locking lug nuts

[mainemoose]

My recently acquired '97 4R has one locking lug nut on each wheel. It takes a special socket with a wavy flange that fits into the lug. I have the socket. Tell me this set up will work in sub freezing temps, or that the groove in the lug nut won't fill up w/ ice, mud or grit. Anyone with any experience with these? Should I just replace them with normal lug nuts? Thanks

 

[004Gunner]

YES!!! Replace them all, they suck and will fail you at the most inopportune time! The key is the worst part and cost $26 :bash:

 

[mainemoose]

Thank you Gunner, I thought that socket looked kind of flimsy.

 

[techno]

Never had an issue with my locking nuts, they work just fine. They dont fill with mud or ice but if they did and you couldn't figure out how to clean a small groove then I think you have bigger problems to solve.
And they dont cost $26 when you already have one....

 

[trd_4runnin]

Personally I replaced mine. Where I live no one is going to steal a set of stock wheels off of a 1998 4Runner. I kept the key in a safe place so that I wouldn't lose it, and half the time ended up forgetting to take it with me on trips and stuff. To me, it was way more of a pain than they were worth.

 

[direwolf74]

I've been changing tires, towing, and doing roadside service for 12 years and in my opinion locking lugs are more hasle than they are worth. The keys get lost, sometimes the keys break, sometimes they strip the lug nut. Unless you live in a super-high crime area, I would ditch them, especially if youre wheels are stock.

 

[trd_4runnin]

I've been changing tires, towing, and doing roadside service for 12 years and in my opinion locking lugs are more hasle than they are worth. The keys get lost, sometimes the keys break, sometimes they strip the lug nut. Unless you live in a super-high crime area, I would ditch them, especially if youre wheels are stock.

Agreed. I forgot about the keys breaking. Buddy of mine had locking lug nuts on his Rodeo, broke the key and couldn't find a new one. Just to rotate his tires he had to pound a socket onto those lugs and work them off that way. PIA if you ask me.

 

[jerseygeorge]

This is the locking nut on my 4 runner. I went to remove it today and this was the result. It just snapped. I believe this was from too many times being overtightened when others replaced the lugs. I will have the stealership repair this for me. There is a special tool that can be pounded over the lug, then used to loosen it. Then there is always a torch, and a few other methods that are sure to destroy the rim.

I will immediately remove the remaining three, throw them in the garbage, and replace them with stock lug nuts. Had I been on the road, changing a tire, I would be getting towed in. Now I have to pay to have it removed. My suggestion, throw them away at your earliest convenience.

JG

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[mainemoose]

I replaced them, anyone want a locking lug nut socket cheap! Thanks for the advice & photo.

attention techno - Just what I want to do, get frozen mud out of those stupid things some night at the side of the road when it's 10 below. You must be a Steeler's fan.

 

[techno]

attention techno - Just what I want to do, get frozen mud out of those stupid things some night at the side of the road when it's 10 below. You must be a Steeler's fan.

Nah, I couldn't care less about American football (or should it be called Throwball?) Lets run for 10 seconds and then have a break for 5 minutes! Boring....
But anyway, thats fine with me, do what you want to do. You asked for experienced opinions, I gave you mine.

 

[bueller]

This is the locking nut on my 4 runner. I went to remove it today and this was the result. It just snapped. I believe this was from too many times being overtightened when others replaced the lugs. I will have the stealership repair this for me. There is a special tool that can be pounded over the lug, then used to loosen it. Then there is always a torch, and a few other methods that are sure to destroy the rim.

JG

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my mechanic tried to get my wheels off this past week with no luck. he used a torch and everything he thought possible short of breaking the lugs themselves. any other suggestions? does a dealer have some special method besides what has already been done? JG-how much did the dealer charge you for the repair of your lug and how did they get the lugnut off? the key my mech used is torn up pretty well and may need replaced. lame!

 

[Stick Figure]

Most of the time i just poud a socket over them. Pawn shops for cheap sockets are a good way to start off, get somewhere around a 13/16 (21mm) and a few sizes up and down from that. If that doesn't work, you may have to do some welding. In the pic, w/ the center cap removed, you could pound the socket on w/ a slit cut into the side and have room to weld it in the center cap area. If you don't have that much room, then you will have to use a nut and weld the inside of it to the top of the lug nut.

 

[bgmac]

my mechanic tried to get my wheels off this past week with no luck. he used a torch and everything he thought possible short of breaking the lugs themselves. any other suggestions? does a dealer have some special method besides what has already been done? JG-how much did the dealer charge you for the repair of your lug and how did they get the lugnut off? the key my mech used is torn up pretty well and may need replaced. lame!

Most garages have lug nut extractors http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=2390108
I know Monroe had to use one when they broke my key.

 

[juiceboxer]

Just go to sears and get a Craftsman socket that will almost fit the lock, pound it on with a BFH:bash: attach a beaker bar or an impact wrench. If you damage or break the socket take it back to sears and they will replace it, free of charge, forever.

 

[LINY4Runner]

i have 07 Tundra 17"s and BFG mud terrains...do the math...

4 BFG M/T KM2- $1000
Tundra Wheels- $400
Wheel Locks- $32
The Look On the Thief's Face When He Realizes I've Got Two Different Wheel Locks On Each Wheel- Priceless


i'm keeping mine, but its to protect an investment

if theyre stockers, dont have much to worry about (unless they're the 5-star sport wheels everyone wants lol)