General Locking wheel nuts driving me nuts!

[simon willgress]

Well as the weatherman seems to have got the forecast spectacularly wrong again I decided to rotate my tires and take the time to de-grease/tar and wax my alloys.

All started well with the rear right wheel very clean and shiny when I went to move it to the front left.

Now I haven't had the front wheels of since my stealer had their bodyshop sort some paint issues on the bumper and the sill's.

Needles to say they were massively over torqued. I couldn't budge the locking wheel nut and then I felt the horrible felling of failing metal.

I immediately stop and inspect the damage and find its the inside of the locking wheel nut key that is shearing.



It's difficult to see but one side has lifted.
Not sure what I'm more pissed of with myself for not stopping earlier the dealer for over torquing the nuts or the fact I have one clean wheel and three dirty ones.

 

[simon willgress]

Oh yes and then I shut my finger in the door. Plank

 

[The Twins]

That's really annoying!!
I'm sure the stealer knows a method to remove the locking nuts even if the key is broken so don't dispair toouch. I'm sure it will be sorted. Very annoying though.

 

[dombooth]

Have a look at the code in your locking wheel nut box, you can buy replacements.

Dom

 

[306maxi]

Have a look at the code in your locking wheel nut box, you can buy replacements.

Dom

No one EVER touches the locking bolts on my car, in fact if I ever have to get any work done on the car I'm taking the locking bolts off and putting the standard ones on......

 

[dombooth]

No one EVER touches the locking bolts on my car, in fact if I ever have to get any work done on the car I'm taking the locking bolts off and putting the standard ones on......

Same here but a lot of people don't really care.

Dom

 

[simon willgress]

No one EVER touches the locking bolts on my car, in fact if I ever have to get any work done on the car I'm taking the locking bolts off and putting the standard ones on......

I shall be purchasing some new bolts as well so I can do as you Maxi.

 

[simon willgress]

Have a look at the code in your locking wheel nut box, you can buy replacements.

Dom

found it know, still in the polythene bag.

Anyone have any idea how long they take to make up a replacement?

 

[dombooth]

Not sure, call your local dealer and ask.

Dom

 

[306maxi]

You should have had 4 bolts with the car?

 

[dave]

found it know, still in the polythene bag.

Anyone have any idea how long they take to make up a replacement?

they dont make them they order them in, 2-3 days.

there is a link on the forum some where to a place that can sent them out next day though

edit found it but its double price http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REPLACEMENT-LOCKING-WHEEL-NUT-KEY-FIAT-NEXT-DAY/321139563845

 

[simon willgress]

they dont make them they order them in, 2-3 days.

there is a link on the forum some where to a place that can sent them out next day though

edit found it but its double price http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REPLACEMENT-LOCKING-WHEEL-NUT-KEY-FIAT-NEXT-DAY/321139563845

:worship: that's £20 quid cheaper and a week earlier than my dealer said they could get them!

 

[Adrian Bravo]

Just a general tip. Sometimes if theres several bolts holding one thing down and one is super tight it helps to remove all the other bolts first relieving pressure on the tighter bolt. I always loosen the normal bolts before the locking bolt.

I never let any tyre garages jack up my car or touch the bolts after bad experiences in the past. I just take the wheel to them in the boot I might have to make several trips sometimes but nothing gets damaged so its well worth the extra effort.

 

[dave]

:worship: that's £20 quid cheaper and a week earlier than my dealer said they could get them!

tell dealer you are an FF member an know they shouldn't be that price, i think they must have been quoting for a complete set of new bolts and a key

 

[portland_bill]

I'd be inclined to ask the dealer to replace it at their expense, as they did them up too tight.

 

[chas379]

Oh yes and then I shut my finger in the door. Plank

Ouch!!
Hope it was not too painful

 

[simon willgress]

I'd be inclined to ask the dealer to replace it at their expense, as they did them up too tight.

I've ordered some now. It was a few months back now that they worked on it and I doubt they would admit such a school boy.

 

[simon willgress]

Ouch!!
Hope it was not too painful

I was lucky, it didn't fully close so finger survived without breaking or more importantly damaging little Hugo!

My wife shut her hand in a the door of a Picasso and the door was bent!

 

[nigelr32]

A tip from an old engineer who has years and years of experience playing with cars... Before you try to remove the bolts with your new key, get a piece of steel bar or an old socket extension, and using a metal hammer give the head of the locking bolt a couple of sharp knocks. The shock will help to release the tension holding the bolt so tight.

Another poster mentioned removing all the other bolts first, well, that's exactly the opposite of what I do. I always slacken the locking bolt first, and tighten it last. The other three bolts will be doing all the work when you try undoing the locker.

NEVER let a garage anywhere near your car with an air gun. They are totally unnecessary, normally damage the threads during tightening and often mark the wheels. On a Lancia I once owned, the apprentice "mechanic" managed to get all four bolts in one wheel on an angle. The idiot totally mullered all the threads and wrecked all four bolts. That garage paid dearly for my car!!

Good luck with your efforts, don't forget to add a very thin smear of coppaslip to the rear mounting faces of your wheels. This will save them from sticking onto the hubs in future. The thinnest of smears is enough, just enough that you can only just see it.

 

[simon willgress]

Another poster mentioned removing all the other bolts first, well, that's exactly the opposite of what I do. I always slacken the locking bolt first, and tighten it last. The other three bolts will be doing all the work when you try undoing the locker.

I always remove the locking wheel but first as you suggest.
Can't say I have tried giving them a whack first. Once the new key arrives I'm sure it will come of ok but ill give it the Clarkson treatment first