Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: David Wilson on 10 January 2011, 23:28:12

Title: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: David Wilson on 10 January 2011, 23:28:12
Does anyone know what locking wheel nut remover/removal socket and size you would need if you had the Vauxhall locking nuts and you couldn't undo them?

A friend said he could drill them but I don't fancy that as its going to be time consuming.  The normal nuts are 17mm and the locking nut key is really worn.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Broomies Mate on 10 January 2011, 23:33:25
There are a couple of distinct designs, and further to that, there are several of each design.  You cant just provide a single locking wheel nut, else it wouldnt be very secure.

If you have the original key, it will have a code stamped on it.  Take it to Vauxhall and they will get you a replacement for not too much dollar.
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: millwall on 10 January 2011, 23:34:49
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Accessories/Mechanics-Tools/Laser-Emergency-Locking-Wheel-Nut-Remover-4-Pc
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Broomies Mate on 10 January 2011, 23:37:23
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http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Accessories/Mechanics-Tools/Laser-Emergency-Locking-Wheel-Nut-Remover-4-Pc

A good tool, but you still need to smash off the spinning collar (if the later type of locking bolt).  :y
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: millwall on 10 January 2011, 23:43:17
Quote
Quote
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Accessories/Mechanics-Tools/Laser-Emergency-Locking-Wheel-Nut-Remover-4-Pc

A good tool, but you still need to smash off the spinning collar (if the later type of locking bolt).  :y
good point  forgot about the collar :y    otherwise a very good set i have used before and got the locking nuts off
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: skyblue on 10 January 2011, 23:49:53
Quote
Quote
Quote
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Accessories/Mechanics-Tools/Laser-Emergency-Locking-Wheel-Nut-Remover-4-Pc

A good tool, but you still need to smash off the spinning collar (if the later type of locking bolt).  :y
good point  forgot about the collar :y    otherwise a very good set i have used before and got the locking nuts off

So thats how you get new tyres is it nick some poor buggers  wheels  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: millwall on 10 January 2011, 23:56:06
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Quote
Quote
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http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Accessories/Mechanics-Tools/Laser-Emergency-Locking-Wheel-Nut-Remover-4-Pc

A good tool, but you still need to smash off the spinning collar (if the later type of locking bolt).  :y
good point  forgot about the collar :y    otherwise a very good set i have used before and got the locking nuts off

So thats how you get new tyres is it nick some poor buggers  wheels  ;) ;D
correct :y  be fair im saving for a house move every penny helps ;D ;D
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: skyblue on 10 January 2011, 23:59:03
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Accessories/Mechanics-Tools/Laser-Emergency-Locking-Wheel-Nut-Remover-4-Pc

A good tool, but you still need to smash off the spinning collar (if the later type of locking bolt).  :y
good point  forgot about the collar :y    otherwise a very good set i have used before and got the locking nuts off

So thats how you get new tyres is it nick some poor buggers  wheels  ;) ;D
correct :y  be fair im saving for a house move every penny helps ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D Sorry David for hijacking ya question... the two fools will leave ya alone now ;) :)
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Andy B on 11 January 2011, 00:04:00
Quote
Quote
Quote
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/94826/Van-Car-Accessories/Mechanics-Tools/Laser-Emergency-Locking-Wheel-Nut-Remover-4-Pc

A good tool, but you still need to smash off the spinning collar (if the later type of locking bolt).  :y
good point  forgot about the collar :y    otherwise a very good set i have used before and got the locking nuts off

The locking bolts initially fitted to my car were the 3 pin type. The collar was paper thin & very easily cut off, I used a very small home/work made chisel.

Halfords do a locking bolt remover too

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_196491_langId_-1_categoryId_165469
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: skyblue on 11 January 2011, 00:09:27
Would a local scarp yard have one  by any chance  :-/
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Andy B on 11 January 2011, 00:15:54
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Would a local scarp yard have one  by any chance  :-/

possibly, but would it be the correct pattern?  :-/ They are supposed to be a key for anti-theft.

I asked nicely at the local ATS and they removed mine for me  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: skyblue on 11 January 2011, 00:21:08
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Would a local scarp yard have one  by any chance  :-/

possibly, but would it be the correct pattern?  :-/ They are supposed to be a key for anti-theft.

I asked nicely at the local ATS and they removed mine for me  :y :y :y

I was just thinking out aloud as i remembered the 3 pin job fitted mine + the brother in laws motor  hence why i thought they were a standard fit  :-/good shout abotut local ATS tho :y
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Elite Pete on 11 January 2011, 11:04:52
If they are the Vauxhall cookie cutter ones then I feel sorry for you :'(
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Andy B on 11 January 2011, 11:09:07
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If they are the Vauxhall cookie cutter ones then I feel sorry for you :'(

I've never had a problem with mine, maybe it's because they've rarely been touched by any tyre fitters. It was the previous 3 pin type I/Kwick Fit had problems with ie I ended up with a 2 pin 'key'  :(
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Elite Pete on 11 January 2011, 11:21:37
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If they are the Vauxhall cookie cutter ones then I feel sorry for you :'(

I've never had a problem with mine, maybe it's because they've rarely been touched by any tyre fitters. It was the previous 3 pin type I/Kwick Fit had problems with ie I ended up with a 2 pin 'key'  :(
I bought an MV6 a couple of years ago for its Irmscher body kit and wheels. It had cookie cutters on it and I suspect someone had tightened the nuts with an air gun, there was no way they were coming undone so I had to drill them, took me ages ;D
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Andy B on 11 January 2011, 11:27:00
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Quote
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If they are the Vauxhall cookie cutter ones then I feel sorry for you :'(

I've never had a problem with mine, maybe it's because they've rarely been touched by any tyre fitters. It was the previous 3 pin type I/Kwick Fit had problems with ie I ended up with a 2 pin 'key'  :(
I bought an MV6 a couple of years ago for its Irmscher body kit and wheels. It had cookie cutters on it and I suspect someone had tightened the nuts with an air gun, there was no way they were coming undone so I had to drill them, took me ages ;D

Probably. But I have my own.  ;)
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: omegod on 11 January 2011, 13:16:42
If you have the code check ebay as there are often seconhand sets including the key that match your code, had some myself for a fiver, Vaux charge £25 for a new key
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: David Wilson on 11 January 2011, 14:18:55
Lol, well thats given me several options thanks everyone.
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: MickAP on 11 January 2011, 14:21:39
I've got a new key here, along with a complete set of locking nuts.
I had to buy a new key as the original wouldn't budge the nuts, they robbed me (dealers) of £31 for it. I was in a dilemma and needed a key quickly to remove an alloy which had a puncture.
Post up a pic of you locking nuts, to see if these I've got match your pattern. Mine are off a Signum though, same as the Omega bolts though.

Mick
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Steve Pearce on 25 January 2011, 17:40:08
Ive recently encountered this problem. Got the nuts off on the OSF but then couldnt get the NSF off, as the key kept slipping. I think that one of the prongs has rounded a little, so it cannot get a grip.

Took the car for a service at a friends garage (as its only just been purchased), he said that they managed to get the OSF and NSR off but the other 2 wouldnt budge, though presumably they havnt tried to the brute force route. Said it would be best to contact Vauxhall, which i did.

They said, as mentioned in this thread, that if you have the box they have a 3 digit code number which corresponds to any of 100+ different designs. I headed to the workshop though and someone there claimed that the key i had is not a geniune vauxhall key and the only way therefore would be to either find the original key (which isnt with the car!!) or they will get it off for the cost of an hours labour, about £85. Not likely.

So that leaves a few options. I saw the links further up for halfords and screwfix, are these any good? Does anyone have any experience with the nuts on an omega?

What type of metal are they made of? I know a few welders, can i get someone to weld the end of a normal wheel nut on the end and get it off that way?

Does drilling into the nut have any sort of positive effect?

In response to MickAP, i couldnt be bothered to go back outside into the rain to take a picture but it looks broadly like this;

(http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/4061/lockingnuts.jpg)

P.S. Is the code for the keys not stored on a database somewhere, with the VIN and such?
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Steve Pearce on 25 January 2011, 20:59:20
In addition to previous post;

Ive just checked the key thats with the car, the only thing that seems to be stamped on it anywhere are the following;

B5S8

Does that sound like it could be one of the key codes?
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: V6 CDX-er on 26 January 2011, 00:34:49
Quote
In addition to previous post;

Ive just checked the key thats with the car, the only thing that seems to be stamped on it anywhere are the following;

B5S8

Does that sound like it could be one of the key codes?


Mines the cookie cutter type, and my serial number is two letters, followed by four numbers, (eg; AA1234), if that's any help to you?
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: David Wilson on 28 January 2011, 00:45:46
Luckily a friend of mine is a mechanic and went for the option of using an impact socket and hammering it over the locking nut after cutting off the rotating ring and used a big bar to crack them off.  He has the removal tools for them but says they sometimes damage the alloys so didn't want to use them.

As for paying a garage to do them - I found another mechanic who would of drilled them for £40 for the four, this is probably the last resort if nothing else works.  But it took less than 15 minutes to get them off using the socket and hammer.

Well pleased with the result, not putting any more on it.

Thanks for the advice though.
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Steve Pearce on 07 February 2011, 09:51:02
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Mines the cookie cutter type, and my serial number is two letters, followed by four numbers, (eg; AA1234), if that's any help to you?

Nice one, il look into it. Im beginning to suspect that they are either a complete new kit of non-vauxhall nuts (from halfords or such) or the original key was lost and this is a replacement.

Unhappily though, our garage had tried for an hour to get the left front off to no avail. They tried to socket and hammer approach with no luck and even tried welding a nut on, but found it sheared off every time they tried to undo it. Maybe someone glued them on.

So that pretty much leaves the drilling option. Has anyone had much success with this? Apparently they are sometimes made of some nonsense metal that isnt terribly easy to drill. Does anyone fancy doing a guide so i dont cock it up?!
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: marke on 07 February 2011, 10:00:22
hi mate get a socket that just fits put a copper washer at side off socket and nut big hammer and strong arm off  :y
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Steve Pearce on 07 February 2011, 10:02:36
Thanks its worth a go (if nothing else works). Where does the washer go then exactly? In the socket? Or do you mean so that it would squeeze in the gap between the walls of the socket and the nut?
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: The Red Baron on 07 February 2011, 10:03:15
question, are the halfords set of removers a knock on or screw on jobby. :-?
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Andy B on 07 February 2011, 10:10:08
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question, are the halfords set of removers a knock on or screw on jobby. :-?

 :y
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_196491_langId_-1_categoryId_165469
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: marke on 07 February 2011, 10:12:56
hey put washer inside the socket and nut can try steel washer but copper better pluming shop for copper washer get couple it works :y
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Steve Pearce on 07 February 2011, 10:23:26
OK (i think!). What is the point of the washer then, if you dont mind me asking? To provide a little give/purchase between the socket/nut?

Oh also, do those locking nut removers require an impact wrench? Some people have said they do and i dont have one....
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: marke on 07 February 2011, 10:28:02
have you ever put your finger in bluetack and made finger print same thing
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Steve Pearce on 07 February 2011, 10:34:06
Righto, makes sense (i think!). Il let you know how i get on!
Title: Re: Locking wheel nuts
Post by: Bent valve on 07 February 2011, 19:02:17
I took some cake cutters of a mates car recently. Heres how, fit a 19 mm 1/2"drive socket to a long extension bar and place the socket over the locking bolt and hit very hard several times with a lump hammer until the socket goes fully home. Now waggle the extension bar from side to side until you can withdaw the socket from the locking bolt. now repeat the proceedure with an 18mm socket and finally ending up with a 17mm or maybe even a 16mm socket at which point you will have enough purchase on the bolt to turn and remove it. This method will annihilate the hardended
steel ring. :y Good luck!