How to remove locking Lugnuts without the key

[fred d]

I bought an older vehicle, in part for the wheels
it has a set of locking lug nuts on it, but I do not have the key.
I have searched on YouTube and the likes for ways to remove the locking nuts.
Pretty much everyone talks about driving a 12 point socket on to the Lugnut to remove it. The problem with this set of wheels is there is not enough room between the Lugnut and the wheel to drive in the socket on to it.

I am not very good at welding, but have thought about having someone weld a nut to the end of the Locking nut to try and remove it.
Problem is I do not want to damage the wheel in the process. Have wondered if there’s any epoxy that might be strong enough to hold.
Any other ideas or suggestions I am open to as this is something I need to do soon.
Thanks in advance

 

[ChrisLS8]

What kind is it, the keys are usually easy to find

 

[chrisnazzy]

I've been in the tire business for 17 years. Removing wheel locks when the key is missing is a task I have to perform often. I've probably done it hundreds of times.

In order to recommend a method I need to see a pic or two of what type of locking lug you're dealing with and the clearances you have.

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[TonyJ]

Get a nut remover. Made like a screw extractor but one big enough to fit the locking lug nut

 

[rustyjames]

I doubt epoxy is going to get it. Even welding might not if they're really tight. I would call a tire shop and ask what they use.

 

[TonyJ]

Get a nut remover. Made like a screw extractor but one big enough to fit the locking lug nut

Like these

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

We had the lug nut key stolen from my wife's Jeep. I got one by hammering 12 pt on , for the other four, we had to take it to the dealer. We tried the tire shop first.

 

[fred d]

Like these

I have these....Not enough room between the nut and the wheel.
Not really have enough room for a thin wall socket

 

[fred d]

I've been in the tire business for 17 years. Removing wheel locks when the key is missing is a task I have to perform often. I've probably done it hundreds of times.

In order to recommend a method I need to see a pic or two of what type of locking lug you're dealing with and the clearances you have.

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Will try and get some pics. Truck is at buddy’s shop 1-1/2 hours away

 

[phule]

Are they OE locks or aftermarket. If it's a spline drive you can usually get the keys at parts stores.

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[bpjr]

New car service depts have them for their own use. I tried to buy one from them but they didn't sell the keys and wouldn't unlock mine...even for pay. I ended up getting one from a junk yard.

 

[rlitman]

I've been in the tire business for 17 years. Removing wheel locks when the key is missing is a task I have to perform often. I've probably done it hundreds of times.

In order to recommend a method I need to see a pic or two of what type of locking lug you're dealing with and the clearances you have.

Yep, the right answer requires more details.

But the lack of clearance makes me guess that we're talking about spline drive "tuner" lugs, and the sockets for those shouldn't be too hard to find.

No, welding and no epoxy. Both are bad ideas.

 

[Eagle Point]

Depending on the brand of the locks, tire shops and car dealerships may have a master set to remove them. We did at dealerships that I worked at. Years ago i had pretty good luck by hammering a deep 6 point impact socket over the locking lug and try the impact gun on it. Most of them came off, it's worth a shot. Attached is a photo of what one of the hacks did to a customers car at the dealership i worked at. This was his version of trying to remove the wheel lock without the key.

 

[Packard V8]

X10 - not enough detail, plus no photo. What type lug nuts don't have room for a thinwall socket? If they're spline drive, there are only a few variations.

jack vines

 

[signcrafter]

Harbor freight and amazon sell master kits that cover a bunch of vehicles. Think amazon has the steelman one for like 65 bucks.

 

[HaroRider]

How much does the lock stick out?

 

[isb cornbinder]

I called my SnapOn truck guy. He delivered is under an hour. The SO set looks very much like the set posted by TonyJ.

 

[AngryBeaver]

take a 12pt socket that almost fits. then Beat it on. remove lug nut as normal. you might need a socket or two. Works every time over those horseshit "lug removers"

 

[Professional Tool User]

I would go shopping around and see if the correct socket for the job is available. Harbor Freight has a set.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have these....Not enough room between the nut and the wheel.
Not really have enough room for a thin wall socket

Drill the stud. It will take a long time and you will eat a lot of bits.

Start with a good solid center punch dimple so the drill does not walk. Start small, 1/4" or less. The stud metal is not hardened like the locking lug nut.

DO NOT BREAK THE DRILL BIT OFF IN THE STUD !

 

[kctyphoon]

12 pt sockets are the universal lugnut keys. Many, many years ago - ive done this more than a few times.

Find a 1/2” drive 12pt deep socket that is slightly smaller than the lock, use a hammer and pound the socket onto lock with a hammer. The socket is harder than the lock, and will just hammer onto it, biting into the lock. Use a 1/2” driver ratchet to remove the lock. Once you break the lug free, hammer the socket sideways to break it free, or remove it entirely and pound something through the socket to press or force the lug off..

 

[gungatim]

BTDT. if you have an autozone nearby, they sell 2 sizes of reverse thread lugnut removal sockets. thin wall, will fit deep recessed aluminum rims. they are only like $8 each. that set someone posted is too thick, the parts store ones are thinner and are more fine threaded.

 

[dledinger]

Had a garage break a key once, and didn’t find out until I needed it. Wasn’t very happy about that.

I was able to get one off pounding a socket on. The next wouldn’t budge. They were extremely hard, a socket had no bite whatsoever. Ended up grinding it out, and buying a key for the last two.

 

[bpjr]

Is this a factory lock or aftermarket? Some cars use the same lock for different models. If memory is right my grand marquis, continental and several town cars of different yrs had the same lock key.

 

[Mudnut]

Our son did the right thing when he borrowed my BMW X5, and had two tyres plugged when he discovered tech screws in them. This was done at a shop 4 hours away from my home.

These tyres are on alloy rims, and each have a Mcguard locking bolt with a spinning collar on them. They must have used an impact driver to put the wheels back on, as the locking key was broken, and all the bolts were torqued way too tight. My local dealer tried to remove the locking bolts, but broke their tool trying to loosen them. Their only suggestion was to take to an engineering shop, and have them drilled out. At A$200 a corner, was an expensive proposition.

Tried to remove by pounding a socket over. No luck, as it would just spin on the collar. How to get the collar off?

Ended up using my Dremel with a chainsaw sharpening bit in it to grind out two points on the collar. The collar would initially spin, so wedged a piece of scrap pine in to hold it in place. Each collar would take about 10 - 15 minutes to cut with this bit. Once the initial cut was made, I rotated the collar 180 deg and made another cut. The pieces could then be removed.

Now that there was no spinning collar, I could pound a 21mm Irwin removal socket over the stud, and use my breaker bar to turn it out. Big relief, as I didn't want to drill out 4 hardened studs,, and 1 rounded wheel stud. I did have to grind off the bolt shape on the Irwin socket to allow it to fit down the hole of the wheel.

Hope this helps someone else.

Ken

 

[theoldwizard1]

McGrad does not advertise it, but the do sell a kit with multiple guides for drilling out their locking lug bolts. I would assume it would work on locking lug nuts also.

MCGARD LOCKING WHEEL BOLTS REMOVAL: DRILL DIY

Wheel Lock Nuts From Hell Saved By Hubitools LugDriller


The best "alternative" I have seen is clamp a 1/4" steel plate to the wheel. Secure a mag-drill to the plate, and "drill" it out with an annular cutter.

 

[Y00PER]

Locking lugnuts? Never heard of those... Time to learn about something new I guess

 

[snyder]

I have a two peice snap on set from when I did state inspections. They had a smooth slightly conical Id.
Would not even scratch the lock. It was faster to grab this then to search the car for the key. I'm sure a good mechanic in your area would take them off for a small tip

 

[Lassen Forge]

I have a two peice snap on set from when I did state inspections. They had a smooth slightly conical Id.

I was thinking of the same thing, tho if they hammer-slammed those lugs down that hard, I'd be looking at your rotors and wheels for damage. I have a worn out battery impact that is almost weaker than a kitten for running down lugnuts/bolts before we hand tighten them.

Good catch on your kid's part, it's just too bad you didn't have a plug kit and compressor in the car...