Buy a deep socket that does just like you say, break each nut enough to use the regular socket and wiggle the deep socket off. Some lug nuts work better using a 12 point. Some are so round and smooth that a socket is useless. Buy the tool.

Hundreds of videos on each style. Me, I'd probably quickly weld a short length of pipe on each one from the inside with a cheap arc welder, use a pipe wrench if the wheel isn't too deep, and throw the things away.

[DWBOX2000]

Thanks everyone, I will pass on the word

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Not really. Buy a deep socket that does just like you say, break each nut enough to use the regular socket and wiggle the deep socket off. Some lug nuts work better using a 12 point. Some are so round and smooth that a socket is useless. Buy the tool.

Hundreds of videos on each style. Me, I'd probably quickly weld a short length of pipe on each one from the inside with a cheap arc welder, use a pipe wrench if the wheel isn't too deep, and throw the things away.

My buddy told me, and I confirmed that a deep socket won't work. A deep socket will break. The Sears that I went to only had 3 normal sockets. I tried a deep well and it cracked like my buddy said.

I also tried to get the socket off of the lug once it was pounded on and wasn't able to.

In my case the locking lug was round and somewhat spherical. It does, I'm sure depend upon the locking lug nut style/design.

[Steve Carlton]

A lot of times a dealer will have a master set of all keys if the nut is a factory accessory. They could remove them and sell you new nuts.

[harvardma]

They make a special socket with an internal tapered left hand thread for these situations. It bites into the OD of the locking lug. Available at the usual auto parts stores.

[DWBOX2000]

The plot thicken,. Aftermarket lugs.
I tell him either go to a tire place or get an extractor and pound it on. Then put breaker bar on it and have at it.
Thanks again everyone.

[Dixie]

Use this.

[vash]

my memory is foggy, but I seem to remember hammering on a 15/16 socket and wedging it on there in an emergency.

but yea..I have the extractors. used them exactly once, now they just bounce around tool drawer to tool drawer.

no more locking lugs for me.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

my memory is foggy, but I seem to remember hammering on a 15/16 socket and wedging it on there in an emergency.

but yea..I have the extractors. used them exactly once, now they just bounce around tool drawer to tool drawer.

no more locking lugs for me.

Yep!

Something like the kit that Dixie posted is probably an even better bet. I've got some of those, but for bolts, not the necessary sizes for lug nuts.

[Steve Carlton]

Just don't put a lock on the lug nut removal kit.

[motorracer]

When it happen to me i welded a nut to it worked great

[masraum]

Originally Posted by motorracer

When it happen to me i welded a nut to it worked great

I've got a soldering gun and a tube of JB weld. I'm not sure either would work in this case.