Wheel Nut Lock Key

[Bazile]

My Security wheel ,lock nut key has worn away inside .
Telephoned Ford - who are asking for the card with the security details , which i cant recall ever seeing .

I was thinking of just replacing the security nut with a standard nut .
Would that be wise do you think - would thieves be interested in nicking wheels off a 2010 plate ford focus ?

[Buenchico]

I certainly wouldn't bother with replacing a locking wheel nut on such a car.

(They're not really that difficult to remove anyway: https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-equipment/garage-essentials/laser-locking-wheel-nut-remover-2pc-696823.html ).

[bookbinder]

Go to your nearest Ford dealer and ask them to sort it out.

[ToraToraTora]

First thing I do is bin locking nuts, complete waste of time and enormous potential for agro. Get rid ASAP.

[bhg481]

When I bought my car in 2008 I also bought a spare wheel-nut key. I recently had a puncture and somehow the key got lost (after changing the wheel). Feeling nervous with only one key I went to buy another and found the company had disappeared. I checked with my local Volvo dealer and his attitude was "Don't bother, all cars have alloy wheels nowadays, so wheel theft has all-but disappeared".

[roadman]

get a mechanic to remove the lockin wheel nut and replace it with a new one it doesnt need fords involvement

[davebro]

if you're worried about the wheels getting stolen (maybe you live in Liverpool?) you could buy a new set of 4 nuts (oooer missus!) and key for about a tenner.

//Go to your nearest Ford dealer and ask them to sort it out.//

NOOOOOOOOOO !!! don't do that

[Blubster]

About four years ago on Christmas Day, I got a puncture, and using the `special` locking wheel-nut attachment (a recessed leaf design for use with a socket set head), tried getting the damned wheel off. Couldn't manage it, so had to call the RAC out. By the time he arrived, it was pitch black - around six PM. He couldn't get it off either, so had to take me home on the back of a low-loader.

Funny thing is, a week after Christmas, the RAC came back and took my car to the main dealers. Within mere minutes of getting the car off the trailer, and me filling in the paperwork, they had the wheel off, and the tyre replaced. Had to return a few days later for a new valve to be fitted (one of those that monitor air-pressure)

[bhg481]

A friend of mine had an interesting incident a few years ago. He went to an evening lecture at Reading University the following morning he noticed one of his wheels, which had a brand-new tyre, had been swapped for a wheel with a bald tyre. He bought locking wheel nuts.

[Hymie]

There are only a limited number of differing designs of locking wheel nuts. If you search on line there is a company that will supply a replacement key (set) once you have sent a clear photo of the locked nut (and other security info).

I used them when no key was supplied with the last car I brought – I think they charge about double what you might pay for the key and 4 lock nuts. But it’s a lot less bother than trying to prise the nuts off.

[Bazile]

Might be a silly question - apologies if it is

Would i need to inform my insurer if i replace the security locking nuts with standard nuts ?

[davebro]

they say to notify any "modifications" - I don't think it would matter in this case. my 2 cents

[mjwman]

If it came as standard replacing with non locking is a modification.
Should the wheel be stolen or otherwise then you may find it was not insured.

[davebro]

Aa stolen wheel would be far less cost than the excess on the policy & it would be useless to claim.

[dustypuss]

If you've changed your locking wheel nuts and you insurers don't know. And your wheels get stolen. Who's going to tell them . Just tell the insurers that the nuts got stolen as well as the wheels.

[ToraToraTora]

BHG: "A friend of mine had an interesting incident a few years ago. He went to an evening lecture at Reading University the following morning he noticed one of his wheels, which had a brand-new tyre, had been swapped for a wheel with a bald tyre. He bought locking wheel nuts. " - well that's obviously BS, no tea leaf would bother putting the wheel back on the target vehicle.

[davebro]

maybe he didn't want top leave the victim with an undriveable car!

[bhg481]

TTT - no, it wasn't ***. He'd had 2 new tyres on and the following day one was bald on an older wheel.

[ToraToraTora]

Very considerate tea leaves then.

[davebro]

maybe they couldn't get their jack out without lowering the car onto something & had no bricks handy?