73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Wheels & Tires => Topic started by: SUX2BU99 on August 24, 2010, 04:56:30 pm
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:-[ I have a set of what I believe to be McGard wheel locks on my truck. From the last time I had my rims off, I seem to have not put the wheel lock key back in it's regular spot. I have no idea where it is now and I need to know how I can get this thing off. The locks are at least 10 years old. Do wheel shops usually have a 'master' key for this kind of thing??
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:-[ I have a set of what I believe to be McGard wheel locks on my truck. From the last time I had my rims off, I seem to have not put the wheel lock key back in it's regular spot. I have no idea where it is now and I need to know how I can get this thing off. The locks are at least 10 years old. Do wheel shops usually have a 'master' key for this kind of thing??
You'll need the key number off your key (thats lost) Otherwise you just have to get it off the best you can.... POSSIBLY, you could find a new set of wheel locks on the store that have a key that will fit enough to get your old locks loose.
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Go to a tire shop they probably can help you out, most of the time they have tons of locks laying around
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;D Go to your tool box,find the socket that will almost slip over the lock.Now pound it on,and loosen with a ratchet not an impact.Then pound the lock out of the socket and repeat.I've gotten a few parts trucks without the lock key and it hasn't failed me yet.
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Thanks guys. I may try the ole Vice Grip trick too since that seems the easiest. I have done the pound the socket on routine on those little bolts that hold the wheel cylinders in at the rear axle. It worked pretty well actually, after I spent enough time tapping the 1/4" ratchet to eventually unfreeze the rounded-over bolt.
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Tue also make sockets that cut into the nut and let you take it off wheel. Shops also have them
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if all else fails you're gonna need to chisel or cut them off.
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Ran into this last year. There is a socket that most wheel companies have that will remove the lug.
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We see this all the time where I work. We have a special set of sockets that are coned inside. You pound the cone socket on the lock and it comes right off. We've also used an air hammer, cut a notch on one side of the nut and drive it around with the air hammer.
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A friend of mine cut off his whole wheel...maybe not a friend more of an acquaintance. We still wont let him live it down. He cut like a pie section of the wheel off. The section with the locking lug. I just thought ya'lld get a kick out of that.
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I recall a video or pics of two kids doing something similar on their rice burner.
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http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=14268.0 reminds me of this
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Ran into this last year. There is a socket that most wheel companies have that will remove the lug.
Are you meaning this is something that can be bought at a retail store? Rather than taking the time to go to a tire shop?
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Yup thats what I was thinking of Irish.
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;D Go to your tool box,find the socket that will almost slip over the lock.Now pound it on,and loosen with a ratchet not an impact.Then pound the lock out of the socket and repeat.I've gotten a few parts trucks without the lock key and it hasn't failed me yet.
This is what the tire shop had to do to my van, key was striped. Came off quicker than a whistle!!! ;)
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Yep, the socket trick is the easiest I know of. But first I suggest taking a hammer and hitting it on the top and bottom a few times. It helps loosen them up.
You can get extractor that look like a reverse of a normal easy out. I personally don't have one big enough.
Vice grips can work, but sometimes you just don't have the room.
My second favorite choice is the hammer, and chisel trick.
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I'd rather not pound a socket over it and ruin them but since I have lost the key, then what am I worried about eh? I could try that. I don't want to ruin a wheel stud though. Probably not a concern? I tried the vice grips and I couldn't get them perpindicular to the lug to twist it. Rim is too deep.
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Craftsman makes a wheel lock removal tool.
It's along the same idea as others have mentioned with the socket trick.
The kit cost $30 and comes with 3 special sockets with grooves cut into them.
You find the socket that is just a little to tight to push on by hand. Now you tap that one on with a hammer then use a 1/2 ratchet to spin it off.
I've used mine a few times and it works great.
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I'd rather not pound a socket over it and ruin them but since I have lost the key, then what am I worried about eh? I could try that. I don't want to ruin a wheel stud though. Probably not a concern? I tried the vice grips and I couldn't get them perpindicular to the lug to twist it. Rim is too deep.
Exactly. No need to really worry. I'd skip putting a lock back personally. They really don't stop anyone from taking wheels.
As for the stud, you are fine. When you are putting the socket on the nut the wheel is taking the impact, not the stud.
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Just cut the wheel and give up lol jk. I would leave just the nut on and take it for a drive it should fall right off another joke. But the socket trick should work
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Thanks for all the replies, guys!
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With all these tricks and kits you can do to get the lock off, makes it seem like the wheel locks are pointless doesn't it?
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well probably not unless you are a wheel thief, and how many have these laying around, or carry them with them. You have to be pretty determined and well planned to steal tires.
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With all these tricks and kits you can do to get the lock off, makes it seem like the wheel locks are pointless doesn't it?
Like with any anti-theft device, it is a deterrent. Most people looking to steal are looking for the easy hits. So wheels without locks will look like a easier target then ones with them. If they want them bad enough though, they will get them...
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http://www.tool-sale.com/deluxe-hubcap-wheel-lock-removal-kit-p-1475.html
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was going to write a review about that tool set but you have to log in but it was going to say "a must for a serious wheel thief"
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Or this:
http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2684546
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Yeah my 15" rims aren't exactly the most coveted rim that they might have been 10-15 years ago when Center Line Convo-Pros were new and impressive to have lol No more wheel locks for me. I still get comments on them though, due to their ribbed rim.