sgrobler Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Help!!! My car has Lotus tamper-proof wheel lock studs for the Oz wheels. The tool has broken - its got four pegs that engage on the special wheel stud and the pegs have sheared off. I now can't get my wheels off, which is a major problem. Tried all the local (Perth) auto/tool shops, but no luck. Tried SJ Sportscars, but they say that these have not been available since 1999. Does anyone have one that they don't want/need? Hopefully the pin centres are compatible. Happy to buy, borrow, pay shipping costs and endure the long wait for shipping from UK/US or wherever! The alternative is to drill the wheel studs or try and make a new tool. My advice to others with this set-up is - get rid of it before it bites you on the ass. I am attaching a photo of the offending item. Steve Quote Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydclements Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) Go to a local motor factrs they should have a tool that's like a socket with threads inside it (left hand threads) that cut into the nut to grip it and then once they're wound on you simply undo the nut as normal. It destroys the locking nut (well damages it and makes it look unsightly) and I guess if you need to remove the wheel urgently it's the only choice other than wait for a new one from Lotus (if available at all). Andy Edit, just remebered I've seen another tool with lots of pins that are designed to work on the other type of locking nut, all spring looaded so you push it on and it pushes most of the pins out of the way except where there should be a bit of metal for the locking nut tool. it may work, or it may be too weak for this type. Edited March 10, 2009 by andydclements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molemot Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Looks like you could centre pop where the studs were, drill through and use suitable old drill shanks to form substitute studs. Get the nuts off and throw them away!! Quote Scientists investigate that which already is; Engineers create that which has never been." - Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgrobler Posted March 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Thanks for the tip on the left hand threaded nut idea, Andy - might try that first. Could probably just buy a left hand male thread die. John, my initial thoughts were exactly what you suggested - but I think I'd have to go to a machine shop to drill the old pegs out - they are extremely hard.. Or put new ones in between. So that will be plan B. Plan C is attempt to drill the studs out... Quote Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydclements Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 You may struggle with a Left hand die nut as it may be too large to get to the nut. The tools were about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billt Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 I had an old 'vette and the tool was missing when I bought it. Though your locks are a bit different you might weld a piece of metal to the lock then remove it. A guy at the tire place did this for me for free though I bought the tires from him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davegtst Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) Another way is to hammer on a smaller size socket then try and get it off. Usually an air gun works best. I have a locking wheel nut removal tool but it's not much good to you on the other side of the world. I very much doubt the pins are the same as others, usually there are quite a few combinations so getting another key probably would not work. If all else fails, drill them off carefully. Edited March 10, 2009 by davegtst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbers Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Yes Dave, Thats the way we got mine off after the key went missing, by hammering on a slightly smaller socket andthen airgunning it. I would make the drilling the nut, the last possible choice as I've seen those go badly wrong and require a new Hub. Quote Possibly save your life. Check out this website.http://everyman-campaign.org/ Distributor for 'Every Male' grooming products. (Discounts for any TLF members hairier than I am!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Another way is to hammer on a smaller size socket then try and get it off. EXACTLY how i've done it! Went to halfords, bought 4 sockets that i could hammer over the nuts and bin afterwards. Job done. Worse part was my nuts had rotating collars (presumably to stop you doing this) but i split them down the side with a chisel and popped them off. Armed with four sockets that you can hammer over the nuts, this is not actually a hard job at all. Armed with drills and welding gear it's possibly easy too, but there's the added risk of ruining you alloys i guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matk Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Thought for a minute you were going to talk about super glue and wheel centres! Quote Regards Mat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcan Grey Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 why not repair that tool? drill out those 4 pin, and press new ones in... A machine shop could easily fix that. Quote Travis Vulcan Grey 89SE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Thought for a minute you were going to talk about super glue and wheel centres! Superglue? Pah! It was a two pack 'liquid metal' i used to fix those. Very embarrassing, never thought for a second how they would be removed for wheel balancing. One of them, when hammered, shot from one end of Steve Williams workshop to the other end and was never seen again... I'm as suprised as you that i did not tackle the locking wheel nuts with four sticks of dynomite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doct93 Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) "Gator Grip" is the name of the universal socket.... This Place Sells Them Tim B PS - also saw this EBay Wheel Nuts Not sure from the picture if it's the same? Edited March 10, 2009 by doct93 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgrobler Posted March 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) Lots of good ideas there - thanks very much. I like the socket one the most - cheap, easy, quick... I'll let you know if I was successful - next weekend - I am away this weekend... The Gatorgrip is not going to work because its got to engage on a cylindrical head of the stud - no hex shape to engage on.. Steve Edited March 11, 2009 by GreenLeader Quote Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgrobler Posted April 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Managed to get one stud out off using a 14mm socket, belted onto the wheel stud with a 4lb hammer (hopefully the wheel bearing survived the pounding). It worked, but I'm not keen to do the same treatment on the other three wheels, so I am having the broken tool repaired by a friend... Steve Quote Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazmans3 Posted April 8, 2009 Report Share Posted April 8, 2009 Had a simular problem with mine a while ago, when some garage put my locking nuts back on with an air gun. The Locking nut looks the same as. I went to a local garage who hamered the bolts off with a punch. It wreacked the bolts but did the job. A last resort if all other sugestions fail. Daz Quote The need for speed can be found with a Lotus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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