Remove Locking Wheel Nut Without The Key

[flouese]

I used a 23mm deep well socket to remove mine. Trashed the lugs, but wanted to replace them with non-locking lugs anyway

[j.fro]

Originally Posted by flouese

I used a 23mm deep well socket to remove mine. Trashed the lugs, but wanted to replace them with non-locking lugs anyway

+1 on this method. Drive the socket onto the wheel lock using a sledge. Both the socket and the locks will be ruined, but that's no big deal.

[jb92563]

Just buy the locking lug removers, ~$45 new.
Will not damage rims and is as easy as removing a regular lug nut.

Or buy my set for $25 + shipping. Used 4 times only (4 locking lugs removed)

The lockers are absolutely no deterrent to a pro as they can be removed as fast as a regular lug nut with these lug removers.


The round pin is for knocking the lug nut out of the socket. I think they are 1/2" socket drive if I recall correctly.

[Zibodo]

Can you tell me what tool set that is. I bought one at O’Reilly’s Auto that had a 13/16 and 1 in reverse threaded sockets. Both were too small to capture the lug nut. Yours look like they might fit. No joy at Harbor Freight either. Help,

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Zibodo

Can you tell me what tool set that is. I bought one at O’Reilly’s Auto that had a 13/16 and 1 in reverse threaded sockets. Both were too small to capture the lug nut. Yours look like they might fit. No joy at Harbor Freight either. Help,

This Steelman set looks fairly complete ...

https://www.amazon.com/STEELMAN-78537-16-Piece-Locking-Master/dp/B00JF5F420

[78F350]

I have had good results with a regular 12 point socket wrench driven on with a hammer. I use it on the outer (smaller) part of the lug, not where the locking tabs are. Here's a post from a while back:

Originally Posted by 78F350

... The lug- key that came with the car worked great on the first three, then split as I was taking off the fourth. No hammering or abuse. It just reached the end of it's design-life and split. Glad I wasn't out on the road.


It's been covered on the forum before and I have done it quite a few times now with salvage cars. At home in my garage it's not a big deal.
-Take a 12 point 17mm or 11/16ths socket and drive it onto the lug with a hammer.
-Give it some short taps with an impact wrench, then spin it out.


My opinion of these lugs is that they do not provide any real protection and they do cause a potential hazard. Any competent thief can remove your wheels in less time than it would take for most people to find the lug key. If the lug key is lost or breaks while you are on the road, you are stranded. You can not change your tire until someone comes along with a tool to get it off.

Glad this happened today. It reminded me that I still have to replace the locking lugs with plain ones on one of my other cars.