Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: portomega on 31 December 2009, 13:38:28
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Got stopped by our local friendly traffic officers this morning and they kindly pointed out one of my tyres was right on the limit :'( so got up early today to get it done at local tyre place but......my locking wheel nut key is so badly worn down that it wont undo the nut :o, now the garage cant get the wheel off and said only thing i can do it get a new key from Vauxhall, BUT when i rung Vaux they said it would be at least 2 weeks!!!! for a new key, is there any way i can get this dam locking nut off without destroying the wheel :-? :'(
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Take it to another garage as most good garages carry tools that can remove the locking wheel bolts easily
I would recommend you buy a new set of lockers and take with you then they can replace them all so no problems in future HTH :y
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you could try your luck & see if anyone on here has the same key & code & borrow theirs
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i took it to ATS and the guy said he could get it off but would ruin my alloy :'( most other tyre places around here are closed now due to New years eve, and i got work at 4pm, i guess i'll just have to risk it and drive to work hoping the same officers have the day off today lol
Is it just my bad luck or are vauxhalls unlocking nuts total and nutter shite?! i had probelms with them on my last omega and my 2 vectras!! :(
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Got stopped by our local friendly traffic officers this morning and they kindly pointed out one of my tyres was right on the limit :'( so got up early today to get it done at local tyre place but......my locking wheel nut key is so badly worn down that it wont undo the nut :o, now the garage cant get the wheel off and said only thing i can do it get a new key from Vauxhall, BUT when i rung Vaux they said it would be at least 2 weeks!!!! for a new key, is there any way i can get this dam locking nut off without destroying the wheel :-? :'(
Vauxhall will require the code for the wheel bolts, is it still in the case? :-/
Most decent tyre firms/garges should have a set of these .....
click here (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=696823&langId=-1&cm_mmc=Googlebase-_-Workshop+%26+Tools%2FHand+Tools-_-Na-_-Laser+Locking+Wheel+Nut+Remover&source=shopping&%24%24tid=0-4NfKru7zJHfzHQ9YPcScNidaEHp7BZfHgQOCIJ2myq66qDSs_lR73GcF_YpJ1f) and a windy gun to use it.
Are your wheel bolts the type with 3 holes? They don't last long at the hands of tyre fitters & their windy guns. The later 'cake cutter' type are better & aren't too expensive from Vauxhall. :y
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yeah still got the codes, but to be honest im just going to remove the locking nuts and put the regular nuts back on, been may years since ive seen a car up on bricks with the wheels removed lol so not sure the locking nuts are needed :y
oh and its the "cake cutter" type, its all blunt and mangled so pretty much FUBAR
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Sorry to hear of the problem but the fact is that this type of damage is inevitable with the shite design of the locknuts. Even with great care you just cannot keep the thing in line while you exert the force to undo and tighten them. Everytime you do it they wear that little bit more. Air guns are another no no cos they damage them too. The old method of 'by hand' and the use of a torque wrench for tightening is the best, and only way. The difficult part about using the usual 'special removal tool' used by tyre fitters is that it will not fit inside the high tensile hardened anti-tamper collar that is integral with the VX lockstuds. I know that because I bought a set of them!!!!! Neither can you chisel these off to gain access.
Probably purpose built that way to maximise the VX profit margins..............
Don't use lockstuds anymore on mine cos as you point out - the old 'up an bricks' is a very rare sight now and they are an odd ball size anyway so don't fit much else.
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Got stopped by our local friendly traffic officers this morning and they kindly pointed out one of my tyres was right on the limit :'( so got up early today to get it done at local tyre place but......my locking wheel nut key is so badly worn down that it wont undo the nut :o, now the garage cant get the wheel off and said only thing i can do it get a new key from Vauxhall, BUT when i rung Vaux they said it would be at least 2 weeks!!!! for a new key, is there any way i can get this dam locking nut off without destroying the wheel :-? :'(
Vauxhall will require the code for the wheel bolts, is it still in the case? :-/
Most decent tyre firms/garges should have a set of these .....
click here (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&partNumber=696823&langId=-1&cm_mmc=Googlebase-_-Workshop+%26+Tools%2FHand+Tools-_-Na-_-Laser+Locking+Wheel+Nut+Remover&source=shopping&%24%24tid=0-4NfKru7zJHfzHQ9YPcScNidaEHp7BZfHgQOCIJ2myq66qDSs_lR73GcF_YpJ1f) and a windy gun to use it.
Are your wheel bolts the type with 3 holes? They don't last long at the hands of tyre fitters & their windy guns. The later 'cake cutter' type are better & aren't too expensive from Vauxhall. :y
Portomega - I'd be interested to know how you get on if you get the sockets on link shown, not too sure how good they would be as facelift alloy locking nuts have spinners to prevent such sockets being used :(
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All Vauxhall locking wheelbolts are appalling bad. Hence mine are in a landfill somewhere.
For replacement, see what pattern ones are about.
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..... as facelift alloy locking nuts have spinners to prevent such sockets being used :(
So do the old style 3 pin bolts, it's just not as substantial as that on the cake cutter type.
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I had the same problem on a Mondeo, where the unlock socket was lost.
I measured the outside diameter of the nut and selected an old socket that was just slightly undersize (may need imperial socket) then smacked it onto the nut with a small lump hammer.
It just had enough grip to enable undoing the nut. Both the nut and socket are then scrap, but it got the bugger off.
I had to do this on all four wheels :(
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I had the same problem on a Mondeo, where the unlock socket was lost.
I measured the outside diameter of the nut and selected an old socket that was just slightly undersize (may need imperial socket) then smacked it onto the nut with a small lump hammer.
It just had enough grip to enable undoing the nut. Both the nut and socket are then scrap, but it got the bugger off.
I had to do this on all four wheels :(
most locking wheelnets have spinners to stop the socket trick
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Took it to a local independant tyre place and they basically got a piece of steel pipe, hammered the "cake cutter" part of the unlocking tool until it was sort of back into shape, then hammer it onto the nut, and with alot of effort and 3 people pushing and pulling got the nut off ::) of course the tool is now totally FUBAR luckily my other 3 tyres are new so i got time ( if i dont get a puncutre in the next week or two) to buy a new unlocking kit from Vaux, but once they are off they shall be making a new years trip to the rubbish dump :y
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a mate took his 07 vectra to nat tyres and the key gave way. they offered to pay for it! why bother with locking nuts unless you have a problem in your area.
d
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I'll always use locking wheel bolts. I dont scrimp when it comes to tyres, and whilst the wheels aren't worth a great deal, the tyres are worth more than the car.
Simple solution to this problem is to NOT ALLOW tyre places to get their grubby hand on the Locking wheel bolts. Just ask them for their torque wrench and remove/replace them yourself.
The amount of times I've bollocked some scrote for smashing the wheelbolts in with an AirGun (not even winding the first couple of threads with the socket).
Consider it a lesson learned, and do the important bit yourself.
drb..... These thieves dont sh1t on their own doorstep.... they move into the nicer areas of town. Probably because the better areas have better wheels to pilfer.
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I'll always use locking wheel bolts. I dont scrimp when it comes to tyres, and whilst the wheels aren't worth a great deal, the tyres are worth more than the car.
Simple solution to this problem is to NOT ALLOW tyre places to get their grubby hand on the Locking wheel bolts. Just ask them for their torque wrench and remove/replace them yourself.
The amount of times I've bollocked some scrote for smashing the wheelbolts in with an AirGun (not even winding the first couple of threads with the socket).
Consider it a lesson learned, and do the important bit yourself.
drb..... These thieves dont sh1t on their own doorstep.... they move into the nicer areas of town. Probably because the better areas have better wheels to pilfer.
Even torqued correctly (yes, some tyre places do!), the Vauxhall locking nuts are so poor, they regularly fail. There must be a better pattern part out there...
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I'll always use locking wheel bolts. I dont scrimp when it comes to tyres, and whilst the wheels aren't worth a great deal, the tyres are worth more than the car.
Simple solution to this problem is to NOT ALLOW tyre places to get their grubby hand on the Locking wheel bolts. Just ask them for their torque wrench and remove/replace them yourself.
The amount of times I've bollocked some scrote for smashing the wheelbolts in with an AirGun (not even winding the first couple of threads with the socket).
Consider it a lesson learned, and do the important bit yourself.
drb..... These thieves dont sh1t on their own doorstep.... they move into the nicer areas of town. Probably because the better areas have better wheels to pilfer.
Even torqued correctly (yes, some tyre places do!), the Vauxhall locking nuts are so poor, they regularly fail. There must be a better pattern part out there...
Last time locking nuts came of mine was at WIM, and they did torque them correctly (no guns used)
That was back in May/June time, so not that long. Going to try a few things to loosen them off.
- Using the old key, bash the hell out of the nut hoping to break / loosen the seal.
- Loosen all other bolts, roll forward, and stamp on the front brakes
- Soak in WD40 for a few days first before trying above
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Had the challenge of removing a locking bolt with a damaged cake cutter typekey some months ago. Every time you exerted any pressure to turn the thing slipped out of its keyslot.
I placed the offending wheel a foot or so away from the end of a wall and used a bottle jack onto the tommy bar of the socket set with the locknut to exert big pressure thereby keeping the locknut key firmly in place.
Carefully applied use of a scaffold bar got the nut undone without skipping. Worth a shot?
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I'll always use locking wheel bolts. I dont scrimp when it comes to tyres, and whilst the wheels aren't worth a great deal, the tyres are worth more than the car.
Simple solution to this problem is to NOT ALLOW tyre places to get their grubby hand on the Locking wheel bolts. Just ask them for their torque wrench and remove/replace them yourself.
The amount of times I've bollocked some scrote for smashing the wheelbolts in with an AirGun (not even winding the first couple of threads with the socket).
Consider it a lesson learned, and do the important bit yourself.
drb..... These thieves dont sh1t on their own doorstep.... they move into the nicer areas of town. Probably because the better areas have better wheels to pilfer.
Even torqued correctly (yes, some tyre places do!), the Vauxhall locking nuts are so poor, they regularly fail. There must be a better pattern part out there...
Last time locking nuts came of mine was at WIM, and they did torque them correctly (no guns used)
That was back in May/June time, so not that long. Going to try a few things to loosen them off.
- Using the old key, bash the hell out of the nut hoping to break / loosen the seal.
- Loosen all other bolts, roll forward, and stamp on the front brakes
- Soak in WD40 for a few days first before trying above
Could try checking your pads a bit more frequently!! ;)
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Had the challenge of removing a locking bolt with a damaged cake cutter typekey some months ago. Every time you exerted any pressure to turn the thing slipped out of its keyslot.
I placed the offending wheel a foot or so away from the end of a wall and used a bottle jack onto the tommy bar of the socket set with the locknut to exert big pressure thereby keeping the locknut key firmly in place.
Carefully applied use of a scaffold bar got the nut undone without skipping. Worth a shot?
neat idea, but don't have a bottle jack. I've had had locking nuts slip before, but my current one is ripped:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Omega/Wheels/DSC00382.JPG)
I think even with that kind of pressure it will just rip the rest of the thread off.
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I'll always use locking wheel bolts. I dont scrimp when it comes to tyres, and whilst the wheels aren't worth a great deal, the tyres are worth more than the car.
Simple solution to this problem is to NOT ALLOW tyre places to get their grubby hand on the Locking wheel bolts. Just ask them for their torque wrench and remove/replace them yourself.
The amount of times I've bollocked some scrote for smashing the wheelbolts in with an AirGun (not even winding the first couple of threads with the socket).
Consider it a lesson learned, and do the important bit yourself.
drb..... These thieves dont sh1t on their own doorstep.... they move into the nicer areas of town. Probably because the better areas have better wheels to pilfer.
Even torqued correctly (yes, some tyre places do!), the Vauxhall locking nuts are so poor, they regularly fail. There must be a better pattern part out there...
Last time locking nuts came of mine was at WIM, and they did torque them correctly (no guns used)
That was back in May/June time, so not that long. Going to try a few things to loosen them off.
- Using the old key, bash the hell out of the nut hoping to break / loosen the seal.
- Loosen all other bolts, roll forward, and stamp on the front brakes
- Soak in WD40 for a few days first before trying above
Could try checking your pads a bit more frequently!! ;)
I'm lazy :P
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neat idea, but don't have a bottle jack. I've had had locking nuts slip before, but my current one is ripped:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Omega/Wheels/DSC00382.JPG)
I think even with that kind of pressure it will just rip the rest of the thread off.
Desperate times call for desperate measures...... It wolnt make it any worse and might - just might - save the effort of having to chisel it off....
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neat idea, but don't have a bottle jack. I've had had locking nuts slip before, but my current one is ripped:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Omega/Wheels/DSC00382.JPG)
I think even with that kind of pressure it will just rip the rest of the thread off.
Desperate times call for desperate measures...... It wolnt make it any worse and might - just might - save the effort of having to chisel it off....
Can't think of anything i can use to replace the bottle jack, got some G-Clamps but they are not big enough :-/
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scissor jack?
block of wood and a scaffold pole?
improvisation is the mother of invention! ;D
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wooden block and a couple of 30* cut wedges to get the tension in?
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scissor jack?
block of wood and a scaffold pole?
improvisation is the mother of invention! ;D
I'll see what i can do ;D
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What a coincidence ... I have the identical keyboard to the one in the picture and my locking nut key looks just like yours too!
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Came across a set of these (4 piece set) at a boot sale, didnt buy as were well used. But looks like it would do the job of getting a locking nut off.
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/locking-wheel-nut-remover-2pc
stef
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Had the challenge of removing a locking bolt with a damaged cake cutter typekey some months ago. Every time you exerted any pressure to turn the thing slipped out of its keyslot.
I placed the offending wheel a foot or so away from the end of a wall and used a bottle jack onto the tommy bar of the socket set with the locknut to exert big pressure thereby keeping the locknut key firmly in place.
Carefully applied use of a scaffold bar got the nut undone without skipping. Worth a shot?
neat idea, but don't have a bottle jack. I've had had locking nuts slip before, but my current one is ripped:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Omega/Wheels/DSC00382.JPG)
I think even with that kind of pressure it will just rip the rest of the thread off.
Plomien's were like this when we recently attempted to change his discs/pads ........
>:(
As I was somewhat 'incapacitated' at the time, we were pointed in the direction of a 'local geezer' tyre specialist who promptly 're-engineered' a wheel-nut spider with a lump-hammer!
:D :D ;D ;D
A few minutes and a 'drink' later, it was 'job done, boys' and we were on our way.
Offending bolts were then replaced with standard jobbies from Sethsmate's 'store' - Plomien's now a happy chappie!
:y
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Had the challenge of removing a locking bolt with a damaged cake cutter typekey some months ago. Every time you exerted any pressure to turn the thing slipped out of its keyslot.
I placed the offending wheel a foot or so away from the end of a wall and used a bottle jack onto the tommy bar of the socket set with the locknut to exert big pressure thereby keeping the locknut key firmly in place.
Carefully applied use of a scaffold bar got the nut undone without skipping. Worth a shot?
neat idea, but don't have a bottle jack. I've had had locking nuts slip before, but my current one is ripped:
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Omega/Wheels/DSC00382.JPG)
I think even with that kind of pressure it will just rip the rest of the thread off.
Plomien's were like this when we recently attempted to change his discs/pads ........
>:(
As I was somewhat 'incapacitated' at the time, we were pointed in the direction of a 'local geezer' tyre specialist who promptly 're-engineered' a wheel-nut spider with a lump-hammer!
:D :D ;D ;D
A few minutes and a 'drink' later, it was 'job done, boys' and we were on our way.
Offending bolts were then replaced with standard jobbies from Sethsmate's 'store' - Plomien's now a happy chappie!
:y
They really are shite, nuts themselves are ok ish, its the keys are too soft >:(
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My sentiments exactly Tunnie lad! :y
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Had the challenge of removing a locking bolt with a damaged cake cutter typekey some months ago. Every time you exerted any pressure to turn the thing slipped out of its keyslot.
I placed the offending wheel a foot or so away from the end of a wall and used a bottle jack onto the tommy bar of the socket set with the locknut to exert big pressure thereby keeping the locknut key firmly in place.
Carefully applied use of a scaffold bar got the nut undone without skipping. Worth a shot?
Excellent idea - hadn't thought of that :y - I have this problem myself at the moment except the head of the bolt disintegrated into two pieces plus the steel ring - not the socket. Keeping the bits together and the pressure on it to stop it twisting back off I think is all that's stopping me from turning it (the thread 'cracked' just before the bolt came apart - so it shouldn't be locked too tight). Currently all the bits have been cast in Araldite in the socket and onto the bolt head to try and get as much gripping as much as possible before I try and turn it tomorrow sometime (when it's had plenty of time to harden properly).
I've got a bottle jack - just need to get the car close enough to the house to borrow the garage wall ::)
Cheers
Ian.
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Had the challenge of removing a locking bolt with a damaged cake cutter typekey some months ago. Every time you exerted any pressure to turn the thing slipped out of its keyslot.
I placed the offending wheel a foot or so away from the end of a wall and used a bottle jack onto the tommy bar of the socket set with the locknut to exert big pressure thereby keeping the locknut key firmly in place.
Carefully applied use of a scaffold bar got the nut undone without skipping. Worth a shot?
Excellent idea - hadn't thought of that :y - I have this problem myself at the moment except the head of the bolt disintegrated into two pieces plus the steel ring - not the socket. Keeping the bits together and the pressure on it to stop it twisting back off I think is all that's stopping me from turning it (the thread 'cracked' just before the bolt came apart - so it shouldn't be locked too tight). Currently all the bits have been cast in Araldite in the socket and onto the bolt head to try and get as much gripping as much as possible before I try and turn it tomorrow sometime (when it's had plenty of time to harden properly).
I've got a bottle jack - just need to get the car close enough to the house to borrow the garage wall ::)
Cheers
Ian.
..nope - that didn't work either - the car just kept moving sideways on it's tyres as it still twisted off the top :-[.
Went into the garage today and they ended up having to tack weld another nut on it to release it :-X. Definitely not the easiest one they've had to remove - but deep respect to them - no damage to the alloy at all :y
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Hi
Had the same prob last year.
How to sort it out...... Get a small chisle and gently tap around the anti tamper ring around the locking nut, you`ll see the ring start to come away from the nut. Now use a pin nose plyers and start to pull the ring off. Two to three mins and the ring should be off. Now find a socket just smaller than the remaining nut and tap it over the nut( tight fit is required) Now with your tyre wrench undo the nut. If it slips either the socket is to lose or you need to drive it on more. Took me five mins for the first one then about ten min for the other three. Good luck