Lost my wheel key. What can I do?

[SUX2BU99]

    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??

[78 Chevyrado]

   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.

[xxwckdxx]

Go to a tire shop they probably can help you out, most of the time they have tons of locks laying around

[bfofish]

    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.

[SUX2BU99]

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.

[Irish_Alley]

Tue also make sockets that cut into the nut and let you take it off wheel. Shops also have them

[Swims350]

if all else fails you're gonna need to chisel or cut them off.

[Captkaos]

Ran into this last year. There is a socket that most wheel companies have that will remove the lug.

[frickenbored]

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.

[three8six]

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.

[beastie_3]

I recall a video or pics of two kids doing something similar on their rice burner.

[Irish_Alley]

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=14268.0 reminds me of this

[SUX2BU99]

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?

[beastie_3]

Yup thats what I was thinking of Irish.

[low budget]

  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!!!