Wheel Locks!

[xhogboss]

So there I was ... I'm in the garage working on my Jeep. Ordered new shackles and the fronts came in so I decided it was time to pop the tires and wheel off and get them listed on Craigslist, since I'm going with smaller tires and narrower wheels. First three lug nuts come off with no problem. I get to the fourth, and the socket just spins! What in the world? I look more closely, and some PO put a wheel lock lug on the Jeep! I check the other wheels and sure enough, there's one on each wheel.

I dig through the console - no joy. I call the PO, and he says, "Wheel locks? What wheel locks?"

Out comes the grinder, and I make a really pretty slot across the top of the acorn. Just fits my drag link tool. Snap! Off comes part of the acorn! Out comes the chisels. This isn't progressing like I'd hoped. Search the web, and I find this dandy set of left-hand spiral-cut sockets for removing rounded off nuts. Amazon comes through and two days later, I unwrap my new tool, choose the appropriate socket, grab the impact wrench and ... it spins!

Finally, after some garage engineering, reference to high school math, a long breaker bar and a three-pound hammer, the locks come loose. It wasn't quiet and it wasn't quick, but at least the wheels are off.

Bottom line ... if you want some pretty good wheel locks, try Gorilla Nuts - they work pretty well. Oh, and keep the key and the replacement code handy.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Never use wheel locks on an off-road vehicle.
I use to keep one on the spare, because it's only held on with 3 nuts and is an easy steal.
LG

 

[xhogboss]

Makes sense to me - one more thing to keep track of, and to lose.

 

[HackFabrication]

All the new vehicles I've purchased came with wheel locks. I told the dealer to remove them before I would take possession of the vehicle. Wheel locks are just a bad idea IMHO.

 

[JeeperChris]

I remember hearing electrical tape, deep well socket and a hammer can get them off.

 

[RiverandSand]

I remember hearing electrical tape, deep well socket and a hammer can get them off.

Yep, HF is a great place for cheap sockets, pound on a deep socket unscrew the lock. Drive out the lock, repeat until the socket cracks or you get them all out.