Thief nicked my locking wheel nut adapter!!

Dunno but id put some more locking nuts on ASAP even if that means having 2 locking nuts on 1 new 1 without a key for the moment as it would seem to me the main object of breaking the car was to rob the key,

thus enabling the theif to half inch the wheels,??

no?

Tom

Eminently sensible advice - if you haven't been able to put some fresh locking nuts on, some extra security precautions (garage? dog? lights left on?) would be sensible, as there's no telling when Mr Scumbag and his mates will be back with jack and wheelbrace. The McGard lockers as sold in Halfords & elsewhere are recommended, they seem to be more resistant than most. As to getting the originals off - you are right, these is no single key - although OEM nuts often have as few as six permutations, and it's not uncommon for the lowlife to have a complete set for one make. Many garages will have a nut cracking tool, which will remove most of the 'softer' locking nuts in a fairly destructive manner. Alternatively, you can try just hammering a socket over the nut, but be prepared for both nut and socket to be destroyed.

Don't know if it will work with yours but I bought a car with locking nuts on and no key. I just jammed a large screwdriver in and used a large moveable spanner to get them off. They came off easy pointless protection if even a novice like me could get em off easy.

Park the car over at a mates house until you can get it sorted on the weekend........

Unless your mate lives in a dodgy area of course.

Reminds me of the time a mate of mine told me off for leaving my locking wheel nuts in the car (he always leaves them in his house apparently), he thought I was stupid cos if someone broke into my car then they could have my alloys away. He shut up when I pointed out what would happen if I had a puncture/blow out - buggered, unable to change to the spare wheel. There be a lesson there for all that keep their locking nuts away from their cars.

Keeping the locking nuts on the wheels may be best, they're not much good in the car or in the house :-)

Seriously though, I'd say keep the locking wheelnut key in the car but hidden. I'd say in the boot, in the gap under the spare wheel would be a pretty good place. Wrap it up in a cloth or some carrier bags or something to stop it bouncing around and clanging against the sides of the wheel well

Cheers

Dave P

My dad hollowed out some of the foam from under the back seat for the same purpose

Isn't this just another reason why alloy wheels are a Bad Thing?

They get nicked, they are easily damaged if curbed, they corrode badly if you live near the sea, they are expensive, and older ones seem to cause tyres to leak air. I put them in the same category as light-up windscreen jets. What's wrong with steel wheels?

seat for the same

Thing?

corrode badly if

to cause

What's wrong

With the same size wheels. Nothing, apart from appearance. But, if you want a firmer ride, with less tyre flexing, a larger dia ally wheel with a lower profile tyre is usually your only choice. Mike.

Also, alloys are often heavier than the steel wheels they are replacing!

sPoNiX

Don't see why they have to be alloys though; my experience of alloys is that they are indeed a real pain in the bum, to the point that on my most-recent car purchase I specced steel wheels instead of the factory-fit alloys. Same section and profile of tyre fits both alloy and steel rim.

Depends whether you spec pretty ones or functional ones :-)

And these ones came with the car when i bought it. So, unless i want to spend loads of cash on some steel ones, i'll stick with them.

I bought a car with no key to the alloys. Removal of locking nuts is easy without a key. I was shocked, it took him less time to remove without a key than I could WITH a key. Find yourself a dodgey garage in the backside of town, they will usually know all the tricks, take the car so they can see what sort they are. You could try the manufacturers, motoring organisations etc but they are rarely the quickest and easiest solution.

PS Sorry to hear of the break-in, there is plenty of low-life scum about.

Yes, you're right. At least you knew what I meant :o)

That's an argument for never owning anything nice.

Poor quality ones do.

They go rusty in 2 years.

My mate bought a second hand car with lock nuts, he just hammered an oversize socket over them and undid them just like that. Is it really that easy to get them off?

puzzled from Dunfermline. :)

Keep an eye on Ebay - you often see new sets of wheels for auction. You'll probably make a profit if you buy steel and sell your alloys, and may well get a brand new set of tyres into the bargain.

One the last few cars I've had, the alloys and steels supplied as standard are exactly the same size - the only reason for the alloys is cosmetic. I wouldn't change steel wheels over to alloys, however, if I buy a car that already has alloys, then it's just a bonus.

I do find that plastic trims are a bit of a pain, though - I've lost 2 in as many weeks now. Think it's time to get down the scrappie and see if I can get a set of the proper Nissan jobs, as nothing fits better than OEM, IMHO.