Discount tire sold me some "tuner key" style wheel locks when I had my BFG's put on. I was going to take off a wheel yesterday with a breaker bar and all of a sudden, one of the tuner key lugs snapped straight in half. What should I do? I tried to get the rest off with the key but all it does is strip it more. I don't think pounding another socket of the same size on there will work either.

 

Take a nut and weld it to the end of the lug nut. It will come right off

 

While welding the nut will work, if you don't have access to a welder, you could try this. I had to resort to it a long time ago when I lost the only key I had for a set of McGards.

You cut a notch into the outer edge of the lock nut on the side in the direction of the axis of the nut. Make the groove deep enough to withstand repeated pounding and to hold the chisel tip in place. Get a big hammer and cold chisel. Place the chisel in the groove and pound away in the direction of removal. It will take some elbow grease and time, but you should be able to pound it loose to spin off. It did work when I had to resort to it, but it took time and a LOT of effort.

 

Get a socket one size smaller than outer end of the nut and a bfh. Pound the socket on the nut. Use a ratchet to take it off. Just plan on having to buy a new socket.

 

Oreilly's carries a set of sockets to remove the locks when you loose the keys, should work and are <$20. They are a kind of reverse easy out deal, I had to use quite often when I worked in a tire shop.

Bob

 

I might give those a try. I work at a dealership and I'm surprised I haven't had to use them yet since I do tons of tire rotations, mounting, balancing, etc.

 

19mm or 3/4 inch 12pt socket. tap that on the locking nut, and voila.