WOW haven't been off here in a while. I need some help. I lost teh wheel lock keys for the lug nuts on my tires and my brakes need to be changed badly. I've taken it to a couple of places and they all cant get the damn things off. Called the place where I bought the rims and they are looking to charge me $250 or more to ge these things off! anyone here ever had this problem? What did you do? The brakes are squealing badly and I've had to drive like that for a bit now as the Z is my daily driver. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

I'm pretty sure you should just go to the dealer about that. (But what do I know?)

Don't drive the car anymore till you know for sure you're going somewhere where they can get the wheel off and get new brake pads put on.

You don't want to spend more money for resurfacing the rotors or possibly ruining the rotors and having to pay for new ones.

 

Bring your car to the ghettos and let a thug with a tire iron look at it. I'm sure he can get it off in a jiffy.

I keeeed, I keeeeed.

Anyways, I'm sure there are tools that the thieves use. I think there is a tool where there's multiple rods that retract to the shape of your nut key.

 

dunno, never had a problem getting my nuts off

 

If you're talking about the Nissan locks (made by McGard) try this --

Hammer a 3/4" socket onto the lock then try to remove it. You may not be able to do it by hand though, you may need an impact wrench to get it loose.

If that doesn't work, try slightly over-tightening the two lug nuts adjacent to the lock then loosen the other two (farthest from the lock). That will help release the pressure on the lock itself. Hammer the 3/4" socket on and get it a try that way.

 

what brand wheel lock did you use...most companies rotate between like three or four key combinations....just start ripping open packs for the key and maybe one of them will work....

 

You could always carefully drill a hole in the nut, then tap the hole with a counter spin tap (so that it tights to the left and not the right, lefty tighty, righy loosy.. hehe) then find a nice bolt with the same thread pattern and tighten it in... should come right out... you'd have to repeat 4 times and get a replacement set of locks though...

OR, take a piece of moderatly stiff clay and press it onto the top of the lug nut to make a nice mold, put the piece of clay into a sand mold box, fill with sand, compact, repeat till mold is finished, fill with desired molten metal and make your self a new wheel lock key...... or have a metal shop do that for you...

Many times, if you lose it and you contact the manufacturer they can get you a replacement... not always cheap though... or so my experiance has been.

 

I had this problem before. I used " The Gator Grip ", it molds to the shape of the lug/lock nut and you can get it off if its not tooo tooo tight. Hope that helps!

 

If it is the stock wheel lock, I was able to take my down to the dealership and have them take the locks off. They didn't charge me for it, I just tipped the guy who did it. Also, I noticed that my new key also fits (not exactly but close enough) the old locks :|

 

I lost the wheel locks to my car also. I just had discount tire break them off. They just slammed a smaller socket onto it and impact wrenched it off. If you ask them to, they will put electrical tape around the socket so that you dont get metal contact on your wheel.

 

Goto an automotive shop like Princess Auto (not sure if you have em in the states) but they sell a wheel lock remover. Works best with an impact gun. It looks like an ordinary socket, but inside its threaded. So it threads itself onto the wheel lock, then you just unscrew it. Easily done! Good luck!

 

Excellent idea. The socket threads the lock while turning counterclockwise.

 

NIssan dealer should be able to take it off for like $10. That's what performance nissan quoted me.

 

I had this problem a few months ago when I needed new tires. I just went to the Nissan dealership, they said they have a master set of wheel locks, took the old locks off without any hammering or drilling, and installed the new wheels locks, all for free, I just had to pay for new locks.

If you really love your Z, I'd exhaust every other option before taking a hammer, drill, et. al., to your car.

 

if you have access to a wire feed welder you could weld a nurt to the lug and take it off that way

 

Exactly! Nissan dealer told me that they have some master set keys/ If its McGard, I paid like 31.00 for a key to be overnighted right to my house.
(14.99 plus shipping-depending on how quick you need it i went overnight fedex)

there is a card for the key that has an id number. i called them over the phone and it was in my hands the next morning.

once you are in the system, you can even order more.

i think i left mine at a tuner shop since i havent changed anything,

 

discount tire took mine off for $5 per wheel..