I was changing over to my stock wheels for the winter and the key broke for my locking nuts and i do not know what to do. any help would be awesome. I think the are some off brand from japan.

 

Did it come with a code or number or anything for the key?

Most sets will have something so that you can get replacement keys.

If not, it gets more difficult. Good luck.

 

OK, don't tell anyone this but...

Go to your local auto parts store and buy your self some cheap sockets, you'll need one for each locking lug nut. get one that is just smaller than the lock, your not going to use it as a socket. make sure it is a real tight fit, pound them onto the locks, yes beat them on hard, then use a breaker bar to take them off.

Go back to a good parts shop and get a new set of locks, get a good one with 2 keys
per set, I use 2 different sets w/2 different keys for extra security, keep 1 set of keys in your tool box, and the other in your lock box at home.

This is how tire shops, thieves and low lifes get the locks off without keys.

 

any local tire store can get all 4 locks off in about 5 min.s they may charge ya $5.00 a wheel but that's cheaper than f*cking up your rims or buy'n sockets just ta trash'm, call around, good luck

 

2 words.........air chisel

 

^^dont listen to any of these guys. you need to go to napa and get the lug nut removal too. its a left hand thread and you put it on the locking lug and itspins backwards and tightens on the nut and removes it, you can sometimes rent these from autozone for free. this is what the wheel shops use and if you have an impact its the only way to do it. check ebay even.

 

any other ideas out there. i am thinking the local tire store idea due to it being freaking cold out now. i guess i will have to buy some new lug nuts...

 

good idea , tire store and new lug locks, plus if you f*ck your rims up you'll be piZZ'd if they do it you'll get'em fixed, lol, it's a win, win, good luck

 

Uh oh. That's all I really can say.

 

Happened to me, I overtightened some anti-theft nuts and stripped the head. My Dad got them off with a small chisel and a mallet. He cut a notch in them and banged them loose. I protected my rims with aluminum tape, didn't get too scratched up. It was quite a mess.

 

^^^scary...i think i will let the "pros" take them off because if they hurt anything they are screwed not so much me.

 

And get good quality locks this time!

McGards with the swivel seat washers are killer. Heres a link to an earlier lug nut post:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...873&highlight=

See eBay seller name 4 posts down. You can "custom build" a set to buy...extra keys, extra nuts, colors, etc.

Use a torque wrench to tighten, good luck!

 

mine wouldnt come off, had to get metal welded on to the nut to get it off.

 

I think mine are excaliber lockers, I've got them on all 4 wheels, on all 4 studs

 

don't depend on the tire shop doing it and taking resposability if someting happens to your rims i used to work for one and they never take on that .......it was always at the customers risk.....but all of the ones i had to take off i never had any problems.......just hope you get a good tire tech.........and good luck with everyting bro

 

Well...went to a tire place and they did not have a small enough remover to fit my lug nuts. i guess i will need to try to find a new key...

 

If the key broke can it be welded back up and reused one last time? Just a thought.
Joe, how much room around the lugs? Any chance of using some good vise grips on them? Also, some heat from a propane tourch might help too. Good luck and let us know how they finally come off please.

 

As A ex-tire shop manager/owner heres my 2 cents....

Your going to pay a pretty penny to get them off

No shop is going to take responisiblty for any damage done to your wheels

it will take one of 3 methods to get them off all mentioned above.

If you want to do it yourself hammer the crap out of a slightly smaller socket on to the lug and hope it comes off - the chisel method works and so does the weld-it method - But their was never a locking nut that I couldn't get off w/ a socket..... 13 years and always a success - some took longer than others but thats why I always charged by the hour not by the lug....(min of $50 a hour)