Locking wheel nuts - Help?

[Stu]

ok so i can't be the first to lose/misplace the locking wheel nut right?

had the big service and it was there after cos i checked,took it for mot and then added zx1 and water wetter and didn't need to remove the wheels but maybe i moved it just cannot find the damn thing anywhere,it always lives in the front and never moves so don't get it?

took it upto rotheram last week to see friends and got vibration on motorway so thought i would get the tracking and wheels balanced..................how embarassing was it to get it on the ramps to find it wasn't there...... .........that after i already had to endure" this is not a proper mg and do you like this car? my wife has one and it's rubbish! "in typical northern humour.

seriously... where can you get another one? knowing my luck i will get a puncture now and not be able to get the wheel off!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rich]

That's a bummer. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Don't blame northerners in general for the humour though... Kate's from Leeds and she loves MGs!

I'm not sure where you'll get another wheel nut adaptor but if you've got the original factory fit ones, the nuts can be persuaded to move with a socket knocked on with a small hammer! I once had the same problem and that's how the garage did it! If I were you, I'd use that method and then replace all of them with a decent set that's not so easy to get round.

Rich

[Dark Knight]

Yeah not all northern himour is that bad..... and i like MG's too....

Anyway you could try yout local X-part i here they can some times get them or you, BUT yu probably don't know the code that was on the key so that probobably might not help

Paul

[c-j]

i have some sympathy - it has just takenme 10 days, 3 people and 4 wrenches just to get my nuts off - opportunity to fit new stainles steel nuts though (does this count as a 1st mod!? guess a bit soft so not really)

re. lokking nuts...MGF centre were able to post replacement when pins inside mine broke. however to get the right one (i presume there were a few differently versions) i guess you'd need to tell them the number (etched on the missing adapator - but don't know if written elsewhere?) or describe the positions of the 2 grooves (0deg, 150deg etc).

alternatives...
try at a meet to see if anyone elses fits
if rich's "hammer on" method doesn't work, garage could weld socket on and/or fabricate a temp tool to fit grooves

hope you get it sorted

chris

[uk kiwis]

I tried that / hammer on a socket trick, worked well. I asked tyre service garage to use a hand wrench but no, on goes the power wrench. The light cast locking nuts just will not stand that kind of treatment nor the nuts for that matter. I had to replace mine and buy a new locking nut set. Not good but the wheels look as good as new now.


In the future I will ease them off before buying tyres I think?

[Stu]

Thanks for tips, still not sorted as yet,was hoping to get something fabricated but they are too difficult to do.Apparently a garage my dad knows has a tool to remove.....but the question now is where can i get either complete new set of locking wheel nuts and with gadget to remove or is only option to use ordinary ones??

[Andy Knott]

I had my locking wheel nuts removed by a friend who works for a break down service. He had a cutting socket tool which basically eats in to the locking nut lossening it as you tighten the cutting socket. I replaced mine with an aftermarket set from Ebay. They seem a lot better having five offset pins instead of the standard MG Rover two.

[Rich]

There are some on eBay... Have a look here.

They are original ones so may give you the same problem later. There are alternatives available but they can be a little expensive. There's an example here.

Finally, I know there is a socket which is filled with pins that takes the shape of any nut. I'm not sure but Halfords may do them. Apparently, they work on the standard locking nuts!

Rich

[Stu]

Cheers again for the tips, hope to sort this week.

[Stu]

SORTED!

successful day ...locking nuts removed successfully by contact in aylesbury and replacement set on (halfords set).Wheels now balanced and alignment checked and adjusted and much better to drive.I will enjoy trip upto stoneleigh on friday now to race retro and the run on sunday as knowing my luck kept worrying i would get a puncture.

thanks for advice.

[Seb]

SORTED!

replacement set on (halfords set).

Which halfords ones were they? I need a set!

[Stu]

Two different length of shaft available so i ended up buying both and taking one set back,they can look up which ones you need on computer if you give model and year? however have you changed your wheels? or standard? you can buy a tool to remove from halfords also but in the end friendly workshop did it for me £15 and the tool would have cost me that so sorted.if you are at the pub meet on sunday i still have all the packaging.

stu.

[Seb]

Two different length of shaft available so i ended up buying both and taking one set back,they can look up which ones you need on computer if you give model and year? however have you changed your wheels? or standard? you can buy a tool to remove from halfords also but in the end friendly workshop did it for me £15 and the tool would have cost me that so sorted.if you are at the pub meet on sunday i still have all the packaging.

stu.

Excellent - It's not the locking wheel nuts i need, I need the whole wheel nut set replacing as i am fed up with the stupid aluminum covers which are attached to the nuts! I have seen some on the MGF Centre website but didnt know if the Halfords ones were cheaper?

[Da!sh!]

Clifton lane, £15.50 for the locking wheel nut key job done

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