Came to swap over to my winters today, got to the last one and my locking key wouldn't grip properly, looking at it the lugs have rounded somewhat but thankfully the nut itself looks fine.  Obviously I need to rder a new key, is the dealer the only option as I fear that they may rob me blind as they have always done?

I had something similar happen last week when I decided to rotate my tyres. The locking nut on one of the rear wheels had been damaged by a tyre fitter with an impact wrench gun. When I tried to remove it, the splines in the nut stripped completely.

 

After a bit of time spent cursing the lack of skills of tyre fitters, I decided to order a new standard wheel nut from GSF (£2) and drilled the locking wheel nut out......problem solved. 

 

I imagine a dealer could get hold of a key, is the locking wheel nut itself definitely ok? 

Yeah, I've been round to a mates who happens to be an ex tyre fitter and fortunately a good one  , the nut and the other 3 locking nuts are all ok, it's the key thats rounded, 3 of the smaller lugs are virtually gone and 1 of the larger ones is well on the way.

 

I've spoken to the sales guy that I dealt with when I got the car and he tells me that parts / service have all the keys so, if I can get all the locking wheels nuts off on Monday at the dealers foc or at negligible cost, I'll try and buy 4 standard nuts from them and will then get a good quality set of locking nuts from elsewhere.

 

Fingers crossed as I don't fancy getting someone to drill out 4 nuts 

 

In a way it's good that it's happened in a non urgent situation but a bit of a PITA as I'm looking to change car soon  :|

I've spoken to the sales guy that I dealt with when I got the car and he tells me that parts / service have all the keys so, if I can get all the locking wheels nuts off on Monday at the dealers foc or at negligible cost, I'll try and buy 4 standard nuts from them and will then get a good quality set of locking nuts from elsewhere.

 

If you are changing the car soon anyway I'd be tempted to just leave the standard nuts on there. To be honest I think stealing wheels is a bit 1980's anyway......you don't really hear of it happening these days.....I suppose that is because everyone has locking nuts these days!

 

 

Fingers crossed as I don't fancy getting someone to drill out 4 nuts 

 

It's not as bad as it sounds, although it did take some drilling. 13mm drill bit.....drill into the nut by about 15mm, jack the car up, take out all the other nuts and yank the wheel and the head of the locking nut snaps off. Total cost £3.50 for the drill bit (probably written off now!) and £2 for the new standard nut.

 

 

 

In a way it's good that it's happened in a non urgent situation

 

My thoughts exactly. It could have been a whole different story had I discovered it at the side of a dark country road in the pouring rain with a flat tyre. 

I had it happen on my car, i had a garage chisel them off for 50 quid with a sort of special impact driver, i replaced them with normal nuts as no one steals alloys now or so i hope lol

Cheers guys, you've settled my nerves     

 

I think I can live with the embarassment of driving around with 3 Avon Ice Touring shod 16" Audi alloys and one Avon ZZ3 shod 18" Skoda alloy for tomorrow although, it gives me the perfect excuse to save fuel and use the wifes car 

Edited 6 December, 201411 yr by alkip

These are good for removing damaged wheel nuts:

 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/laser-5965-damaged-wheel-nut-remover-12-driv?da=1&TC=SRC-nut%20remover

 

They have sharp metal flutes inside the socket that dig in to the damaged head.

Same happened to me last week swapping winters over.

The OEM key is too flimsy really, not enough to properly grab the nut - too many of us with the same issue.

Got mine removed at a tyre fitters who hammered a socket over the top.

Fitted standard bolts for now.

May get some decent locking nuts when the alloys go back on.

Someone did point out with no locking nuts there may be insurance implications....

Cheers guys, I'll ring the stealers in the morning and, provided I can use their stock key foc I'll make the 10 mile trip, remove all the locking wheel nuts and then see if I can get 4 standard nuts off them for free, imo I should have had the nuts that the locking nuts replaced but they'll prob get around that by saying that they're fitted in the factory, if not, a further gentle 10 mile journey to my trusted mechanic will see me with a good set at a reasonable price.

I paid £17 for 4 standard bolts at the dealers!!!!!!!!

 

I just went straight to parts no discussion on how or why I needed them.

 

I was driving on 4 bolts at the time so just wanted em ASAP.

Aye not surprised to hear that, if, as the sales guy that I bought the cars from says, they have a copy of each key, I'll just either take all 4 locking bolts off or, if they insist, let them take them off and then visit my mechanic friend which is on the way home anyway.

Just to conclude this, I asked the dealership to remove all the lockers, which they did and handed me the keys back with no charge.  I thought., well they've been OK with that so I'll get a set of nuts off them even at £17.

 

Anyway, I'm going to get a set of non-OEM lockers, if anyone can suggest a good set to buy please shout, and thanks to those that have offered advice and support in this thread 

Decent of them not to charge for removal......I'd have given them £17 for the new bolts too, considering the buggeration of removing the old ones!

Anyway, I'm going to get a set of non-OEM lockers, if anyone can suggest a good set to buy please shout

I'm not sure as I never got as far as researching them. I'm sure there must be good sets available, although I imagine at a price.

Glad it's sorted!

I did the same thing this Saturday when trying to change over my winters, and damaged my locking wheel key so I've order a replacement from mcgard. Can recommend mcgard locking bolts as they have excellent customer service as I ordered my replacements and they said if you send back the damage key they will give a another replacement free of charge. Just make sure you complete the registration as it makes replacements a lot easier. I would keep the nuts for when ever you go to get your tyres change as pretty sure the lock keys gets trashed by air wrench monkeys by over torquing them.

Good idea re keeping the nuts wiilydog, cheers and thanks for the recommendation 

pretty sure the lock keys gets trashed by air wrench monkeys by over torquing them.

 

That's certainly how mine got wrecked.