Car question- removing locking wheel nuts

[colin1]

I've bought a Vauxhall Meriva B which has locking wheel nuts but not the thing to remove them.

I understand as it's a bit like a key so buying another set wont give me the right key to remove them.

I've seen a thing on ebay which is supposed to be able to remove them.

Has anyone done this ? Should I just take them to a garage or tyre place that may already have the tool ?

[Polarbear]

Bought these myself to get locking wheel nuts off my eldest daughters Citroen. They worked OK. Just make sure they are the right size for your car.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Voche-Socket-removal-Locking-Damaged/dp/B01LAYUNS8/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1548843194&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=locking+wheel+nut+remover&psc=1

I hammered them on and then used an impact driver to loosen the nuts. I found a power bar just started to chew them up.

Saying that, I took another car to a Formula 1 autocentre with 4 spare wheel nuts and they removed them when changing tyres and didn't charge me. I am a regular customer there mind.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[grr666]

I'd go to Vauxhall and just order one tbh, not like you're not going to need it again. Maybe £20 if that. If there are
different patterns, they will know which you need. Certainly wouldn't trash the nuts to save a few quid.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-MERIVA-LOCKING-WHEEL-NUT-KEY-ALL-AVAILABLE-GENUINE-GM-FAST-DELIVERY-/361391076957
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[MCN]

Begs the question, Why fit locks?


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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[piazza]

First thing I do now is take them off and bin them...after you make sure the key is there when you buy it.

Then 6 months later when you go for a puncture repair there's a locker on it The tyre guys had it off in minutes.

[Monkeywrenche...]

If they have a rotating collar on them (pretty sure vauxhall ones will) then the tool in Pbs post probably won't work, as for ordering a new one you'll need the key code...which is in the box you probably don't have . I have tools for removing the collared nuts but it's a fairly expensive tool, as are sets which include all the permutations. if you only need to remove a single set you're better off getting a new key made here...

https://www.lockingwheelnutkeys.co.uk/

Used them before, new keys from nut manufacturer just by sending a pic of the nut, and pucs of ID/V5
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2001 Aprilia RSV Mille R -dead, 2016 XSR 700-gone, 2018 Dorsoduro 900

[bugeye_bob]

[Monkeywrenche...]

[ride_to_die]

Most tyre places will take them off for about £10 per wheel around Leicester way. A friend who had the same problem with his Honda, went to the dealers. They had 10 different keys in stock, tried a few until one worked. About £16 thinking back.
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I'm not here for a long time, I'm here for a good time.

[grr666]

£10 per wheel for a 1 time removal charge or £21.50 for the proper OEM key usable forever for an additional £0.00 per use?

Okay, someone will have to explain the economics of that to me.


As for key cards... Quote as per my link.

[Monkeywrenche...]

[Monkeywrenche...]

[Polarbear]

Does anyone think it's even worth bothering with locking wheel nuts any more?

I haven't heard of wheels getting nicked for years. I don't live in Liverpool though.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Monkeywrenche...]

[colin1]

[andym]

A few seconds with a hammer and thin bolster was usually enough to get through any locking wheel nut.... allegedly.

[Tierbirdy]

Had this problem with a Civic I bought, no problem I thought, Ill pop to a Honda dealership and theyll help.

They couldnt have given less of a shit. Werent interested, wouldnt tell me which one I needed, and werent willing to let me try ones that looked right to buy the key.

So I bought one of those wheel nut removal kits posted above. Utter shite, did nothing but chew up the bolts. Maybe if you had an air powered impact driver it might do something. After fucking one bolt up royally with it I just took it to a local garage who took the 3 I hadnt fucked up off in seconds with their own tool and charged a tenner total for it. But the one Id fucked up had been slightly mishapen enough by the removal tool that their one wouldnt fit over it, so they had to weld a nut onto it and get it off that way, which ended up costing far more in labour than the kit itself did.

Lesson of the story, just pay someone else to do it.

[Pete.]