Locking wheel nut tool snapped.

[Shminkypinky]

I have snapped the tool of the locking wheel nut tool due to a really tight nut.
I need to get the nut off so my question is can a tyre centre remove a locking wheel nut without the tool and what's the likely cost?
Also can I get a replacement tool and nut?
Cheers

 

[EFF11]

Most Seats have wheel bolts, not nuts. A set of four bolts plus key usually costs around £20. You can get these from ebay. To be sure to get the right ones go to Halfords or Europarts. Type in your registration number and see what comes up.

There are a number of videos on Youtube showing ways of removing locking nuts/bolts if you feel like having a go.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

@Blowski had the same problem recently so he may be able to help.

I also had the same problem and found the following solutions.

1/ If you still have the locking wheel nut removal tool then you should be able to order a new one quoted the code printed on it.

2/ AA and RAC Have tools to get them off but they charge (used to be £20-00)

3/ You can order a new tool from https://www.lockingwheelnutkeys.co.uk/ but be warned if you need one quick its not cheap

4/ Be carefull what locking nut removal tool you order, some are designed that the outside sleave breaks away from the inner one so the cheap tools dont work, In the end I got my garage to use there tool to remove it.

 

[Blowski]

I had a tyre place remove mine. They charged me £24. Felt bad for them as they said the tool they use costs £10 each and they demolished 3 on my car.

I called my local dealership and was told they have a ‘master set’ and one might fit enough to get them off. But I would only be able to obtain a new set from SEAT if the number of my key was still in current circulation. I lost my key so this wasn’t an option for me.

If you have original locking bolts then don’t bother trying the obvious method of smashing a socket over it, if you get one over it will probably just spin around.

Quickest and easiest method is probably get a tyre place to do and buy a new set of locking wheel bolts.


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[Mr Pig]

I've often thought about replacing the locking wheel bolts on our cars with standard bolts.

Every car has locking bolts on it so anyone considering stealing your wheels will just assume your has too. So they'll either leave it alone or if they do attempt to steal your wheels they will be prepared with a locking bolt removal tool. Either way, whether or not you actually have locking nuts will make no difference.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

Fully agree with your comments but just a word of warning, It may affect your insurance if you replace them with bolts as that is a MODIFICATION to your car and should be declared.

 

[Mr Pig]

It may affect your insurance if you replace them with bolts as that is a MODIFICATION to your car and should be declared.

That's a good point. Technically, you are of course correct. My point is that I think your wheels are no more likely to be targeted if you fit standard bolts and if they are stolen, how would the insurance company know?

Do people even steel alloys these days? It happened years ago when alloys on a car was unusual but cars all come with alloys now.

 

[Deleted member 103408]

Agreed and as I have been through the pain of sorting out the mess of locking nuts not working.
All the garages I spoke with said "They are more trouble than they are worth".

If its kids trying to nick the wheels they will break the nuts and leave evidence behind.

More professional thieves would know what nut to bring with them / or the right tools to remove them, but they may leave nuts behind would look odd if the locking one was missing. Dont know how worried insurance companies are about this sort of problems. But I suspect you are right that wheel crime is much lower than it used to be.

 

[Maypack]

There are that many cars now with Alloy Wheels the choice for a thief is massive. How many cars actually come with steel wheels now? Not as many as with Alloys I’ll bet.

Plus suppliers have more stocks so maybe the thieves have moved on from the car owners to the suppliers in terms of where to get them from??

 

[Legojon]

Do people even steel alloys these days? It happened years ago when alloys on a car was unusual but cars all come with alloys now.

Yup, I remember when you only saw XR3is and RS2000s with alloy wheels LOL. But, I have seen a couple of near new Focus RSs now jacked awkwardly from the side with a single cheap trolley jack and 3 wheels missing. My take is, if someone wants my battered decade old wheels, feel free. I want some new ones anyway. But on newer cars I think the wheels are more desirable (spares, upgrades for lower trims), so if I had a new(ish) Cupra with 19s, I'd have two locking wheel nuts on each wheel.

 

[salsajoe]

Yup, I remember when you only saw XR3is and RS2000s with alloy wheels LOL. But, I have seen a couple of near new Focus RSs now jacked awkwardly from the side with a single cheap trolley jack and 3 wheels missing. My take is, if someone wants my battered decade old wheels, feel free. I want some new ones anyway. But on newer cars I think the wheels are more desirable (spares, upgrades for lower trims), so if I had a new(ish) Cupra with 19s, I'd have two locking wheel nuts on each wheel.

Ah memories!! Had one of the last made XR3i's and did 150,000. Lovely car and enjoyed every minute once I put some decent shockers on it. Local lad is restoring it to go with his Escort MK2.

 

[Legojon]

Ah memories!! Had one of the last made XR3i's and did 150,000. Lovely car and enjoyed every minute once I put some decent shockers on it. Local lad is restoring it to go with his Escort MK2.

I remember it being really fast (for the time). But keeping in mind it was about 100bhp but could give some modern cars a run for their money still. Although I guess this is down to the lack of electronics and safety features (wrote it off pretty good!!) making it about 1/3 of the weight.

 

[Butty]

Grease your wheel nuts and don't do the locking up up a tight as the others. Never had a tight nut issue in 30 years.
XR3i clover leaf wheels

 

[salsajoe]

a

I remember it being really fast (for the time). But keeping in mind it was about 100bhp but could give some modern cars a run for their money still. Although I guess this is down to the lack of electronics and safety features (wrote it off pretty good!!) making it about 1/3 of the weight.

Mine was EFI - electronic fuel injection so pushed out a bit more than 100 I think but not as quick as the RS with the turbo but that really suffered from steering torque!

 

[Mr Pig]

I thought the XR3 was a great looking car. I knew a guy with an RS2000 and that was a blast. Another friend had a Mk2 Escort Ghia and I really liked that as well. Walnut dash etc.

 

[cupra14]

Grease your wheel nuts and don't do the locking up up a tight as the others.

Wheel nut torques are commonly "dry" so if you grease them you're making a modification.

And BE SURE to reduce the torque! There are tables etc for this sort of thing but the important point is that using a dry torque would considerably over-tighten greased nuts.

 

[Butty]

I thought the XR3 was a great looking car. I knew a guy with an RS2000 and that was a blast. Another friend had a Mk2 Escort Ghia and I really liked that as well. Walnut dash etc.

I couldn't afford an XR3 so had a Mk3 1.6 Ghia. That was quickly changed to an XR2 and down the slippery slope to the world of modding....