The tC is the first car I've owned with wheels nice enough to warrant locks, so I'm new to this whole thing.

I called up the parts center at my dealer and asked if they had the wheel locks for the tC. He said the "computer says we have locks that will fit Scions, but as to whether or not they work for the tC.... I'd need to look at it." I said ok and drove over.

I get there and whomever I spoke to on the phone was gone. I asked the guy who was there now about it and he went in the back and produced a bag with some paperwork, the four locks and a key. Rang me up for 17 bucks plus tax and I went home.

This morning I went to put them on and I discovered that the lugs on the wheel have a washer on them. The locks do not. The only similarity between the lugs and the locks are the cone shape. They seem to tighten down just as easily as the lugs, with no gaps left.

So am I ok with what I bought? My dad said the washers were probably just to aid in torque displacement and that 80% of each wheel still had the washers so I should be fine. Should the correct locks have washers?

 

washers mainly serve a few purposes.
1: to help prevent scoring or scratching on the metal, seizing, and rusting.
2: to help spread out force evenly
3: to gain clearance and bolt or stud length issues.
unless it was a lock washer (kind of looks like an inside out circular saw blade. with "teeth" on the inside), you should be ok. they're just lugnuts dude. lol. don't worry, they are fine without the washers, unless your lugnuts aren't deep enough, but you don't seem to have that problem.

 

It does appear to be a lock washer. I can't really make out the teeth, but it does kinda click as I turn it. And it won't budge if I try to slide it off.

 

I've never seen washers on rims before. I'm sure you are fine without them for the locks. Locks aren't designed to hold the wheel on for driving. They are designed to make it difficult to remove the wheel without the key.

 

whatever you do, PLEASE torque the new ones down to the proper spec. if you don't have a torque wrench, get them as tight as you can, and take it to the dealer and ask them if they have time to re-torque your lugnuts. they should do it for free since it only takes about 5 minutes. you really don't want to lose a wheel while driving.

 

kinda off topic but if you want to be really secure and ____ off anyone who wants to steal ur rims, use two sets of wheel locks. :D and mix them all around.

 

I had the same problem finding the proper locks for the tC. DO NOT USE THE CONICAL LOCKS THAT WERE GIVEN TO YOU. These are the wrong locks for your car, and no matter what anyone says, the seat of the locking lug nut must match the stock one that came off of the car. You need that washer for the purpose of having a proper seating on the rim. The correct locks are made by scion and they say they are for the scion xA, but the will work properly on the tC. I got the wrong ones too from the dealer, and returned them with no hassle. If they give you crap about it, say that the seat is wrong, and you cant put them on because they are not made for that car. If they dont believe you, show them the stock but, and ask them if they look the same. Again, the proper locking lug nuts are made by scion for the xA

 

^^^^ I agree with above. I called up both Mcgard & Gorilla to see if they had any wheel locks that would work & their reps basically said the Scion ones are the only ones to use (they're made by Mcgard).

 

I had gotten the wrong lugs before too.
You need to get the wheel locks like the one in the picture below.



This is from
Http://www.mcgeorgeparts.com
Hope this helps

 

moved...

 

Thanks! The seat is identical, but lacks the washer. Ugh

 

Ok, to update: I looked up the documentation on the wrong locks and they're made by McGuard. So I gave them a call and they did confirm that Scion has a special set. I placed an order today for some Scion locks at McGeorgeparts. I found them a bit cheaper at another site, but the shipping made it about the same as McGeorge. As for the others, I'm not worried about taking them back. Maybe someone else could use them.

 

i deal with wheels & tirs all day and if they have the flat washer style. youc ang et those from toyota but for the avalon or camry. new styles w/ alloy wheels. or even lexus has those for thier es300. same thread pitch 1.5x20 .. just FYI

 

anyone with a good snap-on set can remove just about any wheel lock.....haha

 

this is true. If someone wants to steal your wheels, they'll get them one way or another. Wheel locks will most likely just act as a deterant, but just might (in some cases) actually saves your wheels from being stolen if the theives dont have the right equiptment to handle locking lugs

 

this is true. If someone wants to steal your wheels, they'll get them one way or another. Wheel locks will most likely just act as a deterant, but just might (in some cases) actually saves your wheels from being stolen if the theives dont have the right equiptment to handle locking nuts

 

Definitely a good point on the torquing. All alloy wheels or wheels mounted on disc breaks should be torqued anyway. If you have an impact wrench, then a proper torque stick for the vehicle is a great investment. That is the ONLY time your wheels should be tightened completely with an impact wrench. The torque stick is an extension made at the right size and thickness so that when the torque spec is reached it springs enough to cause the impact to bounce back.. preventing you from over torquing. It is much faster than using a torque wrench. Great tool!

 

Anyone have the McGard part# for the set of locks that fit our car?

 

Nevermind....
I found them at my local Pep Boys store part# 21156 "m12 x 1.5" $29.99

As far as I can tell they are the same ones you get at the Scion dealer for $59.00 except fot the threaded end is not coned. I installed them and they seemed to fit fine... washers included

Here is a pic w/o the washer

http://www.mcgard.com/prod_imgs/LockShankReg.jpg