Wheel locks = antitheft?
It depends on the exact type of wheel locks. With the typical McGard ones that come on Lexus and Honda, I can take them off myself without and impact gun without much added effort. When I lost the key to my set, I simply tapped on a 16 point 19mm socket, then used a breaker bar to loosen it. It takes a few tries at times, but once it brakes the lock you simply hand screw it off. Now, what I have noticed is this works easily if your lug nuts are torqued down properly. If you have over torqued lug nuts I wasn't able to remove them by hand, but an impact gun would have no problem.
ZERO homework is needed, as some have stated. If you've worked in a tire/wheel shop or other service area, you probably know how easy it is to bypass the keys.
Although, thieves are usually "professional", and typically know what to expect with a specific car. So, they'll have the means necessary to quickly take your wheels with minimal restraint. (I guess you could maybe call that homework
)Besides, even if you had the wheel lock, someone could still take off all the other lug nuts, which could leave you in a worse situation. I'd rather them just leave the car on blocks.
Last edited by mikes rx; Apr 8, 2008 at 02:14 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: OH
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a
couldn't you just use one of these suckers to pop it off regardless of what 'key shape' it has?
if not, then my advice is buy 5 sets of wheel locks and use 5 locks on each wheel
couldn't you just use one of these suckers to pop it off regardless of what 'key shape' it has?
if not, then my advice is buy 5 sets of wheel locks and use 5 locks on each wheel
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,125
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From: ca
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a
couldn't you just use one of these suckers to pop it off regardless of what 'key shape' it has?
if not, then my advice is buy 5 sets of wheel locks and use 5 locks on each wheel
couldn't you just use one of these suckers to pop it off regardless of what 'key shape' it has?
if not, then my advice is buy 5 sets of wheel locks and use 5 locks on each wheel
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,674
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From: Dark side of the moon
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Singapore
From what I read, the way to remove the lock nuts without a key is to hammer down a socket that is slightly smaller than the lock nut and then use a ratchet to loosen the nuts.
**** still happens even if you're cautious of where you park. This happened in an apartment complex.
**** still happens even if you're cautious of where you park. This happened in an apartment complex.
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