Wheels/Tyres: - Locking wheel nuts

bullseal · Jul 22nd, 2009, 19:46

Hello everyone, just for reference, but I've had a right fiddle today when I took my XC90 in for x2 new front tyres. The garage doing the work got the first locking nut off no problem, but the second one...no chance as the key was worn/damaged. Tried all sorts to get it off but no joy, after reading some posts on the forum, tried to call local dealers for a serial no. but no help.
Worry started to set in as I need the car to go to Cambridge tomorrow and knew I'd either get caught by the coppers or I'd get a puncture. Another garage tried to use a windy gun and small chisel to try and disturb the stud and not damage the alloy wheel...no joy again.
After a call to one of my fitter mates, he told me to let him have a look. Half an hour later we were sorted...he mig welded a half inch drive extention bar onto the stud and managed to loosen...minor scuff to the wheel...got him to take the two out of the rear wheel also, stuff having to go through that again.

Things people will do for you for a bottle of malt !!!!

4 forty · Jul 22nd, 2009, 20:09

on reading this posting, like the many, many others relating to the same problem, its made me wonder, just what are the statistics of alloy wheels being stolen? is paronoiner creeping in.

Rockhopper · Jul 22nd, 2009, 22:21

I've had the same experience twice (!) with previous cars (due mostly by donkeys in tyre bays air gunning them on..) - heads of locking wheel nut sheared off when trying to undo, leaving just the stud. On one, no amount of persuasion or welding on bolts etc would shift it so had to drill it out in the end. Not pretty. Hence the reason I now remove them on my cars and fit standard bolts.

jtaw45 · Jul 23rd, 2009, 12:01

Same here, i avoid them like the plague. They're nothing but trouble. When was the last time you heared of someone getting their wheels nicked?

pdrvolvo · Jul 23rd, 2009, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtaw45

Same here, i avoid them like the plague. They're nothing but trouble. When was the last time you heared of someone getting their wheels nicked?

i,ll second that.

Ade1 · Jul 27th, 2009, 20:24

I know its been covered a few times but I had a similar experience with the Mcgard locking wheel nuts. Basically numbtie went at them with an air wrench and destroyed the key and the heads of both front wheel nuts (the rears were a different pattern for some reason). I got a guy at Tollbar Volvo in Coventry to identify the pattern from their master set but even a new key wouldn't shift them.

Eventually tracked down the mystical Mcgard nut removal tool at Tyrestop in Leamington. They had both nuts off in about 5 minutes. Cost me £25.

If you're in the West Midlands and have knackered nuts then give them a go.

John M Allan · Apr 24th, 2011, 13:10

We have had the same problem with our lock nuts. My friend who is an ex-fitter took 3 hours to get one off and 2 hours to get the other off with a hammer and chisel. He said that it is usually down to the young fitter zipping them up with the air gun.

gillberry · Apr 24th, 2011, 16:26

Seen loads of posts on here re locking wheel nuts so thought I'd go and give mine a try having had new tyres 3 mths ago . 1st nut came off fine 2nd nut sheared the innards of the lock key so will now deffo be having normal nuts fitted .

paulfishwick · Apr 24th, 2011, 17:19

If the mcgard locking bolts are fitted correctly IAW the correct procedure as regards torque settings/ fitting/removal etc there generally ok, problems arise when morons with pnuematic impact wrenches get near them

Jul 22nd, 2009, 19:46	#1
bullseal Junior Member Last Online: Feb 27th, 2015 12:27 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: barnard castle	Locking wheel nuts Hello everyone, just for reference, but I've had a right fiddle today when I took my XC90 in for x2 new front tyres. The garage doing the work got the first locking nut off no problem, but the second one...no chance as the key was worn/damaged. Tried all sorts to get it off but no joy, after reading some posts on the forum, tried to call local dealers for a serial no. but no help. Worry started to set in as I need the car to go to Cambridge tomorrow and knew I'd either get caught by the coppers or I'd get a puncture. Another garage tried to use a windy gun and small chisel to try and disturb the stud and not damage the alloy wheel...no joy again. After a call to one of my fitter mates, he told me to let him have a look. Half an hour later we were sorted...he mig welded a half inch drive extention bar onto the stud and managed to loosen...minor scuff to the wheel...got him to take the two out of the rear wheel also, stuff having to go through that again. Things people will do for you for a bottle of malt !!!!

Jul 22nd, 2009, 20:09	#2
4 forty VOC Member Last Online: Aug 12th, 2015 14:44 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: sunderland	statistics on reading this posting, like the many, many others relating to the same problem, its made me wonder, just what are the statistics of alloy wheels being stolen? is paronoiner creeping in.

Jul 27th, 2009, 20:24	#6
Ade1 New Member Last Online: Apr 17th, 2010 15:15 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Coventry	Wheel nut woes I know its been covered a few times but I had a similar experience with the Mcgard locking wheel nuts. Basically numbtie went at them with an air wrench and destroyed the key and the heads of both front wheel nuts (the rears were a different pattern for some reason). I got a guy at Tollbar Volvo in Coventry to identify the pattern from their master set but even a new key wouldn't shift them. Eventually tracked down the mystical Mcgard nut removal tool at Tyrestop in Leamington. They had both nuts off in about 5 minutes. Cost me £25. If you're in the West Midlands and have knackered nuts then give them a go. __________________

Apr 24th, 2011, 13:10	#7
John M Allan New Member Last Online: Apr 25th, 2011 11:04 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Falkirk	Lock Nuts We have had the same problem with our lock nuts. My friend who is an ex-fitter took 3 hours to get one off and 2 hours to get the other off with a hammer and chisel. He said that it is usually down to the young fitter zipping them up with the air gun.

Apr 24th, 2011, 16:26	#8
gillberry VOC Member Last Online: Jun 1st, 2024 15:42 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: norwich View Photos By: gillberry	Seen loads of posts on here re locking wheel nuts so thought I'd go and give mine a try having had new tyres 3 mths ago . 1st nut came off fine 2nd nut sheared the innards of the lock key so will now deffo be having normal nuts fitted . __________________ 1968 Amazon estate (Gracie). 2003 Vauxhall astra estate (her car) 2009 XC90 (Jo) . Not forgetting 1967 Cheltenham Nyala (caravan)

Jul 22nd, 2009, 22:21	#3
Rockhopper XC90 Exec Last Online: Jan 3rd, 2019 09:06 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: ..at the foot of the Peaks	I've had the same experience twice (!) with previous cars (due mostly by donkeys in tyre bays air gunning them on..) - heads of locking wheel nut sheared off when trying to undo, leaving just the stud. On one, no amount of persuasion or welding on bolts etc would shift it so had to drill it out in the end. Not pretty. Hence the reason I now remove them on my cars and fit standard bolts.

Jul 23rd, 2009, 12:01	#4
jtaw45 Senior Member Last Online: Feb 13th, 2024 10:42 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hull	Same here, i avoid them like the plague. They're nothing but trouble. When was the last time you heared of someone getting their wheels nicked?

Apr 24th, 2011, 17:19	#9
paulfishwick I've Been Banned Last Online: Apr 24th, 2011 18:38 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: ashley	If the mcgard locking bolts are fitted correctly IAW the correct procedure as regards torque settings/ fitting/removal etc there generally ok, problems arise when morons with pnuematic impact wrenches get near them

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