GTI wheel lock nuts?

[MrGadget]

Hi, I thought I read somewhere that the GTI has wheel lock nuts, is this true? I don't have car with me at the moment to check and when we picked the car up nothing was mentioned about it (i didn't think to ask). If true then where is the tool to unlock it?

Thanks.

[Maverick]

Hi, I thought I read somewhere that the GTI has wheel lock nuts, is this true? I don't have car with me at the moment to check and when we picked the car up nothing was mentioned about it (i didn't think to ask). If true then where is the tool to unlock it?.

Where you would expect it to be, with the tools in the back of the car.

Do you have a flat tyre you want to change?

[Petrina Polo]

Hi, I thought I read somewhere that the GTI has wheel lock nuts, is this true? I don't have car with me at the moment to check and when we picked the car up nothing was mentioned about it (i didn't think to ask). If true then where is the tool to unlock it?

Thanks.

yes to locknuts and in the hatch the key is in there..

how do you get the rear wheels off... I take off all the bolts and it still doesnt want to come off..

[gerhard]

yes to locknuts and in the hatch the key is in there..

how do you get the rear wheels off... I take off all the bolts and it still doesnt want to come off..

You'll have to pull a bit harder than you have been.

[Guest212]

try rotating the wheel, it should then work its way off.

[gregozedobe]

Sometimes wheels "freeze" onto the hub and can be quite difficult to get off.

Please be careful manhandling your car if it is up on a jack - some jacks are very unstable and the car can fall off and "squoosh" you (to use the technical term for being crushed by a large, heavy object).

One method I've read of is to loosen all the wheel nuts on the stuck wheel (actually bolts on some cars) 2 or 3 turns, then drive slowly for a few meters and see if that unfreezes them. Sometimes turning the steering wheel left and right or braking will loosen a wheel.

[gerhard]

Sometimes wheels "freeze" onto the hub and can be quite difficult to get off.

Please be careful manhandling your car if it is up on a jack - some jacks are very unstable and the car can fall off and "squoosh" you (to use the technical term for being crushed by a large, heavy object).

One method I've read of is to loosen all the wheel nuts on the stuck wheel (actually bolts on some cars) 2 or 3 turns, then drive slowly for a few meters and see if that unfreezes them. Sometimes turning the steering wheel left and right or braking will loosen a wheel.

I wouldn't drive with alloy wheel and loose bolts on a VW - you'll probably loosen it but you will probably also wreck the centre of the wheel where it snugly fits over the hub.

I do recall a thread where the wheel was removed/hacked from around its hub by someone on here, but that's not recommended either unless you have a matching spare wheel on hand

[gregozedobe]

I wouldn't drive with alloy wheel and loose bolts on a VW - you'll probably loosen it but you will probably also wreck the centre of the wheel where it snugly fits over the hub.

That's a fair point, what's your suggestion for an "in the field" solution (where you have a flat tyre but don't have many garage type tools available) ? Also I believe it seems to be alloys that get stuck more than steel wheels (something to do with repeated hot/cold cycles and dissimilar metals)

[MrGadget]

That's a fair point, what's your suggestion for an "in the field" solution (where you have a flat tyre but don't have many garage type tools available) ? Also I believe it seems to be alloys that get stuck more than steel wheels (something to do with repeated hot/cold cycles and dissimilar metals)

I would just VW call road-side assist, come to think of it I have RACV cover as well, is it alwyas best to call VW assist rather than RACV?

[gerhard]

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe VW roadside assist is primarily a tow truck to take the car back to base.

RACV is more likely to get your wheel off on the spot.

But with the useless tiny spare, getting that on in the country and driving to the next place where you might get a repair/new tyre would be no fun either. Especially if your problem is the front tyre - you'd have to swap a back one onto the front and put the skinny thingy on the back.