How do wheel lock nuts work

It's important never to lose the key because you'll need it if you ever get a flat tire. However, the locks greatly reduce your risk of losing your wheels and tires. However, the lug nut locks can be melted quickly with a blowtorch to make them fit a regular wrench, so they are not as effective as wheel locks. How do you use a wheel lock key? Insert the key into the socket that you use to take off all the other normal lug nuts and then use the socket wrench to install or remove the wheel lock lug nuts.

Only one wheel lock per wheel is needed. When installing any lug nut make sure they are torqued down to the proper specification.

Basically one of the 4 or 5 bolts on the wheel will have a unique pattern on it that a standard socket will not fit.

Keys can get lost, and it's difficult to get replacements, resulting in having to take the locks of all the wheels and replace them with new locks. How many types of locking wheel nuts are there? Why do I Need Wheel Locks?

Even if you don't have an expensive set of aftermarket wheels and tires, you're still at risk of having your wheels stolen off your vehicle. A lock nut, also referred to as locknut, locking nut, and self-locking nut, is a kind of fastener that used to secure bolted joints and resist loosening under vibration and torque.

After inserting a bolt through the objects, a lock nut can be twisted onto the end of the bolt from the backside of the object , in conjunction with the bolt and secure the whole part. The lock nuts can prevent loosening either utilizing the friction or some positive locking device, depending on its structure and materials. The installation procedure is basically the same as normal nuts.

Unlike traditional nuts only contains a basic threaded hole, the lock nut generally features a unique design that avoids the nut loosening from the bolt where they are placed when under vibrations. There are different varieties of locking nuts, such as the metal nut, employs metal to create friction, and the nylon insert lock nut, incorporate a polymer in the design against loosening.

When a nylon lock nut is placed on a bolt, the nylon fibers expand to grip the bolt. Locking wheel nuts are designed to protect your alloy wheels from being easily accessible to thieves. Each set of locking wheel nuts has a unique indent with a key that matches up with the pattern. The only time the wheel lug nuts can be removed is when the key with the correct pattern is inserted.

Basically one of the 4 or 5 bolts on the wheel will have a unique pattern on it that a standard socket will not fit. Keys can get lost, and it's difficult to get replacements, resulting in having to take the locks of all the wheels and replace them with new locks. How does a locking wheel nut work? Category: automotive auto safety technologies. RAY: A locking wheel nut is a lug nut that's smooth on the outside, so it can't be removed by a standard wrench.

In order to remove it, you need the key -- which is a unique socket that fits inside that nut and allows the wrench to turn it. TOM: The inside of your locking nut is stripped. We see this all the time. How do you get a wheel lock off without the key? Time Required. Step 1: Look for the damn key. Don't give up so easily!

Step 2: Figure out what size socket is 'close,' make sure it's a Point. Step 3: Smash that socket onto the locking lug nut with a hammer. Step 4: Apply leverage.

Step 5: Revel in your success! Step 6: Get the locking lug nut out of your socket. Where standard wheel nuts can be removed with minimum effort using an ordinary wheel brace, locking wheel nuts require the use of a locking wheel nut key. A locking wheel nut key is a metal tool which is cylindrical at one end and hexagonal at the other on the right of the image. They are quite small too, so often are housed in a plastic box. This means it could be in any number of places:.

Unlike some removal kits that are advertised online, reputable tyre dealers will have industrial equipment to avoid damaging the wheels themselves. Where safety is concerned, it always pays to consult a professional to avoid future problems which could end up causing accidents or more costly repair work. We operate over 30 branches across Central England, so you can be sure of a dependable service, no matter where you are in the region.