How long is a "damaged wheel lock" socket good for?

[Lucid Moments]

I am not a professional mechanic. A friend was in a bind so I was doing a front brake job on her new to her Hyundai. Unfortunately it had wheel locks on it and she didn't have the key. Fortunately it only had one lock on each wheel. Bought a socket from AutoZone (I think) that purported to remove wheel locks and 4 new lug nuts. The socket had grooves around its inside and was otherwise cylindrical. Hammered it on to the locks and it got all four off but the last one was stubborn.

Should I consider myself lucky that it got all four off and move on? Or is it worth the space it is taking up in my socket drawer to hold on to it?

PS. I hate wheel locks. They seem to be of limited utility in stopping wheel theft and cause tons of issues just like this.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

The ideal way to use those is really running them on with an impact. They don't really even need to go on straight, the taper design as what does the job. I usually get 25 or so and I consider a socket junk. An equally efficient way of removing most wheel locks is just hammer a 12-point socket on.

Wheel locks are idiotic and ridiculous.

 

[rlitman]

...Wheel locks are idiotic and ridiculous.

Tell that to people who've had their wheels stolen. Wheel locks don't stop a thief, but they do slow them down enough to reconsider your car and move on.

 

[TonyJ]

Of course save the socket cause it’s bought and paid for and you just never know when you might need it again. Not only will they work for locking lug nuts but will also work for the rounded off ones. Like the other poster said their better used with an impact. I’ve got a C-man 3 piece set that are double sided so they fit up to 6 different sizes and they have been very very handy to have in the toolbox already

 

[Lucid Moments]

I did use an impact. An Aircat 1150. On the last lugnut the problem was that the socket was spinning on the nut and not gripping it.

 

[jonesg]

I did use an impact. An Aircat 1150. On the last lugnut the problem was that the socket was spinning on the nut and not gripping it.

depends if the lugnut or the socket stripped.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Of course save the socket cause it’s bought and paid for and you just never know when you might need it again. Not only will they work for locking lug nuts but will also work for the rounded off ones. Like the other poster said their better used with an impact. I’ve got a C-man 3 piece set that are double sided so they fit up to 6 different sizes and they have been very very handy to have in the toolbox already

Absolutely keep it as long as it's not shot (some of these have a limited life span)... I also have some junk sockets that I bought at a Freight store near a Harbor ( ) just for occasions like this... that and a 8# sledge will sometimes overcome the worst lugnuts...

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Tell that to people who've had their wheels stolen. Wheel locks don't stop a thief, but they do slow them down enough to reconsider your car and move on.

Eh, if your wheels are that nice, move to a better area maybe?


They'll stop the laziest of opportunists. If your wheels are valuable enough to be targets, a thief expect them and won't worried about them.


To each their own - just leave the damn thing out in the open when you want the car worked on.

 

[rlitman]

I don’t have nice wheels, but OEM alloy wheels are stupidly overpriced, making the market rife for thieves. They sell for a lot more than catalytic converters, and are pretty much untraceable.

 

[mrjaw14]

It’s good until it’s expiration date or until it’s broken, whichever comes first