Wheel Locks? Think Twice!

[FTI76]

I went to Rausch Creek this weekend and slashed my sidewall sliding off a large rock.

Backed down the hill and we were able to plug the sidewall good enough to finish out the day.

Once we got back to the parking lot (of course it starts down pouring) we could not remove wheel lock as the wheel lock key had deformed\bent and would not seat properly.

Nobody has a slim fit socket on hand that we could force on there with a BFH, so we drove it to Tractor Supply Company which was 10 minutes down the road and picked the correct socket size, hammered it on there and we were able to swap out the tire in their parking lot.

I found it ironic the wheel lock prevented the owner from removing the wheel. If not for one of the guys doing an expert job plugging the sidewall on the trail this would have been even more of a PITA.

Needless to say those wheel locks are going in the trash.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I stopped using wheel locks 20 years ago. They're a PITA and will barely slow down a wheel thief who knows how to easily get any of them off.

 

[L J]

Once we got back to the parking lot (of course it starts down pouring) we could not remove wheel lock as the wheel lock key had deformed\bent and would not seat properly.

How did the key get deformed/bent?

 

[Sunder]

I stopped using them.

I originally used...I dunno the name brand - but my lock bent, and it was not fun taking them off when I had to.
Then I "upgraded" to the Gorilla type...and within a year or so, I noticed certain lug nuts were deforming and it was getting difficult to put the "key" on them. I think it was from a garage I had to take it to that used an impact wrench on them vs my gentle manual way.
Regardless - I need them to come off/on reliably, so off they went permanently.

However - I do have them on my spare, for whatever that's worth.

 

[Blackout]

I stopped using them as well, I had the ones made by Gorilla.
They deformed and were supposed to be some of the best ones out there.
Instead of throwing them all away, i just keep one on each tire.

 

[TJ2]

I stopped using them as well

We have open cary in Texas and no one dares to steal a spare in exchange of these lugs.

 

[Westtown Willy]

I went to Rausch Creek this weekend and slashed my sidewall sliding off a large rock.

I found it ironic the wheel lock prevented the owner from removing the wheel. If not for one of the guys doing an expert job plugging the sidewall on the trail this would have been even more of a PITA.

Needless to say those wheel locks are going in the trash.

This is something I would have never thought of until my mechanic gave me that same good advice last time I was there, he swapped them out & handed them to me. Not only can something like this happen to the lock but you could also misplace the lug key & of course that'll happen exactly when you need it.

Reminds me of another great piece of advice I read somewhere along the line & have been doing ever since, always bring a spare key to start your rig in case you lose yours. Seemed odd when I first heard it but I sure could see my keys getting away from me & ending up in a murky mud pit or other water feature & being gone forever. One time I drove for a few minutes after a stoppage before I realized my cell phone was missing, stopped & looked around & wouldn't you know it was jammed up between the rocker & flare, couldn't have balanced it there if I tried but there it was, got real lucky, if that thing jiggled off it would've been squashed & probably buried by the time I back tracked.

But more importantly, let me know if you ever need someone to head into Rausch Creek with you, love that place. Heading up Saturday if my new tires are in & on by then.

 

[cliffish]

yeah when I bought my jeep there was no wheel lock key for the spare...took me several rounds of lug nut removal tools on amazon till I found one that was able to grab it and get it off.

 

[billiebob]

I found it ironic the wheel lock prevented the owner from removing the wheel.

You would not believe how common this is. And they all think tire shops have a master key. The go to solution is to weld a bolt to the security nut.... which always damages the $1200.00 wheel. Hummer owners are the worst. Better than a case of beer after work.

 

[PCO6]

I went through this about a year ago … https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-remove-broken-locking-lug-nuts.6330/ .

The guy at the tire shop I deal with pointed to the field behind their shop and said the reason the grass is so long is that it's full of locking lug nuts and they're afraid to cut it. I'm pretty sure he was kidding.

 

[CodaMan]

When I bought my current Jeep it had locks on all 4 wheels and and of course came without a key. I can tell you that I got all 4 of them off with I think a 13/16 socket just as fast as if I had the key. Total waste of money IMO.

 

[jeepins]

My Wrangler only came with one on the spare and I still keep it there.

 

[tquig01]

Same story, different Jeep. When I bought mine it had a single locking lug on each wheel but no key. PO couldn't find it. $15 removal socket from Autozone and they came right off. Never again.

 

[twistedlv]

When I got my Jeep it had five locks on each wheel, but none on the spare. That's the first thing I got rid of.
So if you want 20 matching locking lug nuts, hit me up!

 

[Shane Mckinley]

I’ve never seen one with a decent lock that a wrench won’t bend. They are cheap and when you need it off there’s always an issue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2005 RHD TJ Sport
2010 BMW 528xi

 

[cliffish]

they don't thieves just the honest owner trying to remove them!

 

[Wowens79]

My wife's new Honda came with them, and the dealer was trying to charge $100 for them. I told him no way I didn't want them, and he took them off the price, but didn't want to fool with removing them. I made him take them off before we left. The originals were in the glove box.

 

[Kiwi TJ]

Yeah the idea behind them is great...but in reality....

 

[TJ2]

Yeah the idea behind them is great...but in reality....
View attachment 52550

If this is how they steal tires in NZ, you guys really have a bigger problem.

 

[59 wagon man]

I found it ironic the wheel lock prevented the owner from removing the wheel.
reminds me of car alarms. never seem to stop a thief but always go off if I forgot to hit the alarm button when I opened the door