Question about wheel lock

Hi,
I have a stupid question, I have no idea how wheel lock works. I saw
wheel locks sold online pretty cheap. I am wondering how to unlock
them before I buy them. Do you need special tool to unlock the wheel
locks? Does it come with wheel locks if you purchase them? thx

 

I assume you're talking about locking lug nuts?

They come with a 'key' that goes over the lock and accepts a wrench. DON'T
LOSE IT!!! Sometimes they can get the rim locks off...sometimes...

 

If I understand your question and you're asking about tires not steering
wheel-----A wheel lock, aka anti theft wheel lug, replaces one of your OEM
lugs. It requires a special key to tighten and to remove. It's not a key
such as you would put in your door but basically a special socket that goes
between the lug wrench and the special lug. Without it you can't remove the
"anti-theft lug.
MLD

 

I will dissent on one item - they aren't terribly hard to remove without the
tool. Normally one is used on each wheel and they can be removed almost as
fast by a thief as a regular lug nut can. My favorite tire store educated me
when I had to help a friend:
select a 6-point socket that doesn't quite fit over the locking nut. Drive
it on with a hammer, peeling back part of the lock surface. Put a ratchet in
the socket and remove the assembly with a ratchet. Thieves will discard the
socket (they probably stole it too!) while you will spend a few minutes with
a vise and drift to separate the parts. Wear leather gloves - experience
talking there :-(

I guess the locks keep opportunists at bay.

Mike

 

So any verdict on locking wheel nuts (and my apologies to O.P., I
realize this is likely off-topic), maybe they are more trouble than
they're worth?

 

On nice rims, I will use two sets of locking lugs, two different keys
per wheel.. it does slow them thieves down. They'll make too much noise
and racket, and waste too much time, and this is an old trick told to me
by others... so pass it on...

I also have some $39 color video cameras watching... they steal gas, too.

 

forget them - they're useless against anyone that knows about these things:

http://www.autobarn.net/emlugnutrem.html

which would be most anyone in the wheel theft business.

 

They don't always work!

 

Yeah, can be. However:

I have an '85 Corolla GTS. When it was new I used to park it in Hartford,
Boston, New York (daytime ONLY!) and never had a problem with it.

I misplaced the 'key', and had them removed and replaced with lugnuts.
Less than THREE WEEKS, my wheels were GONE!

 

so the method used to remove your locks couldn't /possibly/ have been
used to remove your wheels by thieves? b.s. you just got robbed.
stupid wheel locks wouldn't stop me for more than 3 seconds if i wanted
to play that game. best defense against theft is to pay attention to
where you park the car. park and walk if necessary. or pack heat and
do a stakeout.

 

Thanks everyone. I guess that I don't need wheel locks anymore if they
cannot effectively protect my car.

 

It was right out in front of the house on a populated street. Of course,
they stole the whole car and stripped it later.

And you should have seen what the tech went through to get the locks off
the car. It too FORTY-FIVE minutes, NOT 3, with a special tool, and an air
impact wrench. I was watching. It isn't anywhere near as easy as you
allude to!

Even with those lock removers, it takes a LOT to remove a wheel lock, and
the average theif wants to get in and out and done in less than 15 minutes.
They aren't going to fart around trying to get the wheels off. Of course,
your interior will be gutted and the radio gone, but the wheels will still
be there.

 

OK, but I'm getting a set for my Scion and a set for my Supra.
It WILL slow them down and they don't want to be slowed down.

An alarm doesn't help, either, but you'll get 15% off your insurance for
one. I get mine at Salvation Army (when they have them) for $9-20. Good
ones, too...AudioVox (Toyota and Honda used to use the as "Factory" before
the Anti-theft keys, etc).

Can they defeat it? Yup. Will it stop them? Maybe, maybe not. Do I feel
better? Yup!

The other thing to do is hide a key switch (the round kind, like on soda
machines) somewhere only you know where it is, and use it to power the
starter solenoid off. After my Corolla got stolen I had an alarm, and
wired a Sub-sonic alarm into that, got a Club (install it on the wheel so
the key slot is facing TOWARDS the dash!), a kill switch and locked the
hood with aircraft cable and a big honkin' lock. They don't want to spend
that much time...so they'll get it with a Flatbed!!!

Oh, yeah. And position the end of the club so you can't move the gearshift
lever!

 

If they have the socket and hammer, it won't add five seconds to the time...
maybe two or three seconds per wheel. It's quicker than driving a nail
because the nail might bend ;-) All the lug nuts can still be off by the
time the thieves get the wheel raised.

It will deter opportunists, just not people looking for wheels.

Mike

 

I did it by the roadside almost as quickly as I could select the correct
socket. The socket went on with about three whacks of the four lb hammer and
the deed was as good as done. Getting the socket off the lock was the tough
part.

It's possible some are hardened, and those couldn't be removed that way.

Mike

 

indeed.

 

And, if they jam the socket on the first wheel lock, and can't get it off?

 

what makes you think that it's hard to carry 4 sockets that cost say $5
each when you want to steal a set of $1,000 wheels? you simply carry
the tools for the job. better yet, carry /one/ socket of the type i
identified earlier.

bottom line, you don't seem to get it - if someone wants to steal your
stuff, they will. you don't need to understand how or why, simply that
they will. it's a matter of recognizing this reality and attempting
avoidance, not clutching at straws about whether someone is going to
flummoxed by trivia.

 

Don't seem to get it? I had the same car stolen once and broken into again
a week after I got it put back together! Yes, I know if someone really
wants something, NOTHING is going to deter them. They even managed to
break in the second time without setting the alarm off. I am guessing they
knew what they were doing and went for it. However, the second time all
they managed to make off with was the stereo from the dash. With the Club,
the wheel locks, etc it was too difficult for them to bother with anything
else. (and talk about BALLS! It was 1 in the afternoon on the 4th of July!)

No, if someone is determined, there going to get what they want. But if
you have a car loaded with a lot of anti-theft gear, more often than not
they're going to look elsewhere.

I'm willing to take that bet.


Of course, there is one deterrent that will GUARANTEE they will never
bother you again! A full clip! BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM, BLAM!

 

it works like this: you bring your car for a tire change and leave
with the shop
but do not leave the wrench with them.
the mechanic get pissed and your car does not get worked on
OR
they use a power tool to rip the lock off (and the wheel stud alog
with it)
and you get pissed.

in short if anyone wants your $500 shiny rims they will get them
wheel locks or not.

just speculating as i never had any of that shit on my cars