Wheel removal problem

[redspudder]

Finally got my new RS6 18's but cant get em on the car.
I have managed to remove only one wheel from the car,the other 3 will not budge the locking nuts will not come off i think its the "key" rather than the bolts or should i say i hope its the "key" ive ordered a new one from Audi but if it doesn't work im screwed any ideas of how to get them off if the new key is no good?,i've rang a few tyre garages and they have nothing to remove my locking nuts thought they might have been able to help out but seemed unwilling to help.
the key does feel a bit rough around the edges and the nuts dont look to bad but the key i have now just slipps i dont want to put to much pressure on incase i round them off.

 

[aragorn]

depends on the style of the wheel as to what tools you can use, you can get reverse threaded tools that you put on top of the locking nut and hit with an air impact wrench to get them off.

I had one on a mates clio though that i couldnt shift, and i ended up welding a very large bolt to the head of the locking nut and undoing it with that.

 

[ScottyP45]

get a good penetrant spray and try giving them a good spray round the bolt heads then wait 15 mins and try again?

If the lobes or star on the "key" are worn and the nuts are ok but just tight, you may get away with wraping the key end with ptfe plumbers tape, build up a bit of extra thickness and try that?

Mine are spline-star shaped and would be very obvious if the key nut was worn, as the splines are fine and very sharp. I tapped the key into place with a plastic hammer and a 1/2 extension bar then I was able to put pressure on them, maybe dirt in the socket head of the wheel bolt is preventing it seating - its quite a shallow key if its the same as mine.

Mine were full of dust or dirt and wouldnt take the key to begin with so it felt like it was slipping...

 

[PW-Motorsport]

Your dealer should have a master set of wheel bolt keys.

As long as the locking bolt is not damaged, they should be able to try the various keys to find the correct one for your car.

Also make sure the new wheels have new bolts supplied as most aftermarket wheels have a different bolt seat.

 

[AudiSport]

I had a similar problem, be it right or wrong, I pored boiling water over each wheel straight from the kettle and all was sorted.

Worth everyone checking their wheels - not the problem you want at the side of the road!

 

[ScottyP45]

I had a similar problem, be it right or wrong, I pored boiling water over each wheel straight from the kettle and all was sorted.

Worth everyone checking their wheels - not the problem you want at the side of the road!

Top tip that! I was going to mention hot water and forgot, it works well on wheels stuck to the hub too from aluminum corrosion etc.

 

[aragorn]

yer, i guess it depends on the style of locking key. We tried a gentle roasting with oxy-acetyline on the one i ended up welding that i mentioned above, and that didnt shift it.

Those were MacGuard Locking nuts though, which have a key pattern on the face of the locking nut, and some garages previous use of a air impact wrench had wrecked the key and the top of the nuts

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EMERGENCY-LOCKING-WHEEL-NUT-REMOVER-SET-4PCE-3464_W0QQitemZ190254743099QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item190254743099&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Thats the reverse threaded kit i was on about above. Not sure of the quality of the parts though. The AA/RAC should also have the kit, if you are a member.

 

[redspudder]

I got th enew "key" today from audi and a new set oflocking nuts at a cost of £50.Tried the new key and was still slipping witha socket and ratchet so went to 2 local tyre garages and they put the windy gun on it,the key did not slip but the bolts will not budge they are tightas hell the lad in the garage told me he not seen anything like it before.Nightmare,so i got back in touch with Audi and for x3 locking nuts to be removed they were charging £164 needless to say i left it and rang a local VW-Audi specialist and am booked in on wednesday to get them off they told me they would need to chisel them off at a cost of £10 per wheel and would probobly damage the wheel as ive got new alloys and the wheels are pretty tatty im not to bothered but if i had top notch wheels i would be gutted,i would suggest everyone checks there wheel nuts not sure if this is a comon problem ive never come across it before but will be taking my new ones out every few weeks when i eventually get it sorted and will grease/copper slip them on a regular basis

 

[paul_a3_tdi130]

Changed my 2003 ones a few weeks back and din't have any problems so might not be common.

What specilist you using? i'm from Stockton and needing a service soon but don't fancy using an Audi steeler

 

[Macduff]

Thats the reverse threaded kit i was on about above. Not sure of the quality of the parts though. The AA/RAC should also have the kit, if you are a member.

When I had my puncture and couldn't get the nut undone, I call the AA. They have a kit to remove locking wheelnuts if you've lost the key but that doesn't work at high torque. He couldn't remove the nuts so he plugged my puncture and suggested I go back to the garage.

 

[AndymacA4]

The most likely cause of this is a spotty oik at a fast fit place whizzing the nuts on too tight. They should only ever be done up by hand, ideally using the socket and bar you'd use on the roadside, or better still a torque wrench.

Wheel bolts don't have to be stupidly tight to work fine.

 

[redspudder]

well finally got the wheels of,the back locking nuts where siezed tight and had to get them grinded off made a bit of a mess of the old wheels but all sorted now and the car now looking good with the new wheels fitted well happy with them