Raydon 3000

My '70 has been in the shop for all most two months having the engine rebuilt. I stopped by last Friday, August 8, to check on the progress. While I was there they asked me where the key was to my wheel locks. ( One of my wheels has a crack in it and while my car was in their shop they found me a used wheel that matches the rest of mine and they were goint to put it on. ) I replied in the center rear storage compartment. They said it wasn't there. I looked and it was no where to be found.

They asked me when was the last time the wheels were off. I replied in their shop several months ago when they did rear end work. They want $100.00 to remove the locks.

How can I remove the locks if I wait until I get the car back? Can it be done with out tearing up anything else? I don't think I should pay them to remove the locks. Just in case I had removed the key, but I don't think I did, I have tore the house and garage apart and found nothing.

This same shop lost one of my original center console vent ***** almost a year ago when the car was in for repairs. They gave me a set of the GM replacements but those are not the same as what came on the '70. If anybody out there has one of these ***** or could pick me up one at a gathering let me know? I'll pay you, through Pay Pal if you want.


[Modified by Raydon 3000, 10:28 PM 8/9/2003]


[Modified by Raydon 3000, 10:29 PM 8/9/2003]

78Vette-SA

Should take 2 seconds to get them off with a special socket. I forgot the key when I went for an alignment. They have a beveled socket that fits over the end of the lock and they give it a whack. Then put a wrench on it and presto, done.

Kinda scarry actually. Check with your local alignment shop. I'll bet they have one.

GaryS

I agree with this post. My daughter's Acura had wheel locks and she lost the lock. The shop has a special tool and they took the wheel locks off in about five minutes. No $100 special charges, no special BS, just plain grunt work. Hammer the doo-hickey on, attach a 1/2" drive wrench and turn. Simple, effective, cheap.
Gary

Paul L

Any tire shop or car dealer will have the extractors.
http://www.ingallseng.com/images/5120.jpg

Big Fish

Kinda makes you wonder why bother with wheel locks in the first place. Any thief that wants them bad enough is probably equipped with the extractors. :mad

ry

i was told that a large pair of vice-grips should do the trick

moosie982

Hi, Find a new shop to get your work done at, any of the suggestions work, Good luck :yesnod: Bye,, Peace, Craig :seeya

FASGLAS

Why would the key NOT be where you left it???? Hmmmmm. New shop? :yesnod:

BSeery

:iagree:

FEDX

I've known people to buy cars and not get the lock with the car.They just hammered a 13/16? deepwell socket over the lug nut and backed it off,probaly screws up the socket but cheaper than $100.

Master Ho

If all the above great responses don't do the trick, a last resort is tack-welding a socket to the locking lug, then removing it with the socket wrench. However, try to keep the heat to a minimum and away from the hub/rotor.

Dwayne 76

Do they want $100 to remove all four locks? If so thats not too bad. Those wheel locks are a waste of money, IMO. A few weeks ago I was polishing my wheels, and wanted to take the wheels off to do it. Well, I have the key for my wheel locks, and was able to get three of the wheels off. The last wheel had the wheel lock torqued on to tightly, and there was no way I could get it off. I ended up taking the car to a shop in Bradford, even there they couldn't get the thing off, ended up having to chisel the lock off the wheel, didn't damage the wheel though. As a result of this expierence I didn't put any of those locks back on, and will never use those silly things again. The car is insured, someone steels the wheels I'll get new ones. To me those wheel locks are as usless as a car alarm, IMHO.

Dwayne 76

Not a good idea. The amount of heat you will need to get a good enough tack WILL damage the wheel. Let the shop air chisel the things off, then through them away. As I said before, those wheel locks are nothing but trouble, and a waste of money. I've owned seven cars over the years and have never had a set of wheels stolen, and I've had some nice wheels.


[Modified by Dwayne 76, 4:10 PM 8/11/2003]

68shark

I didn't realize these were that easy to remove! Sheesh....our forum members know all the tricks....as do wheel thieves!! Hmmmm....never mind!! :leaving:

Dwayne 76

Not thieves, borrowers. :lolg:

NHvette

SnapOn has a special socket that has pins in it to match the shape of the lock opening. No banging on - just press in place and turn. I know body shop guys that have used these.

Personally - I would weld a bolt to the end on the nut - IF Vise Grips or a pipe
wrench failed to get somewhere.

Another idea: Grind flats into the end of the nut - making a new hex for
something like a 3/4" socket.

Good luck. :seeya

Raydon 3000

Called McGard Wheel Locks today. They said send them a mold of the lock and $10.00 and they would send me a key. The mold and the $10.00 are in the mail. Can't wait to see what they send. If this dosen't work I'll have to try one of your ideas. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll let you know what happens.

Sixty9

This is hilarious! Trust me I'm not laughing--I just posted getting a 'good deal' on some Rallys--well can't find my key either--so this is what I did. Took some vise grips and squeezed those suckers on there and tried to turn--the dang chrome wheel locks are to smooth and slips off. So I thought screw'em, turned on the air compressor and dug out the die grinder and ground 2 slight flat sides on each wheel lock and then tried the vise grips again, this time putting my hitch extension(for my truck--2x2" steel square tube 5' long) over the vise grips for added torque--worked on 3 :hurray: but the last 1 is giving me problems ofcourse or this would've been too easy :mad . Anyway, tomorrow I'll grind that sucker a little more and gett'er off there. Give it a try--use a file if you have to--$100 my butt--took me 20 min to get 3 off! That's why you have to do all the work on these vettes--or your going to get ripped! :D

Raydon 3000

Got the new key from Mcgard. It worked just fine. Cost $10.00. What keeps anybody from sending off for a key to anybody else's locks?

tedo77

99% of all wheel locks are made at McGard Industries in Orchard Park, NY near Buffalo NY call them they can help you out!