Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: omegadti on 02 February 2010, 18:18:33

Title: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: omegadti on 02 February 2010, 18:18:33
This topic has probably been discussed before but I have the cakecutter type locking wheel nuts and my key has sheared and I don't have the code.   I tried my local dealer and he did not have my pattern amongst his stock of keys and I have tried McGard in Germany who said my bolts are not made by them.  Apart from trying to chisel them off and damage my wheels does anyone know either who made these locking bolts so I can try and get a replacement key or is there an easier way to get the bolts off?
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: rustym95 on 02 February 2010, 18:33:01
Hi can you put a pic up of it may be able to see what type it is. :y
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: omegadti on 02 February 2010, 19:10:46
I've posted the photos on photobucket here

http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu331/topbuyer18/omega%20locking%20nuts/

hope the link works
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: Jamieo on 02 February 2010, 19:17:46
I have had this problem before when a tyre monkey snapped my key. What I did was hammer a socket that was slightly smaller than the locking bolt over the head of the bolt and loosen it using a torque wrench and extension bar, the  serrated type of socket is what you  need to use and not the type with 6 sides that looks like a nut if you know what I mean.


Edit:  Just found this video on youtube showing the method I described.  :y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Uc2SlkSPM
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: hoofing it on 02 February 2010, 19:18:15
have you tried a pair of long nose pliers in the small holes
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: omegadti on 02 February 2010, 19:26:13
the problem with trying to put a socket or the Halfords locking wheel stud remover on is that there is a hardened steel spinning collar on the heads so that you cannot do that.  The other problem is the last garage that put the wheels on used an air gun to over torque them so pliers etc will not work.  Ideally I need to find the manufacturer and ask them to supply a replacement key from the photo - I thought I had swum the channel when McGard said they could do this but then they said it wasn't theirs.
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: Jamieo on 02 February 2010, 19:34:04
You could try cutting the collar off with a hammer and old screwdriver by using an old screwdriver as a cold chisel.
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: hoofing it on 02 February 2010, 19:34:11
thats the worst when you get a over eager or lazy person who use a air-guns for this sort of bolt.
The only thing left if you can't get a lock nut off is to drill it out. good luck
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 02 February 2010, 19:41:16
One method ive used in the past is to lamp a slightly undersized socket on,and use one of those 12v wheel nut removers(brilliant),like in argos,and 9 times out of ten it works,and no hard work needed. :y
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2010, 20:56:02
Not easy, either drilling, or get replacement key (about £25, can you confirm Tunnie).

Once you have it off, through the tinkers away, all Vauxhall locking bolts are bloody appalling...
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: dragonlord on 02 February 2010, 21:45:17
lump hammer and old socket work on a lot

you can all so tack weld a nut on em

screw fix do this kit too for 20quid
http://www.screwfix.com/search.do?_dyncharset=UTF-8&fh_search=wheel+nut+remover&searchbutton.x=10&searchbutton.y=6

aint tryed that type you got but have lump hammer a go few off in my time
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: dragonlord on 02 February 2010, 23:39:25
 just to add on the ones iv lump hammer off

of those with the collars on i got  broke collar of with hammer and a old fairly sharp flat head screwdriver first before lump hamering the soket on
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: Bionic on 03 February 2010, 07:31:28
You ain't the first and sadly will definitely not be the last. These lockbolts were badly designed by an idiot with too much time on his hands. Go to your local electric welders, there are many about and get them to electric weld, a Mig welder is best and most independant garages have them (even some diy-ers) a 12mm nut onto the locknut by welding the centre hole. After that you will find that a 19mm socket will get it off. It will be easy to with the heat generated by the welding.
After its done toss the crappy things away!!!!
GudLuk
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: Bent valve on 03 February 2010, 19:58:31
I took some cake cutters of a mates car recently. Heres how, fit a 19 mm 1/2"drive socket to a long extension bar and place the socket over the locking bolt and hit very hard several times with a lump hammer until the socket goes fully home. Now waggle the extension bar from side to side until you can withdaw the socket from the locking bolt. now repeat the proceedure with an 18mm socket and finally ending up with a 17mm or maybe even a 16mm socket at which point you will have enough purchase on the bolt to turn and remove it. This method will annihilate the hardended
 steel ring. :y Good luck!
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: omegadti on 05 February 2010, 18:01:52
Thanks for all the advice but I persevered and after googling all sorts of combinations of Vauxhall locking bolts I founs a company selling a brand of bolt "as fitted by Vauxhall", they gave me the address of the manufacturer, I sent them a photo of my bolts together with scans of V5 and driving licence and they have given me the key number so I could order a replacement - so here's hoping!!!
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: tunnie on 05 February 2010, 18:47:30
Quote
Not easy, either drilling, or get replacement key (about £25, can you confirm Tunnie).

Once you have it off, through the tinkers away, all Vauxhall locking bolts are bloody appalling...

Bloody expensive things made of toffee, some are better than others. Got rid of most of ours, still got a two on the back of the 3.0, need to find some regular bolts.
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 05 February 2010, 19:27:11
The reason for chewing the heads off these locknuts 9 times out of ten is that people use these extendable wrenches,but these do not stay exactly square on the head when pressure is applied,hence over a period of time it starts to chew the edges away.This is the reason i only use the 12v wheel nut removing guns now which in my opinion are worth every penny,and just as good if you have a stubborn nut elsewhere. :y
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: Bent valve on 05 February 2010, 21:49:51
Quote
Thanks for all the advice but I persevered and after googling all sorts of combinations of Vauxhall locking bolts I founs a company selling a brand of bolt "as fitted by Vauxhall", they gave me the address of the manufacturer, I sent them a photo of my bolts together with scans of V5 and driving licence and they have given me the key number so I could order a replacement - so here's hoping!!!
Yeah that was my first thought as I had a car pass and the origonal bolt box with code ect but they still wanted about £30 +vat for a replacement key. lump hammer, various sockets and 30 mins later job done :y
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: omegadti on 06 February 2010, 09:28:18
the replacement key is £12.62 including postage - I think this is better value than banging the s**t out of the four hubs for half an hour or so or the £76 stealers wanted to do the job.   Take into account the cost of the lump hammer and sockets and you must be about level.
Title: Re: Locking Wheel Bolts
Post by: omegadti on 08 February 2010, 17:15:14
My replacement key arrived today and is a perfect fit - cheapest and easiest option and I haven't ruined my wheels and I know the correct number if I'm ever stuck again!!!