Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Pete1968 on 14 July 2008, 10:25:29
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...although I will say first off it is not the fault of the car.
Yesterday I decided to whip the front wheels off and take a look at the whisbones ahead of either having the camber checked or new ones put on.
With the tools out and ready the wheel nut covers were whipped of and I was confonted by a mangled mess that once were a pair of locking wheel nuts. >:(
As the tyres are very recent I'm assuming that someone thieving git has had a go at removing them and managed to destroy the locking nuts in the process. I'm pretty particular about this sort of thing and alwys torque them up properly whenever I take a wheel off, in addition I checked them before putting them back in last time so there is no way I did this. The direction of the ripping of the recesses indicates that it has been done while trying to loosen them too.
So I suppose this is either going to need someone who can get them out whole - which I would love to see - or drilling and tapping back to allow for a new set to be fitted in their place. Which I will need to sort out pretty quickly as I do not want to have a puncture and be stranded.
I haven't even looked at the back ones yet, I'm too scared right now.
Really annoyed at some of the low-life scum there is out there.
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find an old socket that's a real tight fit onto the mess that's left. Hammer it on and you should get the old locking bolt out. no need tiwth the drilling - tapping thing
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There are a couple of options for removing them... Either get an impact socket which is a very tight fit and hammer it on or you can get a special tool for removing locking wheel nuts. I used to have one from my garage monkey days but haven't seen it for a while! ::) ::)
Sorry to hear that you've fallen foul of the modern day culture of "If it's not mine, I want it!" >:( >:( >:( :o :o
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Pete - not an ideal solution but until you get the nuts sorted you could travel with an aerosol can of the goo that repairs a puncture whilst inflating the tyre. Only sposed to be a temp fix but I used a can on my old Cav and it lasted for years after that.
And I agree about the low life on the streets...custodial sentence for using a knife?? Chop off their knackers so they can't produce more of the same!
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Unfortunately Jonathan these are the circular type with a three-pin fitment so banging a socket on probably won't sort it.
It's a bit ironic really. When I first saw them I thought about changing them for a different type but didn't get round to it.
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Unfortunately Jonathan these are the circular type with a three-pin fitment so banging a socket on probably won't sort it.
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The local ATS managed to remove mine after A N Other leading tyre fitting company buggered my 'key' up. They used something like these
clicky (http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/5-piece-bolt-grip-set-expansion-set/path/socket-sets-sockets-tool-sets) with a windy gun
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Unfortunately Jonathan these are the circular type with a three-pin fitment so banging a socket on probably won't sort it.
It's a bit ironic really. When I first saw them I thought about changing them for a different type but didn't get round to it.
As long as you use an impact socket it may work... I've done them like this before! :y :y
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Unfortunately Jonathan these are the circular type with a three-pin fitment so banging a socket on probably won't sort it.
It's a bit ironic really. When I first saw them I thought about changing them for a different type but didn't get round to it.
I put a brand new set of mcguard ones on her cdx 2 years ago, been on and off a few times for various reasons, went to take them off to put them on her new car...
3 came off fine, 1 disintegrated when I put the bar on :(
Still not got the rest out, a bolt with a key hole at the end, no outer.
all attempts so far have failed >:(
never again will I use locking nuts!
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never again will I use locking nuts!
If you ask for locking wheel nuts at Vauxhall now, you'll get the 'cake cutter' type. So far I've not had any problems. :-X
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never again will I use locking nuts!
If you ask for locking wheel nuts at Vauxhall now, you'll get the 'cake cutter' type. So far I've not had any problems. :-X
These are the cake cutter type! not Vauxhall though!
The bit outside the 'cake' just shattered off in 3 pieces!
I reckon windy tools to blame >:(
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Sorry for the ebay link, but would something like this help.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-UNIVERSAL-GRIPPER-SOCKET-GATOR-TYPE-70mm-EXTENSION_W0QQitemZ130238328643QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130238328643&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318
HTH
Mike
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Just get a wheel bolt and get it welded to your locking nut then it will come straight off not a problem. :y
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Sorry for the ebay link, but would something like this help.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-UNIVERSAL-GRIPPER-SOCKET-GATOR-TYPE-70mm-EXTENSION_W0QQitemZ130238328643QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130238328643&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318
HTH
Mike
A neighbour has one of those, but waiting for it to come back from loan.
My worry is the torque they can take...anyone any ideas?
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May order one anyway, looks like it could be a useful addition to the tool box.
Not seen a socket type one before, only seen em with a built in handle.
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Just get a wheel bolt and get it welded to your locking nut then it will come straight off not a problem. :y
A good plan, but dont see how you can weld to a nut stuck deep in a wheel?
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Thanks for the advice everyone, all very helpful. I'm working from home today so I managed to pop the car over to a local garage who look after the car normally for me. They've got a few options, a couple very similar to the suggestions on here funnily enough! They'll hopefully have it sorted and I'll have her back late today/early tomorrow. I'm just praying it comes out without resorting to the more extreme measures which could damage the wheel. Thankfully the garage is a good outfit, I'd recommend them to anyone in fact.
The multi-fit socket I've seen before and have wondered about having one for those times when you just can't find the right one to fit. Again, never got round to it.
With this going on I've been questioning myself and asking whether I did the damage, as a bit of self-doubt always creeps in at times like this. but the fact that the shearing has ocured anti-clockwise says that someone's been having a fiddle. A bit pointless getting wound up about it now as the damage has been done and may as well just get on with putting it back to rights again.
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Sorry for the ebay link, but would something like this help.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-UNIVERSAL-GRIPPER-SOCKET-GATOR-TYPE-70mm-EXTENSION_W0QQitemZ130238328643QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130238328643&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318
HTH
Mike
A neighbour has one of those, but waiting for it to come back from loan.
My worry is the torque they can take...anyone any ideas?
Whilst searching I read about 150lb/ft of torque, but it seams excessive to me, I would not think it could stand up to that much.
HTH
Mike
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Those universal grips are pretty useless from my own personal experience
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They certainly are! Tried one on exhaust downpipe/manifold nut - useless!
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a thought, use a drill bit a mil or 2 smaller than the thread width (measuring a nut you can get out) drill in just enough to reach the thread where it meats the shoulder of the bolt,(hopefully you will not actually touch the wheel with the drill this way) then either leaver off by inserting a bar or similar into the whole just drilled, the remainig metal should just snap off the bolt head. Or if you cant leaver, belt it with a suitable drift, but that could bugger/scratch your wheel if you miss or slip. Just a thought mind.... or are the bolts hardened? Does not sound like it from the damage? Worth a go or not? Always wondered, Anyone?
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Well, I got her back a bit before 5 this afternoon, resplendent with brand new Vauxhall 'cake cutter' locking nuts on - hardened steel, Thatcham certified and all that. The old ones are a real mess having been subjected to a splined socket hammered over them and ripped forcibly from their homes. I'm just glad they're off now.
So, tomorrow it's time for the Full Monty Geometry Check!
Thanks for all your advice, it's much appreciated.
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....oh, and having read the thread about drop links I think that may well be the next job on the list! ;D
Thank the Lord for this place, I'd be lost otherwise.