Broken Locking Wheel Key - Scotland

[WojaWabbit]

Hi folks,

I tried to remove my wheels yesterday to clean them and in/around the brakes and arches. Unfortunately, the wheel bolts were solid - it looks like the tyre fitters have used a gun to fit them when I had the fronts replaced a few months back. After lots of various attempts at releasing the locking wheel bolts the key finally gave up the ghost and snapped along it's length.

They are OEM fit locking bolts and I've read elsewhere that there are ~36 different keys. I'm wondering if anyone on here knows of a Scottish garage, indie or OPC that may have a range, or all, of the various keys? I spoke to a chap from Aberdeen OPC today and he said they have a few so I might get lucky if I take the car there, but they usually just remove them with a 'hammered on 20mm socket".

I travel to the central belt regularly, so can go to most of the wellknown indies if they have the keys.

Thanks in advance.

Iain




PS Car is a 996 C4S

[X-UFO]

The 'hammered on socket' approach is quite common.

If you search youtube for 'locking wheel nut removal' there are lots of videos on there to give you some ideas.

[cd1957]

Hi every opc have master sets for all the versions

Chris

[pacman1]

Had a puncture on an MG Metro a few yers back, but had no lock nut removal key, but I did have the original nuts at home.
So, I called the AA, and the very nice man used his impact driver to remove the offending locking nut, allowing him to change the wheel.
Further to greasing his palm with a tenner, he cracked the other three so that when I got home I was able to replace them all with the original nuts.
Perhaps you might consider getting yourself a 'puncture'. hth

[Storm996]

cd1957 said:

Hi every opc have master sets for all the versions

Chris

It depends on if the nut is knackered as well as the key.

[WojaWabbit]

Thanks for the replies

I have been down the "whack on a socket" route previously with other cars with varying degrees of success. I thought I'd be doing the same with the, but I'd heard about master keys being available for oem bolts.

cd1957 said:

Hi every opc have master sets for all the versions

Chris

Thanks, I'll try again tomorrow then, as the guy I spoke to today seemed to think they only had a few available to try. Failing that I'll ring round Glasgow and Edinburgh OPCs.

[skiboy 911]

Edinburgh OPC has a master key set. I had a similar problem.

[WojaWabbit]

I should have updated this thread a few weeks ago.....

It turned out Aberdeen OPC do have a master set and, although they have a few missing keys, we managed to find the master for mine. I ordered a new key and four standard bolts. A new extending wheel brace was also purchased (from screwfix, bargaintastic) and with the new key fitted, the locking bolts came out with a bit of a strain.

Job jobbed, and all for around £50 with no damaged wheels