Lost my lock nut key - HELP!

XR6SQ · 17-08-2011, 12:16 PM

Hey guys and girls,

Recently went to get some new tyres on my AU111 only to find out that I can't find my locknut key

The tyre shop said they can't get them off without wrecking my rims. Ford said they wont give me a new one unless I have the serial number off the old key

and if I want a wheel repair place to get them off they need my car for a whole day which I can't commit to with my work schedule.

So what can I do? Does anyone in QLD (Gold Coast area) have the standard AU111 XR lock that I can try? Are they all the same?

Cheers for any help.

MAD · 17-08-2011, 12:33 PM

I broke my locknut key ages ago when a tyre shop did them up too tight.
I ended up having to drill the studs out. It worked and I only damaged one wheel when the drill went off course a little a gouged into the tapered seat a little.

Do you still happen to have the packaging the locknuts came in? That might still have the code on it.

XARATE · 17-08-2011, 12:40 PM

Go buy a cheap socket that close to fitting but slightly smaller
Hammer it on and undo
Put socket in vice and use a punch to get the wheel nut out
Repeat for each nut

RG · 17-08-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6SQ

Hey guys and girls,

Recently went to get some new tyres on my AU111 only to find out that I can't find my locknut key

The tyre shop said they can't get them off without wrecking my rims. Ford said they wont give me a new one unless I have the serial number off the old key

and if I want a wheel repair place to get them off they need my car for a whole day which I can't commit to with my work schedule.

So what can I do? Does anyone in QLD (Gold Coast area) have the standard AU111 XR lock that I can try? Are they all the same?

Cheers for any help.

Find a better tyre shop.

If they can't get locknuts off without damaging the rims they don't know what they are doing and have no business running a tyre shop. I've had the same issue, tyre shop said not an issue we'll use a socket and hammer it on. It cost me an extra $20 plus a new set of lock nuts but it did not damage the rims.

R1XSTA · 17-08-2011, 12:44 PM

Yeah, the only thing you can do is put a similar size socket, and hammer it on nice and hard and then take it off.

MAD · 17-08-2011, 12:50 PM

I had these ones. http://www.barrinut.com.au/home.html
Socket trick doesnt work.

Hood-G6 · 17-08-2011, 01:03 PM

Have had to do this a few times. Always managed to get them off by smashing on a bit smaller 12 point socket. Can be time consuming but works

FGII-XR6 · 17-08-2011, 01:14 PM

you might try drilling it out and using an easyout

FERG_51 · 17-08-2011, 02:23 PM

I have used an air chisel to undo the nut. this obviously wrecks the nut but if careful you dont hurt the rim. EG you use the chisel to loosen the nut.

Day-mow · 17-08-2011, 04:59 PM

there are a few different shape ford lock nut shapes. if you have any friends that have genuine for lock nuts borrow one of theirs and see if it fits.
on the key it'll have a code that can be used to reorder a new one.

i broke mine and re ordered it was $25 for memory came in over night.

XR6SQ · 17-08-2011, 06:34 PM

Thanks for all the help guys, looks like I might have to try the cheap socket trick if I cant find the original key or someone who has one by the weekend.

svo supporter · 17-08-2011, 06:39 PM

Problem with tyre shops (and I speak from experience), is we can get locknuts off, but we don't like doing it, because we don't want to run the risk of damaging rims and having to replace them.

Personally I have been blamed for scratching the paint inside the wheel nut area, being Mr niceguy, removing locknuts for a customer. Of course, this was done free of charge to the customer, yet I cop a mouthful of abuse for scratching this area. IMA, it was already scratched in all the wheel nut areas, but Mr huffy puffy wouldn't have a bar of it.

Now, a customer wants locknuts removed, they sign a piece of paper, wavering any damage caused as a result of removing the locknuts. (This includes paint chipping inside the wheel nut area of the rim.)

JG65TE · 17-08-2011, 06:43 PM

depending upon the rim, i dont know new cars but locking pliers will get em off sometimes. as junky and chinese as it sounds , I also have a inch socket that is filled with about 100 little metal pins and ya push it on a nut and it "forms" its own shape around the socket. I can't explain it so I try find a pic. my point being it also grips rounded stuff.

edit, here tis !

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gator-Gri...item2311759635

ok so i lied about the 100 pins.......... but 52 is closer to 100 than it is to zero

Barnaby · 17-08-2011, 06:55 PM

I have a spare one for an AUII XR but I doubt I can get it to you by the weekend from Vic. Are AUII & III the same? Some ****** damaged it using a rattle gun so I got a new one. Still works on the nuts though...

Oh...are we talking about the special socket or is there another set of wheel nuts that came out on the AU?

XR6SQ · 17-08-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnaby

Oh...are we talking about the special socket or is there another set of wheel nuts that came out on the AU?

Yeah just the lock nut socket piece. Apparently they make a few different ones so I wouldn't ask you to send it out without knowing if it was the right one or not. Cheers anyways mate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG65TE

edit, here tis !

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gator-Gri...item2311759635

ok so i lied about the 100 pins.......... but 52 is closer to 100 than it is to zero

Hey they are pretty nifty, might see if I can grab one. Cheers for the Idea champ.

XR6SQ · 17-08-2011, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Now, a customer wants locknuts removed, they sign a piece of paper, wavering any damage caused as a result of removing the locknuts. (This includes paint chipping inside the wheel nut area of the rim.)

I can fully understand the reasoning behind this mate. I was happy to take it to a wheel repair shop here and was going to, but they needed my car for a whole day and I needed to book the date in advance which was unfortunately not possible with my job.

XR6SQ · 26-08-2011, 12:00 PM

Just thought I would say thanks for all the suggestions. Today I had time to try the old cheap socket and hammer trick and it worked a treat.

Now just waiting to get my new Pirellis on!

kookaburra · 26-08-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6SQ

Thanks for all the help guys, looks like I might have to try the cheap socket trick if I cant find the original key or someone who has one by the weekend.

Hi there, Snapon have a special set of sockets for exactly this job, they slide on and bight on whenyou wind backwards, to undo, i have seen it done,

Keithwilsons · 24-06-2014, 08:09 PM

Can you get a replacement lock nut from ford if you have the socket?

Casper · 25-06-2014, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kookaburra

Hi there, Snapon have a special set of sockets for exactly this job, they slide on and bight on whenyou wind backwards, to undo, i have seen it done,

Exactly what I had done. I lost my lock nut key a few years ago. I went to the Bob Jane in Werribee and asked what they could do. They have a special socket that screws onto the lock nut with a reverse thread. Then they simply rattle gun the nut of, the thread getting tighter as they unscrew it. Took them about 10 minutes to do all 4. New lock nuts from them and I was away.