The look of an automobile, truck or sports car may be significantly improved by the addition of custom wheels. Wheels may range in price from a couple of hundred to well over a thousand dollars apiece and are frequently offered in a broad variety of styles from the suppliers. Wheels are frequently locked with the use of tire wheel locks in order to prevent potential theft. For vehicle owners with pricey tires and rims, locking nuts, or wheel locks, are popular aftermarket accessories that add an extra layer of security. But before removing a wheel from the vehicle to change a tire, these locks must be released. And under such circumstances, finding the wheel lock key missing, stripped, or with a few of the lock nuts fractured can easily make you irritable. Expert locksmiths from Keys On Wheels, with their specialized tools, might help you remove such locks without the keys.
- Necessary Tools
The majority of the tools required are likely to be found in any garage, but here’s what you may need specifically for the task:
- 12-Point Socket Set
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Torque Wrench
- Breaker Bar
- New Lug Nuts
- Step 1
Park your concerned vehicle. Also, engage the parking brake for further security. Ensure that there’s no dirt around the wheel lock surface by cleaning it.
- Step 2
Search for a 12-point socket that snugly fits over the wheel lock. The socket shouldn’t be so slack that it may spin itself around the lug nut. A 12-point will have a stronger biting ability than a six-point. Your chances of gaining a grip on the wheellock may be improved by the additional teeth.
- Step 3
In order to secure the socket, place it on the wheel. Use as much pressure as you can with a sturdy hammer. It is advised to use gloves to prevent accidental injuries.
- Step 4
Use the socket wrench to loosen the nut. Put it on the socket that is now securely resting atop the bolt. However, some sockets could just rotate and remain in place. To release, turn left. Choose an extended wrench for extra torque if you are having trouble turning the existing one.
- Step 5
The wheel lock will be glued to the socket now that it has been removed. The socket’s top square aperture is where the screwdriver should be inserted. The lock will come out of the socket if you repeatedly tap the head of the screwdriver using the hammer.
- Step 6
Examine the wheel stud’s threads. You will need to replace them if damaged, which is a somewhat more difficult task. If they’re in good shape, get a new lug nut and tighten it in accordance with the owner’s handbook for your car. The wheel nut may be tightened using a tire iron.
- Additional Advice
- Utilize Breaker Bar Instead Of A Socket Wrench – Since a socket wrench is substantially longer than a standard ratchet and offers more leverage, it can serve as a breaker bar. However, it’s meant to be a precision aid. A socket wrench’s sole purpose is to indicate to you just how much force has been applied to a socket. When used for physical force, it might lose calibration and become erroneous.
- Assess The Locking Nut’s Label/Serial Number – The details you require to get a new key cut might be found on the container or invoice that accompanied your wheel locks. Contact the manufacturer if you can locate that; they might be responsible for sending you a duplicate set of keys. However, you might have to spend more money and effort on it.
- Deep-Penetration Lubricant – If you anticipate the lug nut is strongly bonded to the wheel at any particular point, apply some penetrating lubricant thereon. These compounds can aid in dissolving any rust that may have developed, but be careful since it also has the potential to harm the paint on your wheels.
- Check Locking Lug Nuts Before Trips – Whatever unfolds, addressing this in your garage as opposed to a highway shoulder or a hot off-road circuit can make it much less distressing.
It’s fun to drive a fine car with exquisite wheels, but like with everything premium, you need to safeguard them. Wheel locks are offered with a unique, single key, which makes it simple for the bearer to release the wheels whilst making it challenging for offenders to crack them. While most car owners are protected without wheel locks, ensure you always have access to the key if you decide to utilize them. If not, you can end up stuck on the roadside, unable to pinpoint another way to fix your flat tires.