Locking wheel nuts
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First thing I do is take the locking wheel nuts off my cars. Right pain in the a*se they are!
Most garages tighten and undo these nuts with an air gun and knacker them. Then there's real fun and games trying to get them off when busted.
When was the last time anyone heard of someones wheels being knicked anyway.
Woolfie882 will probably have 5 locking nuts on each wheel, what with his paranoia :lol:
Grumpy
Most garages tighten and undo these nuts with an air gun and knacker them. Then there's real fun and games trying to get them off when busted.
When was the last time anyone heard of someones wheels being knicked anyway.
Woolfie882 will probably have 5 locking nuts on each wheel, what with his paranoia :lol:
Grumpy
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I vowed never to use locking wheel nuts again after having to have a broken one drilled out in my old Vectra. Memory fades and three new cars later I've forgotten that bad experience. As a thought Grumpy, perhaps you don't see wheels being knicked because of locking wheel nuts!
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Hi Dautres,
yes, you may be right. It may also be because wheels are much more car specific these days. I remember a time that most ford, GM wheels would fit any ford or GM, just about. Do you remember the 13 inch steel rims they all had? How awful by today's standards!!
I guess I'm a bit different to most on this forum as I have cars that do 60-80k miles every year and are in and out of the garage lots for tyres and servicing. The average Joe I guess would have their wheels removed for a service once a year maybe..
The wife's 3008 will probably keep her locking nuts as I'm not allowed near her new baby yet. That'll change when it needs polishing I'm sure! :lol:
Grumpy
yes, you may be right. It may also be because wheels are much more car specific these days. I remember a time that most ford, GM wheels would fit any ford or GM, just about. Do you remember the 13 inch steel rims they all had? How awful by today's standards!!
I guess I'm a bit different to most on this forum as I have cars that do 60-80k miles every year and are in and out of the garage lots for tyres and servicing. The average Joe I guess would have their wheels removed for a service once a year maybe..
The wife's 3008 will probably keep her locking nuts as I'm not allowed near her new baby yet. That'll change when it needs polishing I'm sure! :lol:
Grumpy
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We have 2 different types of drivers here this is the problem.
New car drivers generally NEVER remove a wheel garages do all the work these drivers think locking bolts are a good thing.
Older car driver as in over 3 years old these drivers tend to do their own repairs and find the locking bolts are more bother than they are worth because new driver has always let garages remove them and as said some garages will overtighten them other issue is some owners do not keep the bolt in the car and forget to pass it on when trading in for their next new car this may take 6 months to be noticed !!
End result is bolts wont come out as they chew before you can get all 4 off this IS a real issue so much so that there are people specialising in the removal of broken lockers/lost key lockers.
Locking bolts were a useful deterant 20-30 years ago when 1 in 10 had alloys but nowadays most cars have alloys so theft is not a big issue nowadays as the market is much smaller.
New car drivers generally NEVER remove a wheel garages do all the work these drivers think locking bolts are a good thing.
Older car driver as in over 3 years old these drivers tend to do their own repairs and find the locking bolts are more bother than they are worth because new driver has always let garages remove them and as said some garages will overtighten them other issue is some owners do not keep the bolt in the car and forget to pass it on when trading in for their next new car this may take 6 months to be noticed !!
End result is bolts wont come out as they chew before you can get all 4 off this IS a real issue so much so that there are people specialising in the removal of broken lockers/lost key lockers.
Locking bolts were a useful deterant 20-30 years ago when 1 in 10 had alloys but nowadays most cars have alloys so theft is not a big issue nowadays as the market is much smaller.
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I had a locking nut that broke on my C4GP a couple of years ago, only found it when I really needed a tyre and had to have it drilled out which cost a fair bit. Result was that I replaced them with non locking ones and took my wife's C4 to replace the locking nuts on hers as well.
Not so bothered about the ones on my new 3008 though as it's a lease car so not my problem however like others have said, wheel theft isn't that much of a problem compared to the 80s and 90s when they were still a bit exclusive
Not so bothered about the ones on my new 3008 though as it's a lease car so not my problem however like others have said, wheel theft isn't that much of a problem compared to the 80s and 90s when they were still a bit exclusive
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The wheels on my car currently cost £380 each with tyres £200 each for something like a continental. There is a huge market for used wheels and tyres on ebay. Hence wheels are still a great item for thieves to profit from. Now more than ever.
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Yes i agree there is a huge market for used wheels on ebay i sell plenty but i find they are worth more as single wheels as people want a spare or replace a pothole damaged one etc
I just dont agree they are a big target for thieves nowadays parking on a slope actually makes it practically impossible to steal them anyway
I just dont agree they are a big target for thieves nowadays parking on a slope actually makes it practically impossible to steal them anyway
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342 Posts
Only problem I have had with locking wheel nuts is finding them missing after garage visit, tyre change or puncture repair! Thing was it was too late by the time I checked to know where and when they went missing
I will always check my wheels now after any garage visit. Something to bear in mind, chaps and chapesses :thumb:
I will always check my wheels now after any garage visit. Something to bear in mind, chaps and chapesses :thumb:
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Only if they need a tightener......
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be careful! Forum police will be watching!! :lol: (Joke)
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But at least it would deter the casual tea leaf looking for some quick alloysThe guy that designed these locknuts should be taken out and shot
I’ve spent 4 hours removing the front 2 from my 508SW, total nightmare
Locknuts will not be going back on.
Have never considered removing locking wheel nuts as I have been on the receiving end of a theft. Nearly 20 years ago now but I had just joined a new company and been given a company car. VW Vento, quite sporty, lovely alloys, no locking nuts. Been with the company 4 days, got up for work and looked out the window to see the car on bricks. Just can't believe the brass neck of people, we used to live in the corner of a very closed in cul-de-sac so only one escape route if they were disturbed and houses on every side overlooking the car!
Anyhow, that was an interesting conversation with the fleet admin dept.
Anyhow, that was an interesting conversation with the fleet admin dept.
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