Mc Gard wheel locks

[blcktpgsr]

Ok so I thought of rotating my tires and after removing 5 of the 6 nuts I reached into my glove box just to realize my wheel lock keys are missing:jaw drop:. Shops were gonna charge me $20/wheel just to break them. Boy....call me stingy but I wasn't about to give away money for such an easy job.

And just when you guys think your expensive possesions are safe from thieves with whatever locks you have? guess again!

I used a 21mm 12 point socket, hammer it in 'til it bites on the locks, then use a breaker bar to break 'em loose..Ha!....and they're torque spec'd at 83 ft lbs.

Swear I'd never use Mc Gard again....nah, of course I'd still use them..Just thought I'd share!

 

[Elton H]

ya everytime i see these threads its always a lost key lol and then how easy it is to take them off

 

[LINY4Runner]

McGard wheel locks are what Toyota uses OEM, so they're of highest quality. But like I tell people all the time, if someone wants your sh!t, they'll get it regardless of your safety precautions.
Just hope your neighbor doesn't have wheel locks and the thieves pass up your truck for his...and that's all you can do.

 

[blcktpgsr]

Yeah out of desperation and frustration I tried all possibilities, just surprised the method worked. maybe I'll just include my wheel/tire to my insurance declaration just in case.

 

[LittleYota4runner]

same thing is happening to me right now, went to change my starter out and when I was about to take the last of the lug nuts off the wheel I realized i dint have they key. went down to toyota and they tolled me there are 37 different wheel locking lug nuts, and they need the vehicle to test there master set to find which one fits. problem id my starter is completely disconected but its in there so tight that I cant physically remove it becasue I need the wheel of, and i cant get my 4runner to toyta because my starter is dead. arghhhhh just one big vicious cycle !!!! been to 3 or 4 tire shops in town and nobody can help me !!!! my very last attempt is I ordered a 12 point 20mm socket from lordco (15$.... that is robbery) and am crossing my fingers this works... been the week from hell !!!

 

[1blink]

Call McGuard, they can send you a new lock. Email them a photo of the locking lug nut head. I think it cost me about $15 to replaced mine, when my local alignment shop lost my lug key a few years back.

 

[Riceye]

Check the tool bag under the rear passenger seat. That's where I found the key for my lugs.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Yeah out of desperation and frustration I tried all possibilities, just surprised the method worked. maybe I'll just include my wheel/tire to my insurance declaration just in case.

Yup. I helped another member here with his lift a few years ago and he had the same problem; went to the local shop and they just gave him a beat up old impact socket that they hammer onto locked lugs to get them off.

Don't bother with it, just insure your wheels if you have nice ones. Stock ones, don't worry about them. This is why I don't keep mine super nice looking, no one wants to steal crappy looking wheels.

 

[KidVermicious]

same thing is happening to me right now, went to change my starter out and when I was about to take the last of the lug nuts off the wheel I realized i dint have they key. went down to toyota and they tolled me there are 37 different wheel locking lug nuts, and they need the vehicle to test there master set to find which one fits. problem id my starter is completely disconected but its in there so tight that I cant physically remove it becasue I need the wheel of, and i cant get my 4runner to toyta because my starter is dead. arghhhhh just one big vicious cycle !!!! been to 3 or 4 tire shops in town and nobody can help me !!!! my very last attempt is I ordered a 12 point 20mm socket from lordco (15$.... that is robbery) and am crossing my fingers this works... been the week from hell !!!

Can you get a nut splitter on it?

 

[LittleYota4runner]

huh, never seen or heard of those before. from the looks of it I dont think so, I have the stock wheels on and the lugs are pretty recessed in the rim. I also read about welding a nut onto the top of the locking lug nut and then just use a socket to take the whole thing off. my neighbor is a welder/handyman so i might just ask him if he can do that for me.

 

[snow junky]

they make easy off lug nut removers that you just hammer on. prob $15

i use 3 different locking nuts 1 is just the gorilla "locking" nut, but those can be removed with a normal socket, they just look cool

id feel bad for the poor guy trying to take my tires, they wouldn't get a single lugnut off before my tilt sensor pages me :50cal: