Wheel locks

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DJWUZJ

DJWUZJ

10 Year
Joined
Aug 4, 2012
Threads
41
Messages
525
Location
Fairfax, VA
Given my experience today, I thought it would be worth sharing some food for thought to those running Wheel Locks (lug nuts)

Truck came with a set of Mcgaurd wheel locks. Last year a tire repair shop lost the key when they were done, and I picked one up from a local dealer. I even used it probably 10 times since then for basic repairs, upgrades, etc.

Today it broke on the first wheel I tried to take off. I went to the dealership, and managed to also break the technicians with the help of the service desk rep. Whoops.

I picked up regular 4 lugs from the dealer before going to a tire shop to have then bust all of the keys off.

If you're running wheel locks, consider replacing before your next adventure. If not, carry a spare and JB weld to fuse to the lug I case it breaks on the trail, and hope that works.

We have long long lists of parts we carry, but this is an easy one to overlook!

Sent from my iPad using IH8MUD
 
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Good points.


But JB Weld wouldn't ever stand up to the amount of torque placed on that small of an area, at least not from my experience. Better to have a black impact socket just large enough to tightly fit over the round lug and slam it on hard with a 4 lbs hammer. Which of course is probably the way anyone who is bent on stealing a set of wheels from a Land Cruiser would go about it also. I'd probably just stick to using wheel locks on cars other than rugged off road machines that take me hundreds of miles from the nearest lug lock dealer, like my future Audi ;-).
 
Good point. Also, don't use the key with an impact, it's not designed for that. Hammering an old socket on is the easiest way to break them lose without a key. I will probably go ahead and do this as well, if all my wheels get stolen, my comp deductible I only $250.
 
Do wheels still get stolen? I can't imagine my 5x150 18s have ANY value on the thug market. If I had an Escalade with 22s, a Maxima with 20s... maybe I'd worry about finding my "ride" on blocks. But, I'm much more concerned with A) not being able to find the key B) breaking/stripping the key when I'm on the side of the road or trail. So, no locks... just insurance.
 
uzj100 said:
That is usually my first mod, remove and throw away wheel locks. ;)

I have done that on about 5 different used cars.
Click to expand...
2x this. If a crook wants to steal your wheels, he can walk into any autoparts store, or even Sears and steal a wheel lock nut removal kit for free. You can buy them for less than $20. John
 
DJW - whereabouts in Fairfax are you? Now that I know your wheels are unlocked I'm gonna come nick them from you! ;)
 
uzj100 said:
That is usually my first mod, remove and throw away wheel locks. ;)

I have done that on about 5 different used cars.
Click to expand...

Absolutely, the last 2 times I've bought cars, they didn't even leave the lot without replacement standard lug nuts bought from the parts counter, swapped them out as soon as they got home. Couldn't even sell them on eBay, no bids. I have 2 sets sitting on the shelf now in the garage, with keys and the paperwork.

Many years ago I was wheeling out at Paragon with a guy in a Jeep, he busted a bead on a rock. Could not find the key anywhere for his wheel locks. I had to sacrifice a socket out of my tool kit to get his wheel swapped out. That's when I learned to hate those things.
 
Yep. Impacted mine off. Really need to put the fifth back on.
 
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