Small Emergency - Stripped Lock Wheel Lug

[FalconGuy016]

On my way to work today my car was acting up and shaking down the road. Turns out my tire BLOATED out. It's time to get new tires. I'm amazed it didn't outright blow.

I made it to work but I'm not going anywhere until I have my spare on. I jack it up (are you really supposed to jack it up on that small notch?) and try to unscrew the lugs. The wheel lock lug is STRIPPED . This happened when I was trying to bleed the brakes earlier. The wheel lock itself seperated into two pieces and the contact area was reduced, stripping both the lug and the wheel lock. The lock works, barely, on the others, but not on this one single wheel.

So now I'm stuck at work unless I can figure out how to get this thing off. I have access to a good drill and some basic tools. Is this going to be possible? Please help I have to get home in a few hours.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Do you have AAA?

 

[sgarlic]

My advice, and this is going to sound silly, is to put all the lugnuts back on, and then drive it to the closest tire place and let them deal with it.

 

[blackink00]

are you talking about a stud. cause if so just break it and then use 4 lugs to hold the tire on and go straight to where your going. then just pound out the old one and install a new stud.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Tire shop...

 

[SaleenGT2001]

yes, take it to a shop. it is a PITA to do unless you know what you're doing. which it sounds like you dont

 

[SaleenGT2001]

or you can get a 12 pt socket and hammer it over the lock then just twist it off.

 

[FalconGuy016]

I cant drive it, the tire is destroyed. Thats why I'm going to try what I can to get it off where it sits.

12 point socket sounds like a neat idea.

 

[FalconGuy016]

I didn't make myself clear in the first post I was a little rushed then. When I mean the tire is bloated, imagine a tire with a giant tumor where some of the thread should be. The cords are gone. The steel mesh is ripped out. It's just the final membrane of rubber before you hit the air inside the tire. As I said, it's amazing it didn't blow on the road. But it's not going anywhere and getting home would be nice tonight.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Craftsman (Sears) sells a special socket that is designed for this exact problem. If you can get to a Sears and then back to your car you can fix this.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Here is what you need:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...anics+Tools&subcat=Automotive+Specialty+Tools

 

[Jackie Chan]

12point socket, hammer and go. get rid of the wheel locks. i hate them

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The only person wheel locks have stopped on my cars is me

 

[SaleenGT2001]

if someone wants your wheels they will get them.

i had a customer at work this week who had locks on her car. she lost the key and didnt want to buy a new one for $70 so i told her i could remove them. she walked across the street to the parts store bought 4 new regular lug nuts and buy the time she came back i had all the wheels off. i can take your locks off in about 10 seconds each. they are no help at all. anyone with access to tools can still steal the rims. you are better off to take them all off and save yourself the hassle down the road.

 

[PowerSplash93]

Wal Mart sells something called gator grip, its a socket with a bunch of roll pins in it, it may only remove one because Ive heard the pins break, but you can always return it later, Wal Mart will take anything back.
Later
Matt

 

[FalconGuy016]

I broke the lug in about 4 different pieces with a screwdriver . Only the collar of the lug deep inside the wheel is remaining. This became impossible.

After trying hammering on a socket and failling, I tried to dremel a screw slot and use a very large screwdriver and wrench combo. Split it right in half.

 

[urban96]

i paid sears to remove all 4 of my wheel locks (car didnt come with the key )

took them about 30-40 mins and the tech said he broke one of his tools and thats why it took so long

 

[mineralgraygt]

wheel locks are nothing but a pain in the ass. just take all of them off.

 

[jasonh_86]

The wheel locks on mine have saved my rims from being stolen twice.. Guess i'm the only one who likes them

 

[PowerSplash93]

I love em, I got the spline drive bullet lugs from some place online. And its not the ones that only have 1 splined and the rest regular, they are all splined and the key is pretty beefy too, so there are no regular lugs on my wheels.
Matt