Calgary Jeep Association
4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Tinkerer on October 11, 2009, 10:01:47 AM
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???
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there is a socket you can buy that has reverse threads internally that grips any nut and backs it off. It is used with an impact socket. Aclands and most industrial sales places sell them. Of course mac and snap on too.....
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Pat. I have a set of sockets that take off damaged lugs. Worth a shot?
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dealerships have universal set of wheel keys. you should be able to go to a dealer and have them removed. Tower probably wont charge you for it as it takes 5 seconds.
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I have installed a pipe over the locking lug nut and snapped the stud before. Then when the tires off replace the stud.
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if worst comes to worst and you can not wait for a new key..... ie flat tire..... take an impact socket that is the same size or slightly smaller than the lugnut outside diameter.... take the BFH... give it a couple of whacks to force it on the lugnut and if you have a tight enough fit off it comes... then just use a drift to knock the lugnut out of the socket.... i ran into this problem when i lost the key to the wheel locks and had to change to the mudders for a run.
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pat. over tighten the lug nuts on either side of wheel lock. like torque them DOWN, then take a big pair of vice grips and lock them on as hard as you can (easier for big guys like me ;) or use more leverage haha) and wheel lock lug nut should come off no problem. did this on my old ford with aluminum wheels. no prob. should work on steelies too
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About a half turn more on the 4 lugs, then the big-arse vice-grip trick should do it.... without snapping the lugbolts.
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Welp, I got about 1/4 turn out of the rest of the nuts without a breaker bar.... but my vice grips can't grab on the shiny chrome in the factory alum rims enough. I was going to heat the nut too, but didn't have my lighter with me to light the torch.
Of course I jinxed myself, the one tire was flat when I went out to work on it this morning. Haven't had a flat for over a year now and last time it wasn't completely flat like this time. Good thing I had air in the back at the garage. I didn't stop to check if there was a nail, screw or just aluminum rims in the cold - ie: the ever present bead leaks.
pat, take a file to the fancy chrome lugnuts, scuff it up a bunch. this does work. cause once i took one off my ford cause the bolt literally broke. adn all that was on there was the remainder of the lug. its a pain but it should work.
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Try to find a socket that will fit into where the key fits in, usually a cheap 12 point socket then hammer it into the lug, if you are going to PA see if they have a impact driver. You twist it a bit and smash it, works well.
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Ditch the aluminum rims(then you won't need the lock nuts). I used to work at a tire shop and I took my tires off 3 times in one year to fix the bead leaks. The factory aluminum rims caused some funky oxidation to happen where the rim meets the rubber. Some tires are worse than others. Goodyear Wranglers were the worst. I tried buffing them with a wire wheel, cleaning with alcohol, using bead sealer...
Finally got steel rims and haven't had any more problems, other than mud once in while.
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I could be wrong but I didn't think any beadlocks were legal for the street. Stauns with steel rims might be the way to go for that. Expensive though. But you could but the rims now and the stuans at a later date. National or any tire store should be able to order a set of plain old steel wagon wheels in pretty much any size/backspacing you want.
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I had a similar problem out on the trail once (dealership sold me jeep with no key) I used the closed end of a 19mm wrench and a big rock to get the wrench on the socket.
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I had the same problem. Lost key.
Grinder down two flat sides to the locking nut and fit an open ended wrench. Then throw out the locks.
I think I even used a dremmel to do this last time.
HTH
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That happened to my sister. Bought a BREND NEW Dodge 1500 in 1998. Dealer installed wheel locks and "forgot" to give them the key. 2 years later they asked me to put on new tires for them. Got it into the shop and on the hoist and low and behold no key! There was NO way to get vicegrips or anything like that on the locknut as it was recessed into the rim. In the end I pounded an impact socket onto the nut and had it with the impact gun. It slipped at first but eventually it heated up and grabbed and they came off.
Funny think too I when I turned the truck inside out looking for the key I found the original lugnuts in the package that the locknuts came in(no key in it) under the passenger seat. I half wonder if the dealer did it on purpose to make you come back and pay to get them off....