Security Lug and socket broke!!!

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myriad46
Posts: 120
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:51 am

Security Lug and socket broke!!!

Postby myriad46 » Mon Sep 14, 2009 8:52 am

So, here is the situation. I was rotating my tires on my newly acquired 2005 XE. The previous owner saw fit to install security lugs. There was new rubber on the truck, so the dealer was the last to reinstall them.

They came off without a problem. I typically use my battery powered impact gun (not very strong) to spin them off and on, but always use the lug wrench for initial loosening and final tightening. I understand, now, that you can't use an impact gun on the security lugs, but based on using it in the past, it hardly has the power to do anything.

Anyway, I was tightening the last lug, on the last wheel , when I heard an aweful ping and crunch and my lug wrench slipped of along with a corner of the security lug nut itself. Exposed was a cross section of the crap metal they are made out of. The socket with the squigly line in it, also had some damage in it, as one of the curves was missing.

The tires are all on and tight, so immediate crisis averted. I picked up 4 extra, regular lugs from the dealer and set out to replace the security ones. I first tried to remove the broken one, only succeeding in removing another peice of the lug itself, leaving 3 out of the original five lobes of the squigley pattern (if you've seen the lugs, you'll know what I'm talking about). I tried using the damaged socket on an intact lug, but without trying very hard, I started to hear come cracking and decided not to do any damage to the undamaged lugs.

So... my inclination is to take it to Nissan, as they apparently have a "universal" key to take the other 3, intact, lugs off. Any ideas on the busted one, or should I leave it in the hands of the "professionals."

Thanks,


kramer
Posts: 51
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:33 pm

Postby kramer » Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:02 am

Those same professionals will have a kit to take off the broken one too. You can get this kit yourself but you'll wind up spending more money.

Npath
Posts: 356
Joined: Wed May 21, 2008 10:20 pm
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Re: Security Lug and socket broke!!!

Postby Npath » Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:24 pm

If the dealer charges you for a simple task of taking off the lock, call a wrecker and ask how much they'd charge.

I've seen a wrecker taken off the lock without the key. What they do is hammer a hardened socket into the lock. Then they'd get a ratchet and take it off. Just sick how fast it was done.

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Tech
Posts: 395
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:46 pm

Postby Tech » Sat Sep 19, 2009 8:00 pm

take it in to any tire shop, it's not a big deal. There is a kit with a spiral splined socket the grips when you turn counter clockwise. Don't go with a hammer and chisel or hammer on any improvised tools. You'll just end up f'ing up your wheels and damaging your stud.

The factory kit only takes off factory wheel locks (McGuard)

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myriad46
Posts: 120
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:51 am

Postby myriad46 » Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:22 am

Tech wrote:take it in to any tire shop, it's not a big deal. There is a kit with a spiral splined socket the grips when you turn counter clockwise. Don't go with a hammer and chisel or hammer on any improvised tools. You'll just end up f'ing up your wheels and damaging your stud.

The factory kit only takes off factory wheel locks (McGuard)
Hey, thanks a lot! I'll call around today.


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