Locknut misery...

rob1sp · 30-12-2005, 15:16

Took car in to Hi-Q tyres yesterday to have two new front tyres fitted, left car with them for 40 minutes, returned to find that the tyres had not been fitted due to the front left locknut shearing the grooves off the bolt, apparently the right-hand side wheel just about came off, but they couldn't get the left off due to the overtightening of all the bolts by the previous owner/possibly the dealer that I got it off. How do I go about getting the locknut bolt off, could it be drilled/cut or is something more drastic required? The tyre place didn't have anything that could be used to get the wheel off, is this going to cost me major bucks to sort?

**VRStu** · 30-12-2005, 15:19

Surprised they didn't have something like this

http://www.premiertools.co.uk/cat111_1.htm

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/sc...t.A/id.8473/.f

xeman · 30-12-2005, 15:27

they normally would stock one od the above kits , cheaper option is to buy an impact socket thats slightly smaller than the locking nut/bolt and bash it on then undo it ( I had to do this)
only other ways I know of are to loosen all the nuts other than the locking one and drive 2/3metres slowly and jam the brakes on ( never had to do this but supposed to work)to jar the nut loose or drill the bolt/ stud out which is a right pain

winx · 30-12-2005, 16:54

on my old focus my brother threw the locking wheel nut key away by mistake, they were on so tight I ended up having to weld on a nut to get them off, which took a few goes as they were on so strong the weld snapped!

xeman · 30-12-2005, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by winx

on my old focus my brother threw the locking wheel nut key away by mistake, they were on so tight I ended up having to weld on a nut to get them off, which took a few goes as they were on so strong the weld snapped!

LOL

tried that as well! couldn't get a good weld though as the bolts were not welding correctly to the bar

vrs180 · 30-12-2005, 20:43

Do you know if Hi-Q Tyres, used an air operated impact gun to undo the locking wheel nut ???

If they did, then IMHO its asking for trouble.

Most "locking wheel nut keys" inc, the one supplied with my Octy vRS are not suitable to be used with an impact wrench and should only be used with a wheel brace and/or torque wrench.

Regards, vrs180

CHRIS ELLIS · 31-12-2005, 02:35

The only decent way to remove them is with a 13mm carbide tip drill and a steady hand and someone pouring coolent on the drill as they get mighty hot then hey presto you should be able to screw out the last of the stud .Imust have to do 20 cars a year all volvo cause the spotty 17 year old at the local garage think its fun to use air guns

.

Daddy2Coull · 31-12-2005, 12:06

i know snap on tools do a kit for removing locking wheel nuts.

it's just a case of hammering it on before undoing it.

never ever try driving the car to loosen off the nuts.

get a suitable large drift and give the nuts a few decent blows with a hammer to "shock" the rounded off bolts.

i am more than suprised that your tyre dealer couldn't get the bolts off.

people are "always" losing the key

try calling a few other tyre dealers to ask if they could take care of the problem, shame your not in norfolk/suffolk

adam

rob1sp · 31-12-2005, 16:10

Went round a few tyre places yesterday to ask if they would be able to sort the problem, they all seemed very reluctant to divulge anything to me, as if I was asking them to do something illegal, so took car round to local garage and they reckon they could get it off, have to leave it with them next week, apparently they had an M3 beemer with the same problem x2, both fronts had been overtightened/locknut grooves sheared off, they reckoned the airguns that tyre depots use are to blame...

Daddy2Coull · 31-12-2005, 18:11

glad ur getting somewhere. i once bounght a mk1 MR2 supercharged which had locking nuts and no keys. it's not a massive problem. i am very suprised no one will have a look at it. i would have thought at the very least someone would have a look in their break for a "drink"

i always make a point of telling tyre fitters that i do not want air tools fitted and that i will be checking torque settings are correct after 25 miles. this usually does the trick and makes sure they do a proper job

adam

flyingscot · 31-12-2005, 18:31

Ach just park the car in Liverpool and wait. They'll manage it

doEboY · 31-12-2005, 19:09

Are we talking "No" to airtools on standard nuts or just the locking type?

vrs180 · 31-12-2005, 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by doEboY

Are we talking "No" to airtools on standard nuts or just the locking type?

It is OK to remove standard wheel nuts or bolts with airtools and to lightly "run up" when re-fitting.
But the final tightening should be done using a torque wrench (if available), or a wheel brace or similar, and re-checked with a torque wrench when possible.
The specified wheel nut/bolt torque for any vehicle is calculated to obtain the required wheel to hub clamping force.

The clamping force is very important, not enough and the wheel may come loose, to much and the wheel, hub, studs and nuts may be damaged/over stressed.
A torque wrench will ensure the correct clamping force is achieved and is evenly spread around the wheel and hub mating face.

Sorry for going on a bit, but as part of my job I have had to investigate many (avoidable) wheel looses.

vrs180

dstev2000 · 01-01-2006, 00:22

I had the opposite, they didnt tighten the locking nuts and they flew out!

Rather that than the other way round TBH......as long as they tightened the others.

meames · 01-01-2006, 02:10

Vauxhall offered to drill mine out when we did it for about a tenner if we bought the new locking wheel nuts from them.

In the end we managed to drill it into a shape to get a large allen key into and coax it out very slowly.

Daddy2Coull · 01-01-2006, 13:08

it drives me mad when wheel nuts are over tightened. to give an idea of how tight they should really be the little wheel nut spanner you get with the jack is all you should ever need to undo and do up wheel nuts. anything more is just too much. if you check the correct torque figures most people would be suprised how little it really is!!!

i never trust tyre shops to do the job correctly especially "quick fit" type places

air tools should be banned!!!!

daddy2coull

30-12-2005, 15:16	#1
rob1sp Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bushmills, NI Posts: 771 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Locknut misery... Took car in to Hi-Q tyres yesterday to have two new front tyres fitted, left car with them for 40 minutes, returned to find that the tyres had not been fitted due to the front left locknut shearing the grooves off the bolt, apparently the right-hand side wheel just about came off, but they couldn't get the left off due to the overtightening of all the bolts by the previous owner/possibly the dealer that I got it off. How do I go about getting the locknut bolt off, could it be drilled/cut or is something more drastic required? The tyre place didn't have anything that could be used to get the wheel off, is this going to cost me major bucks to sort? __________________ '96 Volvo 460 weapon has now replaced the beast from the east(ern bloc)... Last edited by rob1sp; 30-12-2005 at 15:20.

30-12-2005, 15:19	#2
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,763 Thanks: 142 Thanked 987 Times in 884 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... Surprised they didn't have something like this http://www.premiertools.co.uk/cat111_1.htm http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/sc...t.A/id.8473/.f __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

30-12-2005, 15:27	#3
xeman Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: kent Posts: 137 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... they normally would stock one od the above kits , cheaper option is to buy an impact socket thats slightly smaller than the locking nut/bolt and bash it on then undo it ( I had to do this) only other ways I know of are to loosen all the nuts other than the locking one and drive 2/3metres slowly and jam the brakes on ( never had to do this but supposed to work)to jar the nut loose or drill the bolt/ stud out which is a right pain

30-12-2005, 16:54	#4
winx Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: derbyshire Posts: 220 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... on my old focus my brother threw the locking wheel nut key away by mistake, they were on so tight I ended up having to weld on a nut to get them off, which took a few goes as they were on so strong the weld snapped!

30-12-2005, 20:43	#6
vrs180 Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cleveland Posts: 150 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... Do you know if Hi-Q Tyres, used an air operated impact gun to undo the locking wheel nut ??? If they did, then IMHO its asking for trouble. Most "locking wheel nut keys" inc, the one supplied with my Octy vRS are not suitable to be used with an impact wrench and should only be used with a wheel brace and/or torque wrench. Regards, vrs180

31-12-2005, 02:35	#7
CHRIS ELLIS Briskodian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 840 Thanks: 9 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... The only decent way to remove them is with a 13mm carbide tip drill and a steady hand and someone pouring coolent on the drill as they get mighty hot then hey presto you should be able to screw out the last of the stud .Imust have to do 20 cars a year all volvo cause the spotty 17 year old at the local garage think its fun to use air guns . __________________ Megan Fox Yummy Zenons,Maxidot,Park assist,Heated seats,Mfd3,Stus cruise control,Bluetooth handsfree,And as bright as the sun.

31-12-2005, 12:06	#8
Daddy2Coull Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Suffolk Posts: 244 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... i know snap on tools do a kit for removing locking wheel nuts. it's just a case of hammering it on before undoing it. never ever try driving the car to loosen off the nuts. get a suitable large drift and give the nuts a few decent blows with a hammer to "shock" the rounded off bolts. i am more than suprised that your tyre dealer couldn't get the bolts off. people are "always" losing the key try calling a few other tyre dealers to ask if they could take care of the problem, shame your not in norfolk/suffolk adam

31-12-2005, 16:10	#9
rob1sp Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bushmills, NI Posts: 771 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... Went round a few tyre places yesterday to ask if they would be able to sort the problem, they all seemed very reluctant to divulge anything to me, as if I was asking them to do something illegal, so took car round to local garage and they reckon they could get it off, have to leave it with them next week, apparently they had an M3 beemer with the same problem x2, both fronts had been overtightened/locknut grooves sheared off, they reckoned the airguns that tyre depots use are to blame... __________________ '96 Volvo 460 weapon has now replaced the beast from the east(ern bloc)...

31-12-2005, 18:11	#10
Daddy2Coull Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Suffolk Posts: 244 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... glad ur getting somewhere. i once bounght a mk1 MR2 supercharged which had locking nuts and no keys. it's not a massive problem. i am very suprised no one will have a look at it. i would have thought at the very least someone would have a look in their break for a "drink" i always make a point of telling tyre fitters that i do not want air tools fitted and that i will be checking torque settings are correct after 25 miles. this usually does the trick and makes sure they do a proper job adam

31-12-2005, 18:31	#11
flyingscot Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Jammed up on her majesties highways Posts: 2,249 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Locknut misery... Ach just park the car in Liverpool and wait. They'll manage it __________________ Colin To come second is to be the first of the losers!

31-12-2005, 19:09	#12
doEboY Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: West Mids Posts: 45 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... Are we talking "No" to airtools on standard nuts or just the locking type?

01-01-2006, 00:22	#14
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,020 Thanks: 48 Thanked 165 Times in 150 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... I had the opposite, they didnt tighten the locking nuts and they flew out! Rather that than the other way round TBH......as long as they tightened the others. __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

01-01-2006, 02:10	#15
meames Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Doncaster Posts: 127 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... Vauxhall offered to drill mine out when we did it for about a tenner if we bought the new locking wheel nuts from them. In the end we managed to drill it into a shape to get a large allen key into and coax it out very slowly.

01-01-2006, 13:08	#16
Daddy2Coull Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Suffolk Posts: 244 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Locknut misery... it drives me mad when wheel nuts are over tightened. to give an idea of how tight they should really be the little wheel nut spanner you get with the jack is all you should ever need to undo and do up wheel nuts. anything more is just too much. if you check the correct torque figures most people would be suprised how little it really is!!! i never trust tyre shops to do the job correctly especially "quick fit" type places air tools should be banned!!!! daddy2coull

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