Gorilla Lug Locks - Removal?

topless98gt · Mar 14, 2008

When my car got broken into last week, they stole my Gorilla wheel lock key. I called Gorilla today and they said that in order to get a replacement key, I must remove one lug lock and send it to them with a check or money order for $10.50 to cover shipping.

What is the easiest way to remove one of these wheel locks with as little damage as possible? Should I have a professional take care of it, or is it something that I can do myself?

If it matters at all, I have Bullet style wheels, so the lugs are not inset at all.

P.S. I have a another set of Gorilla locks on order so that if the criminals do decide to come back, they can't get the wheels and tires with ease.

Thanks again Stangnet.

forum155pl · Mar 14, 2008

ive umm.. heard of people pounding a cheap 12PT socket over the entire lugnut and twisting em right off.. i dont know what size it was but it worked....

and it will ruien the socket

topless98gt · Mar 14, 2008

forum155pl said:
ive umm.. heard of people pounding a cheap 12PT socket over the entire lugnut and twisting em right off.. i dont know what size it was but it worked....

and it will ruien the socket

Did it tear up the lock pattern? The lock pattern will be necessary for them to re-create the key. I'll give it a try and see how it turns out. Thanks.

COramprat · Mar 14, 2008

I took mine to Ford and they removed them for free. Don't know how though.

forum155pl · Mar 14, 2008

i dont know.. ive never taken the lug out of the socket.. we usually just threw the whole thing away... i dont know how else you would do it besides vice grips which you might damage your wheel..

CMEFLY · Mar 14, 2008

I use an air hammer with a sharp chissel bit. You need to hold on to the chissel and feather the trigger. Once it digs in you can knock it loose and remove it. I would recommend going to a tire store and have it removed. Gorilla locks are easy to remove.

BCB00GT · Mar 15, 2008

There is a special "socket" that has reverse threads. An air impact gun torques it on and then removes the "socket" and lug nut.

I went to a tire shop for mine. That was before I had my air compressor. Car quest and NAPA I think sells the "socket". Just pay the $20 at the tire shop.

Oh yeah, I no longer have wheels locks. No one wants to steal 17" Bullitt rims.

mransr · Mar 15, 2008

you can weld a regular nut to the end of the lock-lug, then grind off the welds after you get the lug off so you'll have an undamaged one to send back

Shiroelex · Mar 15, 2008

BCB00GT said:
There is a special "socket" that has reverse threads. An air impact gun torques it on and then removes the "socket" and lug nut.

I went to a tire shop for mine. That was before I had my air compressor. Car quest and NAPA I think sells the "socket". Just pay the $20 at the tire shop.

Oh yeah, I no longer have wheels locks. No one wants to steal 17" Bullitt rims.

This is the best way to remove it without damaging the security socket. My car didn't have the factory security key, so I went and bought the sockets that BCB00GT mentioned, and they worked like a charm with just a breaker bar. It would have been a thousand times easier to do with an impact, but I was stranded on the freeway. Check them out here. I found mine at Autozone, but I'm sure any local auto parts chain should have them around.

topless98gt · Mar 15, 2008

Shiroelex said:
This is the best way to remove it without damaging the security socket. My car didn't have the factory security key, so I went and bought the sockets that BCB00GT mentioned, and they worked like a charm with just a breaker bar. It would have been a thousand times easier to do with an impact, but I was stranded on the freeway. Check them out here. I found mine at Autozone, but I'm sure any local auto parts chain should have them around.

Perfect, those will definitely come in handy in the future, so I'll grab a pack today while I'm out getting new spark plug wires...the rats chewed through one of them

SaleenGT2001 · Mar 15, 2008

CMEFLY said:
I use an air hammer with a sharp chissel bit. You need to hold on to the chissel and feather the trigger. Once it digs in you can knock it loose and remove it. I would recommend going to a tire store and have it removed. Gorilla locks are easy to remove.

DO NOT EVEN TRY THIS!!!

that is completely wrong and should never be done. a 12 pt socket will work. hammer it over and then turn the lock off. you will not ruin the socket. i have used my cheapo sockets at work more than 100 times removing these locks and never ruined one. to get the lock out of the socket once it is off just put an extension in the end f the socket and smack the socket with a BIG hammer a few times and the lock will fall out

topless98gt · Mar 15, 2008

forum155pl said:
ive umm.. heard of people pounding a cheap 12PT socket over the entire lugnut and twisting em right off.. i dont know what size it was but it worked....

and it will ruien the socket

This method worked like a charm!

Thanks a bunch!

CMEFLY · Mar 15, 2008

If you are not experienced I would not use a air hammer but if you know what you are doing like i do using an air hammer is easy. That is also why i recommended going to a tire store. I think you are overreacting to my statement.

SaleenGT2001 · Mar 15, 2008

not really over reacting. one slip and your rim is garbage. i would never even tell someone this method b/c of what will eventually happen to someones rims

topless98gt · Mar 15, 2008

Well, the accepted working method here is placing a 1/2" drive 11/16mm 12 point socket (I used one from Wal-mart) onto the lug lock and tap it with a hammer until firmly in place. Then take an impact wrench and feather/tap the trigger until it starts to loosen. Feathering it is very important because it is unlikely that you tapped the socket on straight.

Then a few seconds later, the lock is off! Completely safe as long as you don't accidentally hammer the rim instead of the socket.

Now I just gotta try to figure out a way to separate the socket from the lock so I can send just the lock back. Any ideas?

CMEFLY · Mar 15, 2008

put your socket in a vise and use a punch and hammer to knock the lock out of the socket.

mustang50v8 · Mar 16, 2008

this isnt a sugestion....but a thought, if someone broke into your car and one of the things they store was the wheel lock....i would be worried that they will come back later and steal the rims. even more so if you just get a new key for the same locks

topless98gt · Mar 16, 2008

mustang50v8 said:
this isnt a sugestion....but a thought, if someone broke into your car and one of the things they store was the wheel lock....i would be worried that they will come back later and steal the rims. even more so if you just get a new key for the same locks

Heh, great minds think alike. We towed the car over here to the house and it's now in the garage while I work on it to get it running. I called Discount Tire in Arlington a couple of days ago and they ordered me a new set of locks. I don't want to risk them coming back and taking the wheels and tires. Those are what have set me back the most $$ on this car.

And plus, with the new set of Gorilla locks, I'll get a registration number just in case I lose my key in the future

GettinThere · Mar 16, 2008

BCB00GT said:
...Oh yeah, I no longer have wheels locks. No one wants to steal 17" Bullitt rims...

+1 One time needing and not having the key to the stock McGard locking lugnuts was one time too many for me.

I wonder if tightening the other four lugnuts would help make removing the fifth locking lugnut easier?

topless98gt · Mar 16, 2008

BCB00GT said:
Oh yeah, I no longer have wheels locks. No one wants to steal 17" Bullitt rims.

But then again, some people steal stuff just for the hell of it.

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