God damn Wheel locks!

[ounkny]

I've never had wheel locks but might I suggest tuner lugs? They're the kind that often ship with aftermarket wheels, and require a "key" just like wheel locks. But whereas wheel locks have only a small area where the key's inserted, the entire outside of the tuner lug has a distinct shape, so there are no problems with taking them on or off.

The ones I have are from Gorilla. I think they're pretty popular and pretty lightweight too. The only thing I am unsure of is how secure they are... can anyone with the same type of key steal your wheels? I've never checked that out.

 

[soundbombing]

I have a portable impact from snap on. it was kinda pricey but you can get a decent one from your local hardware store. it works good and i don't have to do it by hand all the time.

 

[Newf]

how pricey is pricey?

 

[soundbombing]

It was a set of two 18volt battery packs, the impact, and a powerful flash light that runs off the same batter packs, all for a good $570 out the truck doors. It has done me good. I believe you can get one from Sears for like $150. If you really want to go cheap but will do the job for either one day or one year depending how lucky you are, go to harbor freights. that will be like $100. who knows if they have that where you are.

 

[Newf]

it was the key guys. Went and got the other speed's key, and they came off without any troubles.

Got my steelies on today.....5cm of snow for tomorrow so I'm just in time. I'm amazed that the black steelies don't look that bad on the titanium color speed. Black goes well with this color

 

[JDuncan]

It was a set of two 18volt battery packs, the impact, and a powerful flash light that runs off the same batter packs, all for a good $570 out the truck doors. It has done me good. I believe you can get one from Sears for like $150. If you really want to go cheap but will do the job for either one day or one year depending how lucky you are, go to harbor freights. that will be like $100. who knows if they have that where you are.

Off topic a bit, but I so want that snap-on impact. I have a friend with the exact same one. I borrowed it the other night to get the flywheel nut off of my TII. It made short work of it. Just make sure you get the correct torque stick if you are using it on your lugnuts. That thing has well over 500 ft/lbs. I have seen it snap a stud with a cross threaded lug in two clickes of the impact.

 

[soundbombing]

I better check on the torque of it. I've used it many times on my wheels and it hasn't broke anything yet, maybe i'm just lucky for now. yeah, it's badass. oh i want a TII pretty bad, my friend has a 10th ann.

 

[randallb]

try anti-seize compound...

to prevent too-tight lugs in the future. Anti-seize usually comes in a small tube (mine is silver grease), and can withstand high temperatures, and does not wash off. Put a tiny bit on the lug before placing the wheel. I have used them for years on a variety of cars and wheels. It really prevents lugs from rusting up.

 

[scott42]

I actually broke, yes broke, one of my locks. I just threw on one of the spares in the little sac thing.

I luckily had the wheel off when I noticed the lock all weak looking, squeezed it with MY HAND, and it just crubled right there...amazing, I can crush steel!!

When the other 3 break, I'll get new ones

 

[Newf]

spares? I never got spares

 

[mazdadan]

I hate locking lugs. There is a special tool set that can take them off if you are having issues. I've got them floating around in my garage somewhere. Basically it is a reverse threaded socket that clamps onto the locking lug and extracts it without any damage.

http://www.toolrage.com/cgi-bin/ist...its_seen=&page=search.html&and=&affiliate_id=

 

[blynzoo]

I just had to buy a new set from Mazda because the tire place that put my new tires on used an air wrench to put them on there. Make SURE when you get your tires put on by anyone else that the lugs are torqued to 70 ft lbs. As little as 90 can strip them, and a 100 will render them next to impossible to get off (as I found out).

The locking lugs are made of surprisingly soft steel, which strips easier than I would like. Most likely I will be moving to a set of aftermarket locking lugs soon. They cost as much as the OEM set, but you can get them in titanium.

 

[brealmp3]

something to try

i had trouble with my key for lugs, so i went to sears got a 12mm allen wrench, one of thig big ass mofo's and it did the trick, it fits the lucks all the better you get more contact with it than the the key, plus it is alot stronger, but just spray a lil wd-40 for good measures.

late