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[morphius909]

Pictures speak the story.

Final Outcome.
-Broken Lock Nut Key
-None of the tires changed from Winter ->Summer
-Paying Tire shop tomorrow 40 bucks to do the change over and put on the 4 spare lug bolts
Lesson learned: Sometimes DIY costs you more$$$

[DDS2015]

Yikes... You could always just go to your local dealer and get a new key? Hell, they might give you one for free even. Gl.

[morphius909]

I would...but the lock key lug is frozen solid, no budging even with electric torque wrench, so no matter what I need some assistance.

SIGH.

[jwalker87]

That's why I do all my own work. Most shops (including dealers) just torque wheels to whatever the air wrench ends up at, not the specified torque value. That stuff matters!

[gtaccord]

That is why I always loosen and re-torque all my lugs after any shop touches them. That and put a little anti-seize on them next time.

[DnA Diesel]

A screw-extractor kit should get the key out. Sears, Pep Boys, Harbor Freight, etc... should have a set for around $20-25. New key from dealer is about $50 as a kit (with four bolts as well)...I know from having forgotten my key on the last wheel I changed during a winter-to-summer swap. DOH! Searched about a half mile of road that I had driven resetting the FTM, but didn't find the key. Had to get a new one from the dealer. :-(

That said, as gtaccord says, probably worth being retentive and checking and re-torquing as required to make sure you're at 88 ft-lbs (or whatever the spec is for your wheels).

Regards
D.

[Ctm309]

No anti-seize on lug nuts. They need the friction to stay tight.

[J02 335i]

Originally Posted by DDS2015

Yikes... You could always just go to your local dealer and get a new key? Hell, they might give you one for free even. Gl.

It looks broken to me......

[DDS2015]

Originally Posted by morphius909

I would...but the lock key lug is frozen solid, no budging even with electric torque wrench, so no matter what I need some assistance.

SIGH.

Ahh, didn't pick up on that. Sorry to hear. Quite the pickle you're in then, eh? did you have the wheel touching the ground when you tried to listen it? If not then it might've put too much stress on the lug/key and broke. GL.

[morphius909]

Yes wheels on ground.

Dropped it off this morning at a tireshop close to my work.

They'll do the four tire changeover, remove the locks and put on the non lock spare lugs no problem they said.

FCK the Lock key.

[SS e93]

Originally Posted by morphius909

FCK the Lock key.

You say that until you find your car on bricks. Hope it doesn't happen, but gotta do everything we can to deter it at least.

[morphius909]

Originally Posted by icyhot e92

You say that until you find your car on bricks. Hope it doesn't happen, but gotta do everything we can to deter it at least.

Im putting on spacers so had to get rid of the lock key anywyas.

[m42stanle]

Originally Posted by morphius909

Pictures speak the story.

Final Outcome.
-Broken Lock Nut Key
-None of the tires changed from Winter ->Summer
-Paying Tire shop tomorrow 40 bucks to do the change over and put on the 4 spare lug bolts
Lesson learned: Sometimes DIY costs you more$$$

Don't be too hard on yourself - plenty of "professional" mechanics will strip those lock bolts if they were put on too tight in the first place. (happened to me with the first tire shop winter changeover when the car was < 6 months old)

Step 1: do yourself a favour and pick up a set of the enhanced version of those locks from Tischer. The key mates up to the lug *way* better and it's much harder to strip.

Step 2: go get yourself a good torque wrench and try to make sure you are the only person who ever puts on or takes off the wheels on your car. This will solve most of your DIY changeover problems, and as a bonus your wheels will look way less chipped and scratched after a few years.

[morphius909]

Originally Posted by m42stanle

Don't be too hard on yourself - plenty of "professional" mechanics will strip those lock bolts if they were put on too tight in the first place. (happened to me with the first tire shop winter changeover when the car was < 6 months old)

Step 1: do yourself a favour and pick up a set of the enhanced version of those locks from Tischer. The key mates up to the lug *way* better and it's much harder to strip.

Step 2: go get yourself a good torque wrench and try to make sure you are the only person who ever puts on or takes off the wheels on your car. This will solve most of your DIY changeover problems, and as a bonus your wheels will look way less chipped and scratched after a few years.

Thanks man. Car is getting the wheels changed right now. I told them to leave off the lock keys and I'll do with the aftermath.

Tischer? Okay cool!

[morphius909]

Well some good news.

Tireshop did the work this morning, back on 19" Summers now. They removed the seized lock nut (it was seized pretty good they say). And they noticed a lot of water sitting around the lugs, caps,etc. so they put on a tiny bit of antiseize to all of them lugs on all four tires as they anticipate this might happen again. UGGH.

Putting on spacers in a couple of weeks with longer lugs, will have to put on a tight bit of antiseize as well. Just gotta check the torque more often.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by icyhot e92

You say that until you find your car on bricks. Hope it doesn't happen, but gotta do everything we can to deter it at least.

I think this is probably the only case where those STUPID locks would have saved a set of wheels. At BEST they slow a criminal down.Why does anyone use those things? Thiis is why we have insurance. I've had BBS on every car of mine for 30 years and they have never been stolen. Locks are like that clear bra sh&t.......something else for the dealer to make some dough on.

[SS e93]

Originally Posted by Leaker

I think this is probably the only case where those STUPID locks would have saved a set of wheels. At BEST they slow a criminal down.Why does anyone use those things? Thiis is why we have insurance. I've had BBS on every car of mine for 30 years and they have never been stolen. Locks are like that clear bra sh&t.......something else for the dealer to make some dough on.

I got my wheel locks for free . Also thats why I said we can at least try to deter them. I guess you have the same mentality for buying the alarm as well since we all know if they want the car, they will get it. Sure you can deal with insurance if somebody jacks your wheels, but then you also may not have your car for a few days to drive while things are sorted out.

I have witnessed people breaking into a car and using the cars own jack and toolset (probably wheel lock key as well) to steal the wheels off of it leaving it on bricks. My point being you can deter them, or slow them down.

Plenty of threads on here of peoples wheels being stolen in pretty decent areas. They did not have wheel locks.

[NiVeDh]

Originally Posted by morphius909

I would...but the lock key lug is frozen solid, no budging even with electric torque wrench, so no matter what I need some assistance.

SIGH.

Torque wrench should not be used for loosening bolts.

[SS e93]

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

Torque wrench should not be used for loosening bolts.

Hoping he meant electric impact wrench.

[morphius909]

WHAT? That's news to me! LOL

Yes Sorry..Electric Impact Wrench.