Locking Wheel Nut Problem

paul reddy · Apr 13, 2019

Hi all, so my freelander went in for new brakes today. I got a call this evening stating that they managed to get two locking wheel nuts off but the front two will not budge. Has anyone had this problem before and if so how did you sort it? Or does anyone know how to get them off?
The garage said that especially these type are incredibly difficult to remove once they are stuck on.

GrumpyGel · Apr 13, 2019

Usually the tabs on the key come away - so if they haven't then they aren't trying hard enough

When the key for mine was stripped by a tyre fitter, I took it along to the LR Stealers as they have a complete set of the different keys - except they didn't, but they did have an internal reverse thread jobbie that gripped on the nuts to get them off. So I replaced all 5 locking nuts with regular ones.

That doesn't help your current predicament, but what I'd do is get yourself 5 standard nuts and take the car along to a tyre fitter and ask them to change over the nuts!

deangermouse · Apr 13, 2019

From memory I used an old 18mm multi sided socket and hammered it onto the locking nut, tightened all the other nuts really tight and used a breaker bar, then replaced them with standard nuts.

Arctic2 · Apr 13, 2019

What type are they Mcguard ones if so they are a nightmare as the locking nuts/ studs are made from high grade metal with a slip ring which spins round when you try to get another or any other socket onto them, it make it worse when the wheel nut lock remover is made of soft alloy who thought that idea up

when I purchased my FL2 the key had been lost so I ground the rings off my locking nuts then used a reverse socket remover, helped on one the other I ground a V in and tapped them round with a chisel

Nodge68 · Apr 14, 2019

paul reddy said:
Hi all, so my freelander went in for new brakes today. I got a call this evening stating that they managed to get two locking wheel nuts off but the front two will not budge. Has anyone had this problem before and if so how did you sort it? Or does anyone know how to get them off?
The garage said that especially these type are incredibly difficult to remove once they are stuck on.

It would help to know what Freelander you have, as the locking wheel nuts are different between FL1 and FL2.

Si Click · Apr 14, 2019

You can buy reverse thread locking wheel nut removers on line or from Halfords. Not expensive, useful to have and a fraction of the cost of getting a dealer to do it. Just make sure you have a vice handy to hold the removed nut securely so you can get the tool off afterwards.

Arctic2 · Apr 14, 2019

Nodge68 said:
It would help to know what Freelander you have, as the locking wheel nuts are different between FL1 and FL2.

Hi John.
Very good question as the FL wheels will have the sunken in wheel nuts not flush like the FL2 so will be harder to remove, the method I used in the above photo's would not work. if I remember rightly also they are 22mm

GrumpyGel · Apr 14, 2019

Si Click said:
You can buy reverse thread locking wheel nut removers on line or from Halfords. Not expensive, useful to have and a fraction of the cost of getting a dealer to do it. Just make sure you have a vice handy to hold the removed nut securely so you can get the tool off afterwards.

The dealer that removed my locking nuts must have spent 1/2 hour looking at it, trying the reverse threaded tool, and doing it - but I think they were embarrassed not to have the right part - so didn't charge me anything.

Either that or they wanted to clear my old heap out of their workshop of shiny posh motors ASAP

paul reddy · Apr 14, 2019

Hi all, thank you for the many replies, it is a FL1.

paul reddy · Apr 14, 2019

Arctic2 said:
What type are they Mcguard ones if so they are a nightmare as the locking nuts/ studs are made from high grade metal with a slip ring which spins round when you try to get another or any other socket onto them, it make it worse when the wheel nut lock remover is made of soft alloy who thought that idea up when I purchased my FL2 the key had been lost so I ground the rings off my locking nuts then used a reverse socket remover, helped on one the other I ground a V in and tapped them round with a chisel

Hi, searching the net they do indeed appear to be Mcgard locking wheel nuts. How were you able to grind the ring off?

Nodge68 · Apr 14, 2019

paul reddy said:
Hi, searching the net they do indeed appear to be Mcgard locking wheel nuts. How were you able to grind the ring off?

You need to use something like this. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/262546824328

These are designed to remove lockers, without damage to the wheels. Most garages should have them, I know the Citroen dealer I worked at had a set.

paul reddy · Apr 14, 2019

Nodge68 said:
You need to use something like this. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/262546824328

These are designed to remove lockers, without damage to the wheels. Most garages should have them, I know the Citroen dealer I worked at had a set.

Hi, searching some more i have actually found a Local garage who seems to specialise in this https://www.lockingwheelnutremovers.co.uk. I have just called them and booked my car in with them so i will report back once they have been and let you know how they got on.

paul reddy · Apr 14, 2019

Hi all, so they arrived and within 15 minutes both my stuck locking wheel nuts were off! Absolutely chuffed! Can not thank you lot enough for all your help and support.

Si Click · Apr 15, 2019

Glad you got it sorted.

Nodge68 said:
You need to use something like this. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/262546824328
These are designed to remove lockers, without damage to the wheels. Most garages should have them, I know the Citroen dealer I worked at had a set.

If anyone finds this on a search, by all means buy the above Irwin-type tools to remove seized bolts and nuts - they will be really useful. But as the largest size is 19mm they will be useless for wheel nut removal. For most LRs what you want is something tapered that opens much wider like these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-E...630286&hash=item2ecdb140bd:g:R90AAOSwL9tbdU5u

Nodge68 · Apr 15, 2019

Si Click said:
Glad you got it sorted.

If anyone finds this on a search, by all means buy the above Irwin-type tools to remove seized bolts and nuts - they will be really useful. But as the largest size is 19mm they will be useless for wheel nut removal. For most LRs what you want is something tapered that opens much wider like these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-E...630286&hash=item2ecdb140bd:g:R90AAOSwL9tbdU5u

The question was asked in the Freelander section, about a FL1 locking wheel nut. The tools I linked were just an example of what can be used to remove locking nuts on that vehicle.

Had the question been asked in a different vehicle section, I'd have linked a more appropriate removal tool.

freelance · Apr 15, 2019

Si Click said:
Glad you got it sorted.

If anyone finds this on a search, by all means buy the above Irwin-type tools to remove seized bolts and nuts - they will be really useful. But as the largest size is 19mm they will be useless for wheel nut removal. For most LRs what you want is something tapered that opens much wider like these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Draper-E...630286&hash=item2ecdb140bd:g:R90AAOSwL9tbdU5u

@st click, Irwin do make an expansion kit that goes up to 24mm in size .

Si Click · Apr 15, 2019

Fair enough, I had no idea FL1 wheel nuts were so dinky.

The point is valid though as anyone with the same problem doing a global forum search on Locking Wheel Nut removal will come across this thread and they will likely need something bigger.

Nodge68 · Apr 15, 2019

Si Click said:
I had no idea FL1 wheel nuts were so dinky.

Yes locking nuts for the FL1 are tiny, they're the same as those used on Rover cars, so are smaller than normal LR size nuts.

Locking Wheel Nut Problem

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