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

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 08:58:19 -0700, wenmang@yahoo.com wrote:

> 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...

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

<wenmang@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1176998299.491709.119080@n59g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> 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
>
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

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

<wenmang@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1176998299.491709.119080@n59g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
> 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 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

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

On Apr 19, 3:59 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com>
wrote:
> <wenm...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:1176998299.491709.119080@n59g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...> 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 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?

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

Michael Pardee wrote:
> <wenmang@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1176998299.491709.119080@n59g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...
>> 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 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
>
>
>
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.

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

wenmang@yahoo.com wrote:
> 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
>
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.

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:01:04 -0700, jim beam wrote:

> wenmang@yahoo.com wrote:
>> 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
>>
> 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!

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:06:30 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:

> On Apr 19, 3:59 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com> wrote:
>> <wenm...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1176998299.491709.119080@n59g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...> 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 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?

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!

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/ wrote:
> On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:06:30 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:
>
>> On Apr 19, 3:59 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com> wrote:
>>> <wenm...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>
>>> news:1176998299.491709.119080@n59g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...> 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 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?
>
> 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.

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

On Apr 19, 11:51 pm, jim beam <spamvor...@bad.example.net> wrote:
> Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/ wrote:
> > On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:06:30 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:
>
> >> On Apr 19, 3:59 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com> wrote:
> >>> <wenm...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> >>>news:1176998299.491709.119080@n59g2000hsh.googl egroups.com...> 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 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. Puta
> >>> 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?
>
> > 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.

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:51:52 -0700, jim beam wrote:

> Hachiroku $B%O%A%m%/ wrote:
>> On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:06:30 -0700, Mendel Leisk wrote:
>>
>>> On Apr 19, 3:59 pm, "Michael Pardee" <michaeltn...@cybertrails.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>> <wenm...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>>
>>>> news:1176998299.491709.119080@n59g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com...> 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 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?
>>
>> 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.


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.

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

On Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:07:26 -0700, wenmang@yahoo.com wrote:

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

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!

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
news:Uy6Wh.18$bZ2.6@trndny01...
> On Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:07:26 -0700, wenmang@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>> Thanks everyone. I guess that I don't need wheel locks anymore if they
>> cannot effectively protect my car.
>
> 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.
>

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

Re: Question about wheel lock
 

"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
news:xr6Wh.9$Rd.6@trndny08...
>
> 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!
>
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