Well today I started to do the yearly swap to winter wheels, and at the same time fit the new mudflaps.

Drivers side a doddle it really was simple both wheel change and fitting the flap.

Then the passenger side reared its ugly head! I say ugly as the little darling that it is thought it would be fun to fight back! Yep yet again (following from fabia post) this year I've got locking wheel nut issues. It will not come off. The tool/nut to take it off will not go into the hole enough to allow it to catch.

Tried for near two hours until on my last try it slipped off with a fair bit of force causing my to "punch" the floor.

Needless to say my right hand is a bit worse off.

Any ideas?

Stiff drink and soft chair?

Are you saying it won't go in and engage or is just to tight to turn? I would start with a soak with your favorite anti-seeze. Leave overnight.

In a suitably positive mood examine for damage or foreign objects. See if the splines look the same. Compare to the ones you know fit- they couldn't possibly have been mixed from another set? (garage? tyre fitters?)

If they look right, maybe a light tap?

Wont engage, its as if the "socket"will not go in far enough to allow enough to catch.

I will have a look again tomorrow.

Should be the right one as since being on its only been in to skoda for a brake fluid change but the carried this out without removing the wheels

if all else fails take it to your local tyre fitter outfit, they will probably bang a socket over it and it will be off in 2mins! bearing in mind you will then have to get a new set/set of normal wheel bolts.....i personally find them a PITA and always replace with standard bolts....suppose it depends where you live and the likely hood of someone nicking your wheels?...if that still happens?

Daft question but have you ever had the wheel off before- if not sounds like you could have a different locking wheel nut on this side, if not sounds like it could be damaged or have something in it preventing the socket fully locating?

Not at all a dafy question but in my case I put the wheels on about 4 months ago, everything went on fine.

I've not tired the rears yet as I left it to lick my wounds and damaged pride at failing at a simple tired change.

Ive had locking wheel nuts on cars since 1999 and I've never had an issue before (except from this year) just weird I've had the same issue with both cars. Maybe someone has "tired" to "borrow" my wheels

"... weird I've had the same issue with both cars. Maybe someone has "tired" to "borrow" my wheels." You do mean "tried"? I know its been a bad day!

They couldn't have got mixed up - could they?

Its a good thought but both are kept in their own spare wheel tool kits which are in the boot. But I will try that "just incase" I've had a blond(er) moment.

If/when you get around to getting the wheel off and putting the replacement on, it will be worth putting some copper grease on the bolts and mating surface between wheel and hub. That will help the removal in the future.

Ian

Well it was cold this morning, but I thought man up and get out there. Did the other locking nuts first then went to my nemisis the front passenger side and.........

.......the bar stewart came off first try! Grrr I hate cars at times!!

Copper grease used and I noticed it was the only one without any on and there was a little rusting stain.

Hopefully next time it will come off easer.

Thanks for everyones hints and tips!

A above, it's a bit late now but when you last had the wheels off it would have saved you a lot of hassle if you'd remembered to apply a dab of copper slip on to the threads of each wheel bolt.

I had my alloy's refurbed a few months ago, the first time the car had had its wheels removed during my ownership. They used an air gun to put them back on.

Recently when I removed the wheels to fit mudflaps and for a good look around I too had some real issues removing them. It wasn't the key fitting into the locking wheel nut, it was their tightness. After I'd managed to remove the fourth I was knackered and spitting blood at the alloy refurber!

Needless to say each nut and the face of the hub got a nice covering of copper slip for next time - which might be on the side on the motorway, at night, in the rain.

It sounds like your problem is different, the fact that the locking key fitted over the locking nut just fine on the drivers side but not on the passenger side would suggest that the locking wheel nuts are damaged / worn or they are from a different set?

Best place to pick up copper grease guys?

Thanks!

Halfords or any motor factors.

If you can wait and don't pass any of the above get it delivered to your door...

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e74008ca0

Edited 2 December, 201213 yr by silver1011

Cheers, just bought some as I've only got a small tube that's nearly empty. One thought is make sure the wheel bolts are tightened to the correct torque.

Halfords or any motor factors.

If you can wait and don't pass any of the above get it delivered to your door...

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e74008ca0

Cheers buddy!

One thing struck me...... don't forget to torque the nuts up to the correct setting after as they'd probably be more prone to undo if not tightened up correctly. Guess you're a bit more switched on than me (not hard) and already got your torque wrench at the ready but just in case.......

Torque wrench what that? Surely its tighten until you it wont pudge no more? *tongue in cheek mode*

Umm is it not a really bad idea to grease bolts? Does it not affect the torque?

Umm is it not a really bad idea to grease bolts? Does it not affect the torque?

Yeah ive always wondered this, an Audi/VW mechanic once told me i had overtightened the Bolts and

he had to use a power bar to get them off. He said it should only really be about 90Nm of Torque.

However i used a tiny bit of grease on the bolt and 90Nm seemed no where near tight enough. I guess

this is because of the reduced friction co-efficient. So be carefull with torque settings on greased bolts.

I basically have a Large 3/4 inch drive with quite a big lever arm. So i tighten to kind of what i think to

be quite tight then give it an extra quater turn just to nip it up. My Torque wrench goes up to 100Nm

and its clicking on maximum so i would say its slightly over this but i have no trouble getting them off.

Regards your problem with the alloy wheel key. Im sure you know this but the splines are different sizes

so if it doesn't fit in the Bolt then just rotate it until it fully engages. I think thats what you were describing anyway.