Hi all,

While changing to winter wheel/tires, I stripped the wheel lock key. I've already changed passenger's side wheels by then, so I had to put the summer wheel/tires back and replaced the wheel locks (the ones I already unbolted before I stripped the key..) with factory nuts on the passenger side of my car. Now, I have wheel locks on the driver's side wheels and and have no way to unbolt their lock nuts.

I've searched this forums and asked around as well. The best solution would be to contact Mcgard and get a replacement key. However, as some of you may have already known, my car and I are across the Pacific and happily live in Korea, and getting a new key from Mcgard will take some time.

What make things worse for me is, my mechanic reports that my front brake pad has worn down to 3mm (He checked the brake pads from the passenger's side this morning). And while I have no idea how long the 3mm would last, I am compelled to have the pads changed as soon as possible.

Anybdy has ideas as to how to get rid of the lock nut? They are Mcgard products that came installed with the car.

Some of my friends suggested to weld a nut on top of the lock nut.. Others are against the idea because the heat of welding could possibly damage the wheel. And some other people say that arc-weld (I don't even know what it is) is easy on wheels and should have no problem..
Please, help me guys.

 

Is it stock wheel lock key? If yes then go dealer and ask for extra key...

 

^^ I wish I could, but all Lexuses in Korea come without wheel locks. And the dealers do not offer them.

 

You can try a regular socket, that's just barely too small for the lugnut.

You basically force the socket onto the wheel lock, making it "stuck" onto it, which should hopefully give you enough contact with the lock to remove it.....obviously rendering both unusable.

edit: you could also just go down to a local tire/rim shop....they will likely have something that would work as well.

 

^ I like mikes second suggestion... hopefully a wheel shop can help.. good luck

 

basically what mike said

put a socket over the wheel lock, take a mallet and hammer the socket on you shuld then be able to get it off

 

Thank you all for your suggestions and offer to help!

A number of fellow members volunteered to help me ordering / shipping the wheel lock key . I love you all and this is why I will always hang around!
I got my wheel lock key in four days through McGard Japan and everything is good. Now I have a set of winter tire/wheels on my F, and on Wednesday I will have my front brake pads swapped with a pair of Project Mus.

Again, thank you all again for your help!

 

Asking for an extra key will cost you big bucks. It's amazing how few different keys there really are. Many of us have duplicates of other Lexus owners keys

 

Arc welding uses an electric arc (spark) instead of a burning gas/oxygen flame.