Locking Lug Nuts...

[Deyomatic]

My buddy, who just joined this week and goes by the name Munson, just bought a 59 Apache. The major downside of this truck is that a previous owner put some really tacky chrome wheels with little circles cut in them all the way around. We'll be getting them off soon enough, but we don't have a key for the locking lug nuts.

How would you go about getting the locking lug nuts off? Can I just wire brush the chrome off of the locking lug nut and weld another lug nut to it and turn that one with a wrench?

[Tman]

I have always used a good new Channelock. Make sure there are teeth on the jaws. clamp em down and voila!

[Pist-n-Broke]

Your on the right track. What I've done before is take a 7/8 jamb nut and set it on the end of the lock and wire weld through the hole. A jamb nut isn't as tall as a regular nut so it's easier to get to the lug nut for a good weld. Make sure you let it cool or you'll just twist the lug bolt off. A 7/8 nut is 1" sockett size.I use a grinder to get the chrome off.
The Wizzard

[Steve]

get an old socket you dont like anymore that just small enough to not fit around it and get a big ol hammer and pound it on. once it wedges itself onto the wheel lock atach your impact wrench or breaker bar and turn

[Flatdog]

At the shop we have taped coned shaped speacals sockets that we wham on.At home I would grind a knoch with a whiz wheel or torch.Hit knoch with big hammer and chisle in it ,kind of spin it.

[desertratrodder]

What Steve said. Finally a good use for those 12 point deep sockets from Harbor Freight.. The chrome ones.. The key is just a little too small to slip on. Pound it on there. you actually want to see the socket expand as it goes on.the fun is getting the lug out after, and you may break a socket or two.. But its great to get your aggressions out with. And it usually works.

PS watch the fingers!!!

[Mojo_AL]

Although I've never tried it myself, I've heard of people removing them with Vise-Grips set VERY tight. If the Vise-Grips keep turning around, try filing or grinding flat spots on the nuts.

[KnuckleBuster]

I've had to remove several wheel locks at my shop - usually the way Steve suggested. Although we have the socket kit that Flatdog described, sometimes the lugnut is between sizes and the sockets don't quite fit right. Better to use an impact socket that fits tightly when you smack it on with a hammer. You may have a little fun getting the nut out of the socket, but it will come out - usually a drift through the center of the socket does the trick.

The bes part is, since you need a key to put these stupid things on, they don't usually get overtightened - the key offers enough resistance to kick a torque-stick or click a troque wrench before the nut gets too tight.

Of course, you could always try to find a key that fits your locking nuts...not as much fun, though.

Good luck,
Jay

[Fastsporty]

I have done both, Visegrips and a old socket. I would try the vise grips first then the old socket. Cause I usually end up spliting it anyway.

[Deyomatic]

It doesn't look like the Vise Grips are a possibility. The wheel face is too deep, so if you put the vise grips onto the nut, it is at about a 70* angle from the nut, so there is no way to even get any leverage on it with the vise grips.

[Greazer]

If the home remedies won't work, you could try talking to a local dealership. Sometimes, the larger dealerships will have a set of "master keys" to unlock a variety of random locking lugs.

[long island vic]

i my cost a few buks but on deep set lug nuts i shoot them wt freion or a co2 extingsher. shoot it for a few seconds it will freeze tyhen wack it and it should break.... this also works on the dreaded tier boots when parking in someones lot