Any chance of hitting that centre eaten area with a socket. The threads could also be released by the knocking.
It could be knocked counterclockwise with a thin cold chisel and a 4lb hammer.
Although welding the nut is a wonderful alternative, you must be careful not to damage the wheel.
In This Article...
The location of the Audi locking wheel nut
Your locking wheel nut key is probably where the manufacturer stored it if your car is new and you haven’t needed to remove the wheels yet. Typical locations are:
- a glove box
- With or underneath your spare wheel
- It could be in a different compartment.
- First aid kit, under the carpet, in each individual compartment, and in the bootcheck
- Check the seat pockets and underneath the seats under the driver’s or passenger’s seat.
- pocket for door cards
- middle console for storage
Some locking wheel nut keys are provided separately in a little plastic bag, while others are kept in a compact plastic box along with extra wheel nuts.
Try to recall the last time one of the wheels needed to be removed if you can’t find your locking wheel nut key. The mechanic had to remove the wheels if you had your car serviced or had parts like the brakes updated. Before you depart, it is usually wise to confirm the location of the item the garage has left for you. This could prevent you from having to spend time the following time hunting for it.
What occurs if I misplace the key to the locking wheel nut?
The first thing you should do if you have a locking wheel nut but no key is to order a new one. If you know the codecheck your car’s manual or document fileyou may quickly obtain a replacement key from your neighborhood dealer.
There are companies that will match your key pattern from a phone image you send in displaying the geometry of your wheel nut, so all is not lost if you can’t find the key. (Keep in mind that just a few patterns are available from each wheel nut manufacturer.) In this situation, you will frequently be required to provide proof that you are the owner of the vehicle you are attempting to remove a wheel from, which may entail submitting a picture of your V5C log book.
Do locking wheel nuts come off with the AA?
Locking nuts come with a code that allows owners to request a new key from the manufacturer. In the absence of the code, garages have equipment that can remove most nuts. The AA and RAC are two breakdown organizations that frequently offer assistance.
There are tools for removing locking wheel nuts that you can buy from places like Amazon. You use the tool to hammer over the nut to create a reverse thread, and then you use a wrench to unscrew it. They are one-time use items because they self-destruct during use.
A last-ditch DIY option is to take an old 12-point socket that is slightly too small, hammer it till it bites onto the nut, and then twist it off with a ratchet (assuming you have a simple type of nut without a rotating outer shroud/collari). If you attempt this with a high-end locking nut from a manufacturer like McGard, the wheel will be ruined.
Can locking wheel nuts be removed by Kwik Fit?
Make sure you know where your locking wheel nut key is if your car has a locking wheel nut and you need to contact your local Kwik Fit for new tires, brake pads, or discs or if you need a service. It’s best to be ready because these treatments need the removal of the wheels.
Are wheel locks standard on all Audis?
Your Audi dealer will have them if your wheel locks bear the Audi logo. In the spare wheel well, there should be a sticker with the key code next to the PR Sticker.
Where is the key for the wheel lock?
The spare tire can occasionally be discovered alongside the spare key, which is a set of keys, in the glove box. The dealer or manufacturer can create a replacement key if the original is lost or damaged in some other way. Whenever your wheels are taken off, it’s a good idea to always make sure you get your wheel lock key back.
Can wheel locks be removed at tire shops?
You are not alone if you discovered that the wheel lock key is gone, stripped, or that one of the lock nuts is damaged. It’s a very typical issue.
A wheel lock key frequently just becomes worn out after prolonged use. There are a few methods available if this occurs and you are unable to remove the wheel locks using the tools you have.
Calling your technician or a nearby auto repair shop is one alternative. Some mechanics may be able to unlock the wheel locks without a key since they have specialized tools (sockets) for the job. It might be pretty simple in certain cars and challenging in others. They might require a hammer and penetrating oil to assist them.
Another choice is to go to the service section of the nearby same-brand dealership.
Dealership mechanics can unlock your wheels since they have the master set of keys that are unique to the manufacturer. A simple service like that typically doesn’t require an appointment unless the dealership is extremely busy. Naturally, the dealer might bill you for work. If the wheel lock nut is cracked or stripped, a dealer should be able to remove it.
The next decision is whether you want to add standard nuts instead of the wheel locks. Wheel locks may deter theft of your wheels and tires, but how frequently does this actually occur in your community? But if someone truly wants to steal your car’s wheels, they can figure out how to get the locks off.
In light of this, many owners decide to use standard nuts when mounting winter tires on steel rims or if the car is older. If the original nuts are still kept somewhere in the trunk, it might be helpful. You won’t have to be concerned about losing or damaging the key if you use standard nuts.
Is it possible to obtain a new wheel lock key? A key can be ordered separately from a lock from some vendors, but it will take some time to get there. Wheel locks are typically only sold by sets at dealerships.
For a set, the cost varies from $20 to $120. A replacement wheel lock set can also be ordered online; the costs are in this range. Wheel locks are a common feature on automobiles thanks to McGard. As long as you have the key code, which is typically saved with the set as an ID card, you can even order the key alone from them online. You can also check the pouch holding your owner’s manual.
Which location is ideal for keeping a wheel lock key? The key is typically kept in the spare tire well in the trunk, along with the jack and the wheel wrench. When bringing their vehicle in for maintenance, many automobile owners put the key on display in the center console so that the technician will know where to find it if necessary. In this manner, if they misplace the keywhich can happen occasionallyyou will immediately discover it when you get your car back.
Wheel locks are not required; standard OEM nuts or bolts will suffice as long as they are correctly installed, fitted to the rims, and torqued in accordance with specifications. When in doubt, consult the owner’s manual or ask your mechanic.
Why are lock nuts used in cars? It’s a security feature meant to make stealing the wheels more challenging. A set of wheel lock nuts or bolts and the key that matches that design are provided. The majority of the time, a dealership technician will install wheel locks during the pre-delivery inspection.
The factory-installed key and regular nuts are typically stored in the glove box or trunk, occasionally in a plastic case or tiny pouch.
Each car has its own locking wheel nuts, right?
We go into greater detail on locking wheel nuts below, including what they are, how to remove them, where to look for the special key for your car, and what to do if you misplace it.
What is a locking wheel nut?
Manufacturers utilize locking wheel nuts, also known as alloy wheel nuts, to guarantee that wheels remain firmly attached to their vehicles. When it came to preventing the theft of alloy wheels, the invention of locking wheel nuts changed everything. Alloy wheels are no longer as tempting to thieves as they once were because they are now a regular standard feature on current automobiles, but manufacturers still want to protect against the danger of theft by giving all vehicles a set of locking wheel nuts. The majority of automobiles come equipped with one locking wheel nut per wheel and a corresponding locking wheel nut key.
Where can I find my locking wheel nut key?
Small and like a typical bolt, locking wheel nut keys are typically kept in a container inside your automobile. If you bought your car from a private seller, it’s important to confirm that you received a special locking wheel nut key at that time. However, it’s likely that you’ll discover it at the location the maker intended. Locking wheel nuts are typically kept in a few locations by auto manufacturers. These consist of:
- With your spare wheel: Your spare wheel is the most obvious location (if your car has one, that is). The locking wheel nut can be found in a little compartment close to the spare tire, which is under the bottom panel of your boot.
- The locking wheel nut key may be kept by some manufacturers in a storage compartment in the boot if your car doesn’t have a spare wheel. These compartments are often located to the left and/or right of the boot within a panel above the rear wheel arches.
- If you can’t find your locking wheel nut key in the boot, it’s probably in your glovebox, along with your car’s owner’s manual.
- Your locking wheel nut key may have been hidden for safety in or under the driver’s or passenger’s seats, depending on which seat it was stowed in. Try looking in the backseat occupants’ pockets.
- If you’re not having much luck locating your locking wheel nut key in the locations mentioned above, it might be worth having one last look in your door card pockets and in the center console storage compartments. The locking wheel nut may end up in these locations when a vehicle has changed ownership several times.
Are locking wheel nut keys unique to each car?
Yes is the short response. At the very least, they are exclusive to the locking wheel nut set that your manufacturer gave you as your car was rolling off the assembly line. For instance, you wouldn’t be able to remove the wheel from your Toyota using a BMW locking wheel nut key.
How do you remove a locking wheel nut?
Locking wheel nuts need a locking wheel nut key, as indicated above, as opposed to traditional wheel nuts, which have a regular hexagonal head and may be removed using a regular wheel brace. The locking wheel nuts with a keyed head are the most popular type. You must insert the appropriate wheel nut key onto the locking nut in order to remove it. The standard hexagonal end of the key will then connect to a wheel brace, allowing it to be loosened.
What do I do if I lose my locking wheel nut key?
You may still remove the wheel from your car even if you have searched every nook and cranny of the interior and are still unable to locate the locking wheel nut key. However, you will need assistance.
Although locking wheel nut removal kits are available online, we advise taking your car to a tyre specialist instead because they will have access to approved, specialized equipment to prevent wheel damage. Your locking wheel nuts will be swapped out for a set of universal locking wheel nuts by the technician. To save you from having to buy directly from the vehicle manufacturer, these kits are made to fit a variety of automobiles. This approach is less expensive than purchasing a replacement key for the original set of locking wheel nuts, even though your locking wheel nuts will no longer be specific to your automobile.
Can I get a replacement wheel nut key?
Yes, you will need to purchase a replacement locking wheel nut key if you want to keep using the original locking wheel nut set that came with your car, although this is the more expensive choice. Since each key has a distinct code, you can order a replacement right from the maker. But this won’t work if the container your locking wheel nut key is supposed to be kept in is also missing.
What does it cost to have the wheel locks taken off?
Having trouble locating your wheel lock key? You might have to ask the manufacturer or dealer to make you a new one. You will need the code associated with your specific key to complete this. Typically, a set will cost you anything from $20 to $120.
The owner’s manual typically contains the key code for wheel locking that came with the car. Alternatively, you might be able to take your automobile to the dealer and have the locks removed using a master key set.
The key code should be located in the box or bag your set arrived in if you bought your wheel locks separately. Your wheel lock’s brand, make, or model will probably be able to be found online, where you can also obtain a replacement key. Otherwise, you might need to have a reliable repair remove your wheel lock. Just make sure to give them a call in advance to see if they can assist you!
Our ASE-certified specialists at NuBrakes provide high-quality, reasonably priced brake repair services at your home or place of business.