DavesZ#3

iTrader: (26)

I knew I should have taken those suns-of-*****es off when I was putting the new wheels on. Today I'm doing my brakes (Endless SS-S) - the fronts were a snap. I removed the lock from one rear wheel then went to the other one and as I was applying pressure, I feel and hear the crunching. The "key" part sheared off of the socket.

I can always order a new one on Monday but I was wondering if anybody had any tricks for getting it off safely (i.e. w/o damaging the wheel)?

350ztoronto

iTrader: (10)

did you use an airgun? it probably wasn't on tight and stripped but i highly doubt that =/
when i take my wheel locks and lugs off i use my hands
its probably jus one defective wheel lug
gluck man

DavesZ#3

iTrader: (26)

Nope, was using a 12" breaker bar. I watched them put the lugs on my car a couple weeks ago, the guy actually used a torque wrench. I did notice that the other three locks seemed harder to get loose than the regular nuts.

Robert_K

iTrader: (25)

Always Do Your Lugs By Hand And Torque Wrench!!!

DavesZ#3

iTrader: (26)

I was taking them off, not putting them on. The last person to put them on used a torque wrench - I watched him do it.

My rant is really about the cheap-*** stamped key socket that comes with the Mcgard locks that Nissan uses. That's what broke.

Checkmate58

iTrader: (11)

I never use the dealer locks. I remember I had some that had a butterfly imprint pattern with a key. I took it off once and looked at it. It was already looking like it was in pain. I'll never use those cheap dealer keylocks.

--Sam

DavesZ#3

iTrader: (26)

Those "cheap dealer keylocks" with what looks like a butterfly imprint are made by Mcgard. They're not exactly an "unknown" in the world of security products.

The lugnuts are great - it's the key that's the problem.

mikeg8r

iTrader: (2)

Sorry if this is OT but i recently lost my wheel lock key. I was able to get them off by taking it to the dealer. They apparently have a "master" key of some sort. They returned the old lug nuts to me (the one that I had lost the key too) and I was like, "what am I gonna want with these". Well turns out the my new key also fits the old lug nuts (they also fit the new ones, i tested it). It is not as snug, so I don't think I would ever try to use them with this key (I wouldn't want the new key to shear, then I'd be 8x screwed). But maybe you could get some1 to "loan" you theirs. YMMV of course but who knows you may get lucky.

Checkmate58

iTrader: (11)

I have mcgard tuner lugnuts. They work great but regardless of who makes them for the dealers, if the key gets messed up easily or the lug from just removing them once or twice (i'm talking about the dealer keylock/lug sets), would you still want them?

--Sam

xtrememan315

iTrader: (8)

i had this problem once i welded bits to the key and beat it in the lug w/ hammer then turned LOL lucky my wheels at the time were already sh1tty.