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General => General discussion => Topic started by: 8vgti on 07 April 2005, 14:04

Title: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: 8vgti on 07 April 2005, 14:04
Took the car in for some rear pads and to cut a long story short they managed to snap 2 of the 3 'fingers' of my locking wheel nut key for my mk3 8v. They werent using a gun, but i think past use from other garages took its toll so there we go. Anyway went to VW and they have managed to get 3 of the nuts off with a master key, but 1 is stuck fast. I have re-drilled the holes (as they were more square than circular) but the key keeps slipping out. It will tighten but not undo...basically the 'fingers' of the key are not deep enough as they keep coming out (the bolt holes are obviously worn being 7 years old). Anyway does anybody have any idea how to get it out other than drilling it out totally. Someone has mentioned banging a small socket on and then taking it off but any help appreciated.


cheers
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: Veedubgt18v on 07 April 2005, 14:09
take it to quik fit or somewhere my mate works at one of those and they got a widget thing that sort of grips on and gets them out
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: redcarboy on 07 April 2005, 14:13
Same thing happened to mine when i took it in for a new tyre they had to use a gripper to get the nut out took all of 5 seconds when you put new locking bolts back on the car just a suggestion mine are only now hand tight wont be making the mistake of using the gun on them again.. :smiley:
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: 8vgti on 07 April 2005, 14:44
Same thing happened to mine when i took it in for a new tyre they had to use a gripper to get the nut out took all of 5 seconds when you put new locking bolts back on the car just a suggestion mine are only now hand tight wont be making the mistake of using the gun on them again.. :smiley:

Count,

Whats the 'gripper' thing like??
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: redcarboy on 07 April 2005, 14:53
Some sort of clamp from what i remember bit like a big pair of pneumatic plyers all i cared about was getting the fookin think off and how much it was gonna cost..ring national tyres and ask them what they used.Could have been some sort of attatchment for the tyre gun i suppose. :huh:
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: monkeyalan on 07 April 2005, 15:22
the bloke who owned my car before me had his alloys cut off cos he couldn't get the nuts undone! bad for him , good for me . brand new gti alloys on a 95 car!
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: Judderi on 07 April 2005, 15:34
Most tyre places are used to this sort of thing and are able to remove them. I wouldent bother drilling if i were you. In my experience its not worth the hastle time and damage you will do.
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: mix on 07 April 2005, 15:37
^^you know it!!!  nothing like slipping when there is your full weight behind the drill......new wheel please...
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: Mr Blue on 07 April 2005, 15:57
I used a lock nut socket with the 3 holes and wacked them onto the locknut and then used an impact wrench to undo them.

Just get a hammer and punch
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: redcarboy on 07 April 2005, 16:18
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/count-von-carstein/000_0035.jpg)

The offending wheel nut after i had snapped the locking nut.. :grin: :huh:
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: mix on 07 April 2005, 16:21
as blue said, you can try and wedga an old socket onto the bolt.  try on that is slightly smaller than the actual bolt.
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: Veedubgt18v on 07 April 2005, 17:13
^^^ yeah and bely it like a monkey!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: 8vgti on 07 April 2005, 17:19
cheers for the responses guys it was actually a tyre place which bust it....but they were muppets and probably made it worse trying to take it off. Will try what mix/blue said as someone else suggested that...

Count that is pretty much what mine looks like but more mashed up....yours had the same problem as mine in that the holes are no longer circular so the nut slips off.

will let you know how i go
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: LPG'd Oakie on 07 April 2005, 22:42
I lost the key for kine and had to weld bars onto the wheel nuts and remove them that way.

Not good!
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: carrie on 08 April 2005, 17:36
for around £10 you could buy the proper tool which is a reverse cutting thread socket. if you live near brighton i could dig them out for you.
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: DAVE 2227 on 09 April 2005, 14:32
Did the exact same thing to my VR6 with those type of lockers on.What I did was got a screwdriver and hammered it into the side to remove outer spinning sleeve(thats the easy part) then find a socket(multi splined type preferably)then don`t be frightened to use the big hammer and get it forced onto remaining part.
Trial and error to get right size that fits but they do come off eventually.
The reason they fail like that is over time and not really putting enough pressure inward when slackening/tightening causes the outer part of holes to elongate and this has knock on effect to the key part.Plus they are cr@p.
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: Bam Bam on 09 April 2005, 15:49
You can buy a locking wheel bolt removal tool from anyone that stocks the Draper range of tooling or they would order one for you if not in stock.

Last year I happened to lose the removal key for my 18" Azev's on my Fiat Coupe, :laugh:  I was panic stricken until I got hold of this to remove the wheels, You actually get 2 sockets in the pack as most locking bolts only come in 2 sizes.

The socket is tapered inside and cuts a lefthand thread which gets tighter due to the taper as you screw it on, it took me approx.45 mins. to remove all 4 wheels bolts. Panic over and blood pressure returned to normal.  :wink:

Cost is £12.50

Jim.
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: golf1.8t on 09 April 2005, 19:32
them locking wheel nut are crap they always snap i work in kwik-fit and it happens to that type the pins snap in the key.
what you need to do is get a slightly smaller socket and and extension bar and smash it over the bolt and it will def come if it shouldnt be that tight any way coz you shouldnt do them up that tight.
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: 8vgti on 09 April 2005, 22:12
Well it is finally off!! i tried various sockets and hammering them onto the bolt but didnt get far that way, i just ended up mashing the nut. Went back to VW and tried again with all the master keys but just kept slipping out of holes. Only found one tyre place locally that would give it a go and after 40 mins he gave up as he snapped too many sockets!! In the end went to see a handy mate and first tried a small thread removal type tool but that was not strong enough to get the bolt out. In the end drilled the bolt with a big drill bit as much as we could as the outside of the bolt is hardened and there is no going through that and put a bigger thread removal tool in and bingo out it popped!!! This was after 1.5 hours, but luckily only slight marks on the alloys and a new set of Audi locking nuts are on there now (these have a splined lock nut key as opposed to vw spec three pin type). cheers for the replys and it is worth checking the condition of your wheel nut keys!! :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: MofoFunk on 24 June 2009, 02:13
An old thread, but still.........I'm in the same boat.  The idiot who had the car before me must have welded the bloody things on because they just wont budge, two of them that is (Mk3 GTI) the 3-pin type.  The pins in the removal tool snapped clean off on trying to remove the nut.  I've tried wacking a smaller socket over it, but it just keeps spinning (even after removing the collar).  Where is the cheapest place to get a new key from?

Thanks

Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: whiter_than_white on 24 June 2009, 20:52
i also work in the trade and remove locking wheel bolts on a regular basis, i find the easiest method is to get a large hammer and an extension bar and hit the whhel nut direcly 7-8 times first to shock the threads, i have then got the left hand taper removers and usually find that i have no problem.  a collegue actually timed me removing a full set of 4 from a ford and i did it in just under two minutes :)
Title: Re: Snapped locking wheel nut key...help!!
Post by: Mew on 25 June 2009, 10:00
An old thread, but still.........I'm in the same boat.  The idiot who had the car before me must have welded the bloody things on because they just wont budge, two of them that is (Mk3 GTI) the 3-pin type.  The pins in the removal tool snapped clean off on trying to remove the nut.  I've tried wacking a smaller socket over it, but it just keeps spinning (even after removing the collar).  Where is the cheapest place to get a new key from?

Thanks



I paid a fiver for one a couple of years back. Just go down to your local alloy wheel specialist and if you're lucky they'll have a tray of them to choose from