Locking wheel bolt removal HELP!!!!!

Z T Top · 11th March 2008, 21:07

My car is fitted with what looks like Mcguard locking wheel nuts, a few days ago while it was sunny I thought of cleaning the insides the wheels and found that three of the locking wheel nuts would not budge, and whilst trying I have completely damaged the head of the nut, admitting defeat I took it to a local garage today who also failed to remove it.

So the question is does anyone know someone that can get the useless piece of trash of my wheel?

Know wonder Mcgard are so effective at stopping thieves from nicking your wheels, the only problem is they also stop you from removing them.

MGOracle · 11th March 2008, 22:51

There are a couple of ways. First, they are only aluminium. Drill through the middle of it with a small decent drill bit and it will collapse.

Else, spot weld a proper nut to it then use a decent long breaker bar to provide shed loads of torque so as not to break the weld.

Or, drill a bit into it, reverse thread a bolt in, so as you tighten the bolt it undoes the locking wheel nut.

Lastly, one of those socket grabbers like this

http://www.nextag.co.uk/wheel-nut-re...0--search-html

John J · 11th March 2008, 22:56

The lockers on mine had like an antitamper washer on which was free spinning even if the stud was tight. I smacked a 19mm socket on to push it back and then smacked a 17mm socket onto the stud and carefully undid it.
I'm not sure what a Mcgard is like though.

GreyGhost · 12th March 2008, 09:19

These are what the professionals use:-
http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;js...rch=wheel+nut#

Emergency Locking Wheel Nut Remover 4 Pc
4 Piece Kit. Emergency locking Wheel Nut Remover Kit supplied in a metal storage case.
Sizes: 17, 18.5, 21.5, 26mm. All 38mm long. £19.89

Same as in MGO's post

MGOracle · 12th March 2008, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

These are what the professionals use:-
http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;js...rch=wheel+nut#

Emergency Locking Wheel Nut Remover 4 Pc
4 Piece Kit. Emergency locking Wheel Nut Remover Kit supplied in a metal storage case.
Sizes: 17, 18.5, 21.5, 26mm. All 38mm long. £19.89

Same as in MGO's post

Yours are cheaper

sylvester · 12th March 2008, 16:19

A lesson to us all - whip off those nuts and apply some copper grease before replacing!

T-Cut · 12th March 2008, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by sylvester

A lesson to us all - whip off those nuts and apply some copper grease before replacing!

It's a dilemma really. Add some grease and you minimise seizure, but the torque setting goes wrong. I believe the 92ftlbs/125Nm torque specified for the wheel bolts is for a non-lubricated thread. That's the standard condition in terms of car maintenance. When you add the protective lube, the bolts will be overtight when torqued to spec. Of course the use of an air wrench by the local garage is another sure fire way to get seized wheel studs. Personally, I will not allow an air tool on my wheels if I can prevent it.

TC

crofts · 13th March 2008, 00:42

I phoned the makers of my wheel bolts. They sell a tool guaranteed to remove any locking bolt.
However, there is an easier way. They told me to let the tyre down and phone the AA as they all carry the removal tool.
I'm with RAC. They came to the house and though he didn't have the tool he 'smacked' a slightly undersized socket on to the head and removed it.
As a result, though I tighten 4 wheel bolts to 90 ft lbs I tighten the locking bolts to 80 ft lbs.

Z T Top · 15th March 2008, 20:46

Thanks guys for all your attempts to help me with my problem but I am afraid none have worked.

The idea was great about the AA but unfortunately we broke the poor AA mans tool twice.

Tried an X Part garage (Llay garage, Wrexham) and they could not help.
Even visited Demon Tweeks in Wrexham who confidently said they had special tools and that removal would not be a problem but it would cost me £40, I agreed but after half an hour they gave up. They did confirm that the make of my wheel bolts is McGard and told me how to order a new tool though pointed out that the bolts were so tight they would undoubtedly strip a new tool.

I then got a bright idea, if I drilled a hole into the bolt though the center of the wheel lock, tapped the hole and fastened the lock against the bolt with a small counter sunk bolt then used a wheel brace to remove the whole lot, surely that would work. It took an hour and many trips to the grinder to resharpen the drill bits to drill out the hardened steel and triple nickel chrome finished bold, but finally I was ready to use my wheel brace. But yet again to no avail, this time it striped the small bolts twice.
So tomorrow I will attempt to drill out the bolts.
The morale of this story is if you want your wheels not to be stolen buy McGard wheel locks but don’t expect to be able to ever remove them yourself.

11th March 2008, 21:07	#1
Z T Top Gets stuck in MG ZT+ SE 131 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beautiful North Wales Posts: 658 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Locking wheel bolt removal HELP!!!!! My car is fitted with what looks like Mcguard locking wheel nuts, a few days ago while it was sunny I thought of cleaning the insides the wheels and found that three of the locking wheel nuts would not budge, and whilst trying I have completely damaged the head of the nut, admitting defeat I took it to a local garage today who also failed to remove it. So the question is does anyone know someone that can get the useless piece of trash of my wheel? Know wonder Mcgard are so effective at stopping thieves from nicking your wheels, the only problem is they also stop you from removing them. Last edited by GreyGhost; 12th March 2008 at 09:16..

12th March 2008, 09:19	#4
GreyGhost Banned 180+ Sport Auto Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bedford Middle Level Posts: 17,787 Thanks: 0 Thanked 18 Times in 5 Posts	These are what the professionals use:- http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;js...rch=wheel+nut# Emergency Locking Wheel Nut Remover 4 Pc 4 Piece Kit. Emergency locking Wheel Nut Remover Kit supplied in a metal storage case. Sizes: 17, 18.5, 21.5, 26mm. All 38mm long. £19.89 Same as in MGO's post Last edited by GreyGhost; 12th March 2008 at 09:50..

12th March 2008, 16:19	#6
sylvester Loves to post Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rochester Kent Posts: 256 Thanks: 18 Thanked 22 Times in 9 Posts	A stitch in time... A lesson to us all - whip off those nuts and apply some copper grease before replacing!

13th March 2008, 00:42	#8
crofts I really should get out more....... 2003 Rover 75 Conn. SE Auto Tourer 131 ps CDTi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bristol Posts: 2,512 Thanks: 38 Thanked 67 Times in 55 Posts	Broken Wheel Bolts I phoned the makers of my wheel bolts. They sell a tool guaranteed to remove any locking bolt. However, there is an easier way. They told me to let the tyre down and phone the AA as they all carry the removal tool. I'm with RAC. They came to the house and though he didn't have the tool he 'smacked' a slightly undersized socket on to the head and removed it. As a result, though I tighten 4 wheel bolts to 90 ft lbs I tighten the locking bolts to 80 ft lbs. __________________ Rover 75 CDTi SE Connoisseur Tourer (2003) In desirable STARLIGHT SILVER (now restored to it's former glory with all the chrome !)

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11th March 2008, 22:51	#2
MGOracle Banned MG ZT CDTi 135+ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cardiff Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	There are a couple of ways. First, they are only aluminium. Drill through the middle of it with a small decent drill bit and it will collapse. Else, spot weld a proper nut to it then use a decent long breaker bar to provide shed loads of torque so as not to break the weld. Or, drill a bit into it, reverse thread a bolt in, so as you tighten the bolt it undoes the locking wheel nut. Lastly, one of those socket grabbers like this http://www.nextag.co.uk/wheel-nut-re...0--search-html

11th March 2008, 22:56	#3
John J Regular poster Rover 75 1.8 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The lockers on mine had like an antitamper washer on which was free spinning even if the stud was tight. I smacked a 19mm socket on to push it back and then smacked a 17mm socket onto the stud and carefully undid it. I'm not sure what a Mcgard is like though.

15th March 2008, 20:46	#9
Z T Top Gets stuck in MG ZT+ SE 131 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beautiful North Wales Posts: 658 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Thanks guys for all your attempts to help me with my problem but I am afraid none have worked. The idea was great about the AA but unfortunately we broke the poor AA mans tool twice. Tried an X Part garage (Llay garage, Wrexham) and they could not help. Even visited Demon Tweeks in Wrexham who confidently said they had special tools and that removal would not be a problem but it would cost me £40, I agreed but after half an hour they gave up. They did confirm that the make of my wheel bolts is McGard and told me how to order a new tool though pointed out that the bolts were so tight they would undoubtedly strip a new tool. I then got a bright idea, if I drilled a hole into the bolt though the center of the wheel lock, tapped the hole and fastened the lock against the bolt with a small counter sunk bolt then used a wheel brace to remove the whole lot, surely that would work. It took an hour and many trips to the grinder to resharpen the drill bits to drill out the hardened steel and triple nickel chrome finished bold, but finally I was ready to use my wheel brace. But yet again to no avail, this time it striped the small bolts twice. So tomorrow I will attempt to drill out the bolts. The morale of this story is if you want your wheels not to be stolen buy McGard wheel locks but don’t expect to be able to ever remove them yourself.