Broken wheel lock key

[Paco]

I broke the key to my wheel locks while trying to rotate tires the other day. How do I get the keyed lug off now? It's a McGard wheel lock and they said they would warranty it for me, but since I bought a new set of locks, I'm not planning on keeping the old ones anyway. Should I just wait for the new key, or is there a way to get the wheel off without it?

 

[Skiddy]

Since it is recessed like that the only thing I can think of is weld a nut to end of it.

 

[Broncrick]

I usually take an impact socket and with a BFH drive it on, heat can be your friend too ;D

 

[wildbill]

I use a air chisel and they will just unscrew makes a mess of the nut so it will need to be replaced. Good luck and have fun.%) %) %) Bill %) ;D

 

[brian72]

watch that slatter on the wheels if welding...

 

[Duke Nukem]

Bummer. All the above is good advise. I sure hope those rims aren't on a bronco.

 

[DebosDave'72]

They make a kit to take those off (must be a pretty common problem). I just had one in, but sold it. The kit consisted of a few different sized cylinders, that you heat and basically pound onto the lugnut.... Then you can unbolt the nut. The idea of using an impact socket is the best, just get one that is just barely too tight, then heat and pound it on there...

The air chisel is a good idea too, I would just be careful no to acidentally hit the wheel...

I would worry a little about the heat generated with the welding idea, might warp something, but I am sure if you went slow, and didn't go overboard it could be alright.

Dave

 

[SaddleUp]

Beating th impact socket onto it is the best way I have found and it is the least likely to damage the wheel.

 

[j.r.nice]

another option would be to call around and find a tire place that has the tool to remove them. I bet they would remove for about $5-10.

http://mactools.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemNum=LT4000C

If you use the impact socket, try tightening the other lug nuts first to help pull the wheel in.

 

[Apogee]

Here's a lug nut removal tool as well...left hand threaded, heat-treated socket for all intensive purposes.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM-M980&N=115&autoview=sku

My Bronco had locks on it when I bought it and the owner didn't own the keyed socket...I guess he didn't rotate the tires that often. %) Anyway, I used them and they worked but were pretty well thrashed after 2 hours and four lug nuts worth of abuse.

 

[cbearly]

When the key for the wheel locks on my F250 got striped, I took a 12pt socket that wouldn't quite slip over the lock and I forced it on with a hammer. Put the ratchet on it and off the lock came. Then I used a punch to drive the lock out of the socket. After seeing how easy it was to defeat the wheel locks I don't bother with them anymore.

 

[hd03sporty]

Use one of the methods that everyone else has suggested for the removal, but ditch that type of lock as those "keys" tend to get stripped out often from not sitting fully in the nut, especially if you remove the wheels somewhat often. HERE is a good alternative lock I have these on two of my vehicles and are great.....

 

[Delta4WheelDrive]

I usually take an impact socket and with a BFH drive it on, heat can be your friend too ;D

This is how I did it in my shop. A trick I learned from Big O Tires. Get the socket that can just barely fit over the end of the lock and hammer it on snug. Use an impact to pull it off. The friction will do all of the work. If this just will not work the chisel method will.

 

[SaddleUp]

Use one of the methods that everyone else has suggested for the removal, but ditch that type of lock as those "keys" tend to get stripped out often from not sitting fully in the nut, especially if you remove the wheels somewhat often. HERE is a good alternative lock I have these on two of my vehicles and are great.....

Thats what I use on mine.

 

[SteveL]

Try a local tire and wheel shop. They usually have a bucket of wheel lock keys. Otherwise pound a socket on it with the BFH.

 

[Jangel]

Impact socket and BFH!! Took off alot of different locks that way while working at a tire store.

 

[brian72]

When I ordered my wheels and tires from Desert Rat..with my lug nuts they sent a set of gorilla locks.

 

[Paco]

1 down, 1 to go

Got one done, but still have one to go. I used the socket trick and it worked great on the right rear. Finding the right socket was a PITA. 13/16" was way too small and 7/8" was way too big. Metric wasn't any better. So I dug out some OLD square sockets that were buried away in the garage and found a 3/4" square one that fit with some help from the BFH. Moved to the right front, pounded the socket on, tried loosening it and cracked the socket I found an old spark plug socket that didn't even have a size stamped on it, got it pounded on, but I just stripped it.

Something tells me it might be crossthreaded, I'll try the air-chisel tomorrow. Check out the old socket with the nice, new crack in it.

 

[Apogee]

Weld it up...it'll be good as new ;D