So yesterday, I was going to start doing the brakes on my OTM. Unfortunately, one of the stupid "keyed" anti-theft lug nuts busted to pieces when trying to take the lug off. So now the lug nut won't come off.

I took the rest of the anti-theft lug nuts (never wanted them in the first place) and replaced them with regular lugs. Then, I JB Welded the "key" into the busted lug last night. I'm hoping I can get enough grib from the JB to get this lug off. As of now, though, the JB hasn't cured fully. I have a space heater pointed at it to heat it up, but geez! I sure hope it cures soon so I can get these brakes done!

What are the chances this JB Weld will be enough to get the lug off?

 

Slim to none, but good luck.

 

That's what I was afraid of.

I guess this is what I get for letting somebody else mount the wheels after balancing!

 

maybe weld the key on???

 

Thought about that, but I don't have access to a welder in my little garage :(

 

It could be worse.

 

just grab the wheel by a spoke, and pry the wheel off by snapping the lug. That's how people steal wheels with locks typically.

 

I broke off a lug nut a couple weeks ago (two actually...they were damaged, long story). I just drilled a hole in the middle of the lug nut and used an "easy-out" to take it right out. If the lug nut broke and the wheel still comes off, the lug should not be under any force and unscrews easily unless its rusted or something. JB weld should work though.

 

maybe you can hose-clamp it back together?

or use one of those things from sears that looks like an inside-out drill for removing rounded heads.

 

Snap-on and other tool companies have kits out to hammer onto wheel locks (I must've busted off 7 car's worth of locks when I worked at a shop), but in a pinch you can hammer on a socket that you don't want to use again. I busted the locks off my buddy's CRX with a 16mm socket and a sledge.

 

they stop production of lugnuts with locks on them have'nt they, down in florida most tire places I go to dont sell them or want to deal with them

 

Every shop I worked at in FL had no problem dealing with them for $15 per lock

A lot of dealers charge $100 for locks, which floors me, and people pay it!

 

I would think busting the stud would make more of a mess. Take it to a shop.

 

Thanks for the ideas guys. Just got it off.

The JB Weld didn't work obviously, and I didn't want to bust the stud. I managed to grind it down to an approx. 17mm shape and take it off. Took a lot of grinding (when all I had handy was a dremel), but I got it.

I'll do the brakes tomorrow. I can't believe I missed the football game for this ****.

 

Good to know it worked out.

 

nah, studs are easy. Snap it off, smack it once with a hammer, then replace.

 

What's "OTM" anyway?

 

Other Than Miata

 

ahh, ok

 

^^^ yea i was wondering that too