broken wheel lock - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

squid1351 · #1 09-11-2004, 08:52 PM

the other day i went to have new tires installed on my car when the tire monkey comes up to me and tells me i have a problem and shows me the key. as i hold it in my palm i notice that one of the 3 prongs on it have broken off and one of the ramaining 2 are loose and able to be wiggled. due to the fact that they were over toqued and rused on. the manager at the tire place told me to go to this shop and they would remove the locks. when i got there the mechanic put an extractor on there and found that there was a protective sleeve on it that only rotated. he also comented on the fact that it have to be chiseled off or torched off. he also cautioned me that this could also destroy my wheels. so im prity much stuck and i need to do something quick becouse my front left is showing belts. any help would be great thanks.

Gilly · #2 09-11-2004, 09:12 PM

Can you post a picture of the wheel locks?

Gilly

Hatterasguy · #3 09-11-2004, 09:14 PM

Thats why I will never let a shop tighten my wheels.

phantoms · #4 09-11-2004, 09:27 PM

If the protective cover was the thin steel type used on many later lugs, the extractor should have just grabbed through it. You might try and see if the you can find another set of locks with a new key. Cost a little, but you'll need the key anyway for the other 3 tires.

squid1351 · #5 09-11-2004, 09:42 PM

thats the problem i dint even get one tire off. i would have been able to use the exstractor if the sleev didnt roatate.

Gilly · #6 09-11-2004, 10:56 PM

this is the type of job where you have to either be very innovative, or be able to think like a thief (maybe there is little difference).
I guess if I were presented this problem I can see 2 routes, I'm sure there are more, but these are about the most "gentlemanly" ways I can think of. Well, first of all yeah you could try a new lock (tool), but I assume they are on so tight that this is why the tool is now ruined.
OK, so I do like the tool the guy in the "other" shop probably has, the kind with the barrels you hammer on and use an impact on and kind of heat themselves to the locking bolt, but I see where if there is a collar around it to prevent even these from working, then you're in deep do-do. SO, one choice would be to use an air chisel with a straight chisel-tip and see if the rotating collar can be "persuaded" off, then once that's done he may have a smaller size barrel that'll fit what's left of the bolt, or he can find some other tool to use; maybe a regular deep hex impact socket or something. Another thought is welding the collar to the inner part of the bolt, then using the barrel he's already tried on the collar. Just a few good beads on the inside of the collar should be enough.

Gilly

#7 09-12-2004, 12:04 AM

I'd try grinding or chiselling off the free-turning cover first. Maybe some WD-40 and heat. Can you get any torque on it with two screwdrivers or the like? Make an X with them and try turning it.

Eskimo · #8 09-12-2004, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilly

Another thought is welding the collar to the inner part of the bolt, then using the barrel he's already tried on the collar. Just a few good beads on the inside of the collar should be enough.

Gilly

My first thought was to surgically remove the outside collar, but I really like Gilly's welding suggestion, especially if a tool is on hand that can get a good bite on the OD of the collar.

-- eskimo

squid1351 · #9 09-12-2004, 12:57 AM

i like the welding idea. that seams the most fisable and simplest. and does not invouldve any truely destructive possibiltys. thanks for every ones input.

squid1351 · #10 09-12-2004, 07:20 PM

this afternoon i went out to get something out of my car and when i go out there i find that my slick has gone to a flat.

this sucks hard.

... and i still havent gotten the locks off!