Disco 2 Can't Remove Security Nut

Stanleysteamer said:

Did you see the prices he was quoted?

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No but the set I bought from MJ Fews in Charfield Gloucestershire the whole set consisting of 1 x locking wheel nut key
4 x locking wheel nuts I think the whole set cost around £ 37.00 but I also purchased 16 new wheel nuts in with the deal coz the existing ones along with the locking nuts were corroded, but when you think about it you shouldn't penny pinch when buying stuff for your wheels coz your life does depend on the reliability of your wheels.

discool said:

So are your wheel locking nuts made of “fairly soft alloy“ ? as those on my vehicles are steel as all wheel nuts usually are.

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I was actually referring to a D1. I haven't had an issue with my D2 lock nuts. I believe the D1 locking nuts are in 2 parts. I assumed the d2 were the same. Still, a decent hole saw will still reduce the diameter of d2 nuts.

Bobdog said:

I was actually referring to a D1. I haven't had an issue with my D2 lock nuts. I believe the D1 locking nuts are in 2 parts. I assumed the d2 were the same. Still, a decent hole saw will still reduce the diameter of d2 nuts.

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The model of disco or its wheels isn’t important, but why was the vehicle using nuts as u state “ fairly soft alloy” was my previous question.
D1s with alloy wheels only had one wheel locking nut per wheel which was steel, the nut does have have a push on cover which is made of tin.

discool said:

The model of disco or its wheels isn’t important, but why was the vehicle using nuts as u state “ fairly soft alloy” was my previous question.
D1s with alloy wheels only had one wheel locking nut per wheel which was steel, the nut does have have a push on cover which is made of tin.

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The D1 has a false nut which covers the whole wheel nut and requires a special tool to remove it, it is made from either alloy or a tin like metal ( and is a complete PITA )

Madman2Swords said:

The D1 has a false nut which covers the whole wheel nut and requires a special tool to remove it, it is made from either alloy or a tin like metal ( and is a complete PITA )

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Your correct in that a plastic tool is provided and is place over the cover when required to remove it, there are other ways to do it hopefully without any damage to the cover, but using tool, that is the easy way to do it.
Pop it over the cover - pull the cover off... simples

Madman2Swords said:

No but the set I bought from MJ Fews in Charfield Gloucestershire the whole set consisting of 1 x locking wheel nut key
4 x locking wheel nuts I think the whole set cost around £ 37.00 but I also purchased 16 new wheel nuts in with the deal coz the existing ones along with the locking nuts were corroded, but when you think about it you shouldn't penny pinch when buying stuff for your wheels coz your life does depend on the reliability of your wheels.

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Well whatever you paid, he'd pay more as he lives in OZ, where LR stuff ain't cheap and lord knows what postage is like.

Bobdog said:

I was actually referring to a D1. I haven't had an issue with my D2 lock nuts. I believe the D1 locking nuts are in 2 parts. I assumed the d2 were the same. Still, a decent hole saw will still reduce the diameter of d2 nuts.

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I have 2 D1s and a D2, locking nuts are exactly the same. Stupid tin cover then thingy underneath you put the special socket over. And yes the tin cover is a PITA. the plastic tool designed to remove it don't work so you end up using either a screwdriver and risking scratching your alloys, or a socket and turning it then fiddling about. Have bought more than one Disco to find spare tin covers in the cubby box or glove box!

discool said:

Your correct in that a plastic tool is provided and is place over the cover when required to remove it, there are other ways to do it hopefully without any damage to the cover, but using tool, that is the easy way to do it.
Pop it over the cover - pull the cover off... simples

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Till the tangs on the end of the plastic tool break. Which they do. Only ever bought one Disco with the tangs perfect, then that one gave up the ghost too.
Ministry of Sh!t Design! Was never tested to be used more than a few times!
The plastic gets brittle over time, even if you keep it in its special, natty little vinyl tube with the locking-wheel-nut-removing socket in either the top little pocket or somewhere else. Looks divine, dahling, but in the end is pure sh!t.
Previous owners mixing up which wheel nut is which don't help. I think, as they then break them trying to remove the un-removeable.
"It's the one with the dimple, dummy".
You having had your's from new would never make that mistake or be careless with it.

Okay, a partner of one of my wife's Facebook friends had a Disco 2 that he sold a couple of years ago - he forgot to give the guy the security socket (he had already removed the security nuts anyway) so he said he'll post it to me - yes, it's a C. So, thanks so much for all the info - will wait for the socket to arrive and will give it a go first up.

Intestinalworm said:

Okay, a partner of one of my wife's Facebook friends had a Disco 2 that he sold a couple of years ago - he forgot to give the guy the security socket (he had already removed the security nuts anyway) so he said he'll post it to me - yes, it's a C. So, thanks so much for all the info - will wait for the socket to arrive and will give it a go first up.

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Well aren't you just the jammiest bloke on here at the mo!

Stanleysteamer said:

Well aren't you just the jammiest bloke on here at the mo!

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Beats forking out the dough for a socket! Best deals were in the UK online (and I noticed some strong looking stainless steel sockets on eBay), but once freight and import duties were added the price was ridiculous and on par with the prices over here! The bronze looking sockets (same as what I had) seem to be weak and deform easily, but I guess the main issue is the tyre stores and the air guns!!! Next time I'm going to stand and watch!

Anyway, lets see how this socket goes - expecting it next week sometime (mail is slow at the moment with COVID19 delays)!

Stanleysteamer said:

Well whatever you paid, he'd pay more as he lives in OZ, where LR stuff ain't cheap and lord knows what postage is like.

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Much cheaper in the UK for LR stuff. Issue is the bigger items and the postage!!! Some decent sellers over here, but the LR dealers (except for the odd item) charge ridiculous prices!

discool said:

Your correct in that a plastic tool is provided and is place over the cover when required to remove it, there are other ways to do it hopefully without any damage to the cover, but using tool, that is the easy way to do it.
Pop it over the cover - pull the cover off... simples

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My original plastic tool broke a little while ago when a tyre-fitter popped it over a standard nut I believe! I should have explained, but even when you do, the guy at the desk never passes on the message properly to the one who does the actual work! I made them pay for a new one though (they were sneaky and hoped I wouldn't notice!). The black vinyl carry bag is almost as good as new - all kitted out like it was originally when Disco 2 purchased new back in 2003!

Iv had problems before with a few locking nuts and in most cases hammered on a socket and had successfully removed them but couple of times Iv taken a welder to them and welded a nut on and used a standard 6point socket, heat from welding also helps.

Intestinalworm said:

My original plastic tool broke a little while ago when a tyre-fitter popped it over a standard nut I believe! I should have explained, but even when you do, the guy at the desk never passes on the message properly to the one who does the actual work! I made them pay for a new one though (they were sneaky and hoped I wouldn't notice!). The black vinyl carry bag is almost as good as new - all kitted out like it was originally when Disco 2 purchased new back in 2003!

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Much as I said then!
I too have found that the socket size that SHOULD take all the nuts off, ends up getting royally stuck on as rust on the actual nut builds up under the stainless or tin cover. It gets so swollen that you have to either hammer the socket on or, which is what I do, use the next size up imperial socket which just fits nicely. This is such a problem that a tyre fitter once gave me a brand new nut as the old one was so swollen. (His oppo had been a student in my school, altho I never taught him!)
Bearing in mind what a Disco is supposed to be designed for, you would think that a simple job like taking a wheel off ought to be easier.
I got so fed up with it that I wrote an article for Discourse, the Discovery owners' magazine, illustrated with pics of the issues and the solutions. I also mentioned the problem of the standard jack leaking its oil out.
So you and I are just a couple of peeps with exactly the same problem and I congratulate you on finding such a cheap solution to the prob.
But my advice to anyone going to a tyre place is to take off and replace the locking wheel nut yourself, to avoid hassle. Tell them why you are doing it if necessary and torque the nut up once done in front of them if they insist on doing it. (How many do this I have no idea, but i think I have only once checked and found it done right.)

Okay, both front security nuts off the front wheels!!! So bloody angry with those tyre bozos (Jax Tyres) - both security nuts mangled (you only notice when you go to change tyres)! No more security nuts for me though - those clowns pay them no respect!

In the end, I got a very good price (surprisingly much cheaper than any other online price, and LR Genuine to boot) for the security socket from LR here in Melbourne! Problem was, because of the mail problems due to coronavirus lock down it took 11 days to travel 12 km to my door (we can't travel from home more than 5km and only for essentials)!!! Anyway, it took so much physical effort - had to hammer the socket on to get good purchase and then put my whole body into it with the breaker bar - in the process of removing both nuts, the metal at the thin end of the security socket has now extruded - a fair bit thinner than it was!!! Will let LR know! All wheels being done up to 140Nm now with my torque wrench!

Intestinalworm said:

Okay, both front security nuts off the front wheels!!! So bloody angry with those tyre bozos (Jax Tyres) - both security nuts mangled (you only notice when you go to change tyres)! No more security nuts for me though - those clowns pay them no respect!

In the end, I got a very good price (surprisingly much cheaper than any other online price, and LR Genuine to boot) for the security socket from LR here in Melbourne! Problem was, because of the mail problems due to coronavirus lock down it took 11 days to travel 12 km to my door (we can't travel from home more than 5km and only for essentials)!!! Anyway, it took so much physical effort - had to hammer the socket on to get good purchase and then put my whole body into it with the breaker bar - in the process of removing both nuts, the metal at the thin end of the security socket has now extruded - a fair bit thinner than it was!!! Will let LR know! All wheels being done up to 140Nm now with my torque wrench!

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Well done, glad you have got to some sort of a solution!

The thinness of the metal on the socket where the bead of metal is, on the outside of the security nut, is ridiculous and is where they always go. I note you are not going to continue with the security bolts, so it appears you only got the socket to be able to remove them!

Fair enough! But now you will have to buy ordinary nuts!
But if you do change your mind you might want to try running a bead of weld down the outside of where the metal is so thin. But you'll have to do it very carefully to avoid burning through. In fact I think I would source a very thin small sheet of metal and weld that to the outside. Having drilled a load if little holes in it so you could plug weld it through them to thicker parts of the socket.

But really all this should not be necessary.

Stanleysteamer said:

Well done, glad you have got to some sort of a solution!

The thinness of the metal on the socket where the bead of metal is, on the outside of the security nut, is ridiculous and is where they always go. I note you are not going to continue with the security bolts, so it appears you only got the socket to be able to remove them!

Fair enough! But now you will have to buy ordinary nuts!
But if you do change your mind you might want to try running a bead of weld down the outside of where the metal is so thin. But you'll have to do it very carefully to avoid burning through. In fact I think I would source a very thin small sheet of metal and weld that to the outside. Having drilled a load if little holes in it so you could plug weld it through them to thicker parts of the socket.

But really all this should not be necessary.

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I have two normal nuts already - stored away for a rainy day!.

Stanleysteamer said:

Well done, glad you have got to some sort of a solution!

The thinness of the metal on the socket where the bead of metal is, on the outside of the security nut, is ridiculous and is where they always go. I note you are not going to continue with the security bolts, so it appears you only got the socket to be able to remove them!

Fair enough! But now you will have to buy ordinary nuts!
But if you do change your mind you might want to try running a bead of weld down the outside of where the metal is so thin. But you'll have to do it very carefully to avoid burning through. In fact I think I would source a very thin small sheet of metal and weld that to the outside. Having drilled a load if little holes in it so you could plug weld it through them to thicker parts of the socket.

But really all this should not be necessary.

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Rubbish design eh! The previous aftermarket socket that extruded and cracked at the same spot had a bronzish tinge - this LR Genuine socket is silver - but clearly suffers from the same problem! The bronzish socket was destroyed by the same tyre people (Jax Tyres) - didn't notice though until long after! The new LR silver socket lasted long enough for me to get both of the recalcitrant and mangled nuts off! Will contact LR and complain about the socket!

Unfortunately I don't have a welder and can't weld - my dad was a shipbuilder and welder - didn't pass on the practical skills to me though - just the love of drinking!

Stanleysteamer said:

Much as I said then!
I too have found that the socket size that SHOULD take all the nuts off, ends up getting royally stuck on as rust on the actual nut builds up under the stainless or tin cover. It gets so swollen that you have to either hammer the socket on or, which is what I do, use the next size up imperial socket which just fits nicely. This is such a problem that a tyre fitter once gave me a brand new nut as the old one was so swollen. (His oppo had been a student in my school, altho I never taught him!)
Bearing in mind what a Disco is supposed to be designed for, you would think that a simple job like taking a wheel off ought to be easier.
I got so fed up with it that I wrote an article for Discourse, the Discovery owners' magazine, illustrated with pics of the issues and the solutions. I also mentioned the problem of the standard jack leaking its oil out.
So you and I are just a couple of peeps with exactly the same problem and I congratulate you on finding such a cheap solution to the prob.
But my advice to anyone going to a tyre place is to take off and replace the locking wheel nut yourself, to avoid hassle. Tell them why you are doing it if necessary and torque the nut up once done in front of them if they insist on doing it. (How many do this I have no idea, but i think I have only once checked and found it done right.)

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Wish I had taken the security nuts off myself every time I went to get tyres! Ah well, you live and you learn - might come in handy when I buy another D2 in the after-life, although I hear the ones they have in the after-life are 100% reliable! Boring though, because then you don't have a hobby!