Aaaargh! Lock nut key snapped! Need advice.

[zappbranigan]

Sat down...had all my tools laid out...and a whole weekend to replace my rear wheel bearings. Got to work loosening the lugs and ran into trouble right off the bat. Put some serious elbow grease on the lock nut and SNAP! The lock nut key snapped!

I drove my boxster to the local dealer and they snapped their key too!

They told me to douse it with a penetrating compound and get a new key. I hate to wait and then snapp another key.

The guy at Advanced Auto suggested to heat up the lock nut with a torch and try that if the penetrating compound doesn't work.

Anybody got any fresh ideas that doesn't require me to order and wait for a new key? I don't really care if I break the lock nut as I'm going to replace all the lug nuts with standard nuts and ace the locknut crap. I live in a pretty decent neighborhood.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Joe
St. Louis, MO

[JFP in PA]

Sure: Tack weld a bolt to the locking nut, put an impact on the bolt to remove the locking nut, remove it and throw it away. The OEM locks are useless and a bigger threat to the legit owner than a theif. After you get the locks off, be sure to use anti-seize compound on all the bolts and torque them to the correct specs so you don't have a repeat of the problem. If you still want to use locks, get a set from McGard; they are made from tool steel with no moving parts and will never break..............

[JAAY]

http://www.etoolcart.com/browseproducts/Lug-Nut-Remover-LT4300.HTML

Lug nut removal tool.. I have them, from autozone I think. If you were closer I would say come get them and use mine. They work great.. All I can say is been there done that. Way too many times. Good luck.

[zappbranigan]

Thanks for ideas. I'll try them in order. Have to bone up on tack welding, so if that proves too much...back into the wallet I'll go and buy more tools.

Funny story...I took the car into a tire repair shop and the guy that owns the place wouldn't even consider looking at it. Then told me I'll probably break the wheel doing it myself. Big confidence builder!

Thanks again and happy boxstering.

Joe
St. Louis, MO

[pompous]

Had the same thing and I had a friend tack weld it together for me, but could only get 3/4 out. If your close to the dealership, pick up 4 extra lugs to go in the wheels and have them take the "locked" ones out and replace it with the ones you bring. They have a master set of lug keys and should do it for free, but will only do it if you have a lug to replace the one they remove. BTW mine no longer has the locking lugs.

[vath2001]

You can try welding, but if you broke the lock nut, you probably break the weld... although welding will heat up the lock nut.

Otherwise, buy a good set of drills and a corded drill (you'll be re-charging a cordless every half hour).

There is no easy way.... sorry.

[Gougoushu]

I had this problem with my just-purchased Boxster. The tire shop I found in the Bronx had a set of special lug tools just for this. They look like sockets. The guys try different ones until one catches, then they hammer it on, and twist it off. They charged me $7.

You might cruise East St. Louis for tire shops like that. The spanish shops usually have the kit.

Toss the locking lugs and put on a standard lug.

[jmatta]

Those things are a pain in the arse. Every Porsche I've owned came with some kind of lock nut/bolt and I immediately replaced them, just to avoid a situation like yours. Just bought my son a Jeep Liberty and even it came with silly anti-theft bolts...gone the next week.

I've heard the socket tool that graps the bolt is pretty effective...take great care not to damage the wheels.

Good luck!