Can't get lock nut off rear wheel

[pat25d]

Hey Guys,

Trying to install some mudflaps and I got 3 done, but when trying to get the lock nut off the rear right wheel I just couldn't do it.

I tried until it felt like I was just stripping the nut.

Any ideas on how to get it off?

[ian]

Hey Guys,

Trying to install some mudflaps and I got 3 done, but when trying to get the lock nut off the rear right wheel I just couldn't do it.

I tried until it felt like I was just stripping the nut.

Go to your local tyre shop and get them to use the rattle gun,you can then drive home on 4 nuts .

Any ideas on how to get it off?

Go to your local tyre shop and ask if they can remove it for you with the rattle gun.

[dylan8]

are you using your OEM wheel brace?
if so stick a bar over the end of it to get more length and power.

[pat25d]

I am using the normal brace.

It is slipping off the nut though, so even if I had more leverage it would still slip.

Might try the rattle gun idea.

[nat225]

don't go to any tyre shop, it's likely your key and lock bolt are rounded.. and they would just try to unbolt it with a breaker bar or a rattle gun... but it might cause more damage than fix.

go to your local VW service, if your key is rounded, they have a master key.

it happened to me earlier this year. i tightened all bolts so tight with a longer wrench (big mistake!), then when i needed to take the wheels off, all 4 lock nuts got rounded and paint on the wheel got damaged...

i went to a local tyre shop, they tried with a breaker bar, failed..

booked in at VW service, they spent 30mnts or so with a hammer, rattle gun, breaker bar, a master key.. then the rounded lock nuts all came off and put new set of lock nuts in.

i think the Mk6 lock nut / key design is just not good.

i now use a torque wrench whenever i need to change my wheels.

[Corey_R]

hehe... I think some people overtighten their nuts

[pat25d]

hehe... I think some people overtighten their nuts

I'd happily take the blame but this is the first time I have tried to get it off.

[nat225]

hehe... I think some people overtighten their nuts

cos nuts are precious... :p

[JCop]

I'd happily take the blame but this is the first time I have tried to get it off.

If you've had the tyres changed by a third party tyre place then it's most likely happened there.

I haven't heard of this much with VW apart from some cross-threaded bolts on after market wheels, but at work we get a few of the new BMW X6M/5M locknuts in that have had the key busted.

Most likely the "master key" is an old school drill bit system, and you drill in a little bit wider each time until the head just pops off. Or maybe VW is one of the few manufacturers with a legitimate solution to this issue.

[schoona]

VW keep a set of all the master keys and match them up to which one you have.

Yes you can drill, but it can be pretty hard steel on the lock nuts and difficult to drill, especially if using a cordless or something.

Get an imperial socket a little bit smaller and a small sledge. Use a 6" extension and belt the socket onto the stud and then crack it off.

Had to do this today.

If you are skilled with punches and chisels, by all means.

Weld a 16mm nut (weld on the inside with the thread) and leave clearance for a 2omm socket around the outside. Be careful you don't heat the rim though.

Tighten first, then impact along the centre axis (belt the front face with a dolly) then try and loosen it that way.

HTH

[JCop]

VW keep a set of all the master keys and match them up to which one you have.

Yes you can drill, but it can be pretty hard steel on the lock nuts and difficult to drill, especially if using a cordless or something.

Get an imperial socket a little bit smaller and a small sledge. Use a 6" extension and belt the socket onto the stud and then crack it off.

Had to do this today.

If you are skilled with punches and chisels, by all means.

Weld a 16mm nut (weld on the inside with the thread) and leave clearance for a 2omm socket around the outside. Be careful you don't heat the rim though.

Tighten first, then impact along the centre axis (belt the front face with a dolly) then try and loosen it that way.

HTH

Unsurprisingly, this is pretty much everything that was tried on the last busted lock nut we had, ended up just snapping it off the head and drilling it out of the hub.


The sledge trick works great for busted alloy caps on some nuts (specifically Bentley) sometimes they get damaged by rattle guns and can't be removed by a correctly sized bolt, so you have to smash off the alloy covers to get to the steel beneath.

A little off-topic now though.