Hey everyone.
I need some advice here quick.

I went to get my new tires put on my car about 3 weeks ago. I'm sitting in the waiting room not 5 minutes when one of the guys comes out with my wheel lock key saying that it broke when they were trying to take the second wheel off. I didn't say anything because I knew they'd say they weren't liable or anything, so i went home and ordered two new ones. Now that I have them I was planning on going tomorrow to get my tires on. I decided to take the wheel locks off myself this time to avoid the mechanics breaking the key again. Long story short, the nut is in there so tight that I broke the f**** key!!!!

So, are there any tricks or tips to loosening a nut so i don't break the third key???

Yes i searched for this, didn't find anything.

 

where you using a impact gun?

 

the mechanic was.
i was using the stupid wrench from the trunk.
I work out.

 

first dont over torque the nuts ....80 ft. lbs is OK..
if the prior shop over tightned them...it will be difficult to loosen..

One tip is to overtighten the two nuts on both sides of the lock, causing to distort and posslibly lowering the effort to loosen up nut...

Go back to offending shop and have their impact gun take them off...(first option)...A skilled tech should be able to remove them for you..

 

you will need a impact gun, the previous poster is right, you have to goose tight them, then try adn loosen them up, another trick is dont use an extensions, becasue you loose torque.

 

if the torque wrench breaks the key again you will have to weld a nut to ur lug and take it off with a socket

 

alright then, i'll tell the guys at the shop tomorrow. Hopefully they've encountered this problem before.

thanks for all the help.

 

theres a way to drill out the center, heard of it from a friend who owns a shop and the same thing happened...

 

^ +1, i always hear about the drilling method.

 

Agree with all info mentioned, but one thought for future reference.
Never ever let any shop remove/install your lug nuts with an impact gun.
It's almost a guarantee that the impact socket will ef up your wheel finish inside the wheel socket holes. Plus, impact guns will over tighten lugs way to much.
These aren't stamped steel wheels...lol. Torque wrench by hand to 80 ft/lb as said before.
Man...that lug nut must have been tightened about 300+ ft/lb prior for it to be breaking lock keys.

G/L

 

Very good idea. I recommend getting a undersize deep socket hammer it in and just bust them off. Go see the Snap On guy, he'll get you what ever you need. But the most effective way is to use a air chissel but on our rims, not a good idea cause our lugs are not exposed.

 

yeah, i had already decided that when they couldn't get it off the first time.

again, thanks for all the great advice.

 

If you cant get it out you can just drill it out yourself, it takes time but its the safest way of not damaging your wheel. Just start with a small hole in the center and just gradually use bigger and bigger drill bits. There is a point that the drill will not go past on the stud so just stop there and dont sweat it. It will snap the stud and nut right off and not hurt your wheel. Just be patient and use lubricant so it doesnt start to burn the drill bits

 

saaamme shyt happened to me when i was putting a set of coupe wheels on my G....the lock and the key broke though! i took it to the stealer to have them remove it (BIG MISTAKE WHAT WAS I THINKING FRIGGIN MORONS AT DEALERS!?) i go inside the garage as i arrive to find some complete idiot banging the F'n wheel with a impact gun i shoulda back handed him! so that did nothing ofcourse, and i ended up having to pay the shop foreman a 100 bucks (under the table btw) to drill it out a week later. not only did they ruin a wheel but they removed all my other locks and wouldnt give me another key or anything whatta bunch of careless d1cks! i made them replace the wheel (second time this has happened to me) and i bought a new set of locks that i still havnt received! so annoying uGHHH i fvckin HATE infiniti service by me!!

 

Just tell them you lost the key, and they will drill it out for you