Screwed! (can't uncrew)
 

Gents, I recently acquired an old car with these "security" lug nuts. Well, they are secure. They have a six pointed star cut into the center of the nut, into which a special socket is designed to fit. The nut is also conical, it tapers slightly from the base to the outer end. I tried one of these kits that threads a reverse-threaded socket onto the outside of the nut, but the steel of the nut is too hard and the tapered shape thwarts the effort as well. Where might I find one of the designated sockets or something else that would work?
Thanks.

Well, that is a pain.
I have seen them at autoparts stores before.
Pretty sure JC Whitney sell them too.

This online place has them. Nut sure if they will sell just the 'wrench' part or not.

http://www.jimcookperformance.com/Mc...phics/Nut4.jpg

http://www.jimcookperformance.com/Mcgard/MERCEDES_BENZ.html

For a while I saw on TV a socket advertised to eliminate all sockets in your toolbox (yeah-right). But purportedly it was useful for security lug nuts. This socket had pins inside that retracted to conform to the nut shape. It may have been from one of these Bob Vila-type of commercials.

Your best bet to get them off is to do what we have to do.

Find an old socket that will fit over the "security" lug !!

Slam it on & try to unscrew it that way !! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't !?

I think it's called Gator grip, i saw in on TV awhile back, i'm not sure if it would work tho.

Any good tire shop should be able to get them off
 

Try an Independent specialty tire/wheel shop. They would most probably have a tool to take off locks when the key has been lost.

If you cut off the head with a torch, then the rest of the bolt will screw out with your fingers once you get the wheel out of the way. I trust that there is only one per wheel.

Use a really wet rag around the hole to prevent burning the wheel.

Good luck,

Try the old wrecking yard trick. Tig weld any lug nut to the top of the wheel lock and use a standard lug wrench to remove it after it cools. They are probably made by McGard and the "keys" are different for each set. We never tried to save them just weld, remove and dispose.

Dave obviously has a much better solution than mine. TIG will concentrate the heat on the lug bolt.

Good luck,

You can buy the Gator Grip socket on-line at:

http://gator-grip.com/

You will also find them and their clones on EBay - perhaps cheaper used.

I have never used one on this kind of locking lug nut/bolt, but I feel confident that this will work. And it has made this kind of lock obsolete.

Ken300D

Depending on how recessed it is, you can cut a grove in it with a dremel, or similar, and remove it with a big screwdriver.. Might be an "at home solution".. Most times the keyed ones aren't that tight..

BTW.. The Gator grip won't work on a "round" outer surface.. And the pins are not likely to provide enough bite on the keyed area to work.. My opinion anyway..

mig welding will work just fine. almost any body or repair shop has mig welding and it doesn't take a true expert to get a decent weld.

NOTE. use a nut of sufficent size then you weld on the inside of the nut. make sure of a good contact. doing it this way will also contain the welding sparks. you should apply some spatter spray or paste to catch any errant sparks that may fly.

also don't fill the hole completely that helps contain the weld and be sure your first strike for arc is on the lug nut not the added on nut. the weld to the lug nut is the important one that must be sure to take. remember your going thru chrome so if you don't take it off that has to be burnt off first for the wire to stick to the lug. so you may want to slight grind the surface off of the lug nut

tks
craig

DMARBLE has the right IDEA, last resort, weld a lug nut on, and simply remove your lug. Had to do this once before and it worked excellent on a 71 Chevelle.

The problem with going to a shop is that the front calipers are locked. Which is why the wheels need to come off... So any solution last to be homebrewed. Last night I took one of these reverse threaded sockets made for removing stipped lug nuts and punded the fool out of it with the persuader (small sledge). Finished the job with the impact wrench. Thanks for the help.