Problem with locking nuts
- Thread starter Bunker
- Start date
Reread your post - the problem is one of your lock nuts is damaged, or just has a different type of locknut on it?
A photo of the nut would be best so I can see whether you can drill into it anywhere, or get purchase on it, or whether it is of a different type that requires a stronger form of "percussive maintenance".
A photo of the nut would be best so I can see whether you can drill into it anywhere, or get purchase on it, or whether it is of a different type that requires a stronger form of "percussive maintenance".
If it is standard 4-stud pattern, your "nuts" will be studs that screw in - yes? or have you had it converted so the studs are on the axle side, and you now use nuts like on many other cars?
If still the BMW bolt-type studs that screw into the wheel mounting plate, then you could simply drill out the stud with progessively larger drill bits until you can get it mostly out. (Don't drill it out entirely, because you will make the hole too big, and I don't know if you can use a helicoil thread on a wheel stud.) Then you can borrow a die tap to re-tap the thread, and then buy a new stud.
if it is of the nut type, you could do the opposite with a angle grinder, then borrow a die nut and re-tap the thread on the stud.
Photo would definitely help.
If still the BMW bolt-type studs that screw into the wheel mounting plate, then you could simply drill out the stud with progessively larger drill bits until you can get it mostly out. (Don't drill it out entirely, because you will make the hole too big, and I don't know if you can use a helicoil thread on a wheel stud.) Then you can borrow a die tap to re-tap the thread, and then buy a new stud.
if it is of the nut type, you could do the opposite with a angle grinder, then borrow a die nut and re-tap the thread on the stud.
Photo would definitely help.
The problem i've got is that the prat I bought the car had used 2 different type of locking nuts,and only left one key. The key I have will remove 3 wheels but not the 4th. Although the actuall nut looks almost identical to the others and looks as if the key should fit it, it simply wont. The only 2 answers I can come up with is an impact driver to try and smack the key in place or, as suggested by 'Echo' to drill out the bolt and use a die set to reopen the whole. And no the disks havent been changed so its the original bimmer set up with original 'screw in studs'.
Any other ideas would be helpfull.
Cheers.
Don't know if they will help but this is a couple of pics of the key to give you an idea.
Any other ideas would be helpfull.
Cheers.
Don't know if they will help but this is a couple of pics of the key to give you an idea.
Attachments
File/grind flat spots onto the outside of the nut and try some pipe wrenches?
Grind/file/drill/cut the head off the nut to release the wheel, then the tension will be off it and it sould come out with some vice grips?
Fabricate a key with a welder - hard work!!!
Or even better (and dammit I'm good!!) weld a bar to the nut and just turn it!
Grind/file/drill/cut the head off the nut to release the wheel, then the tension will be off it and it sould come out with some vice grips?
Fabricate a key with a welder - hard work!!!
Or even better (and dammit I'm good!!) weld a bar to the nut and just turn it!