Volvo V40 Locking wheel Nuts Seized
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After a winters use the locking wheel nuts refused to budge in spite of trying the most usual methods of release.
Locking wheel nuts are designed to prevent expensive wheels being stolen but is their use still relevant? Various methods are available to release these locks and their success depends on the type of locking nut used. Where the locking nut material is mild steel and the outside of the nut can be accessed then reverse thread tools that grip the outside can be effective, an example is the type sold at Halfords or even a 1/2" drive socket
hammered over the wheel nut may release it although the socket is likely to be damaged. Other methods include drilling out or chiselling the nut and even welding on a large ordinary hexagon nut but these all may prove a failure and damage alloy wheels in the process.
Original Volvo lock nuts are made from hardened steel so are resistant to drilling and or chiselling. They also have a snug fitting rotating hardened ring on their outside that resists the reverse thread tools or hammering on a socket. One company has solved the problem and has produced a tool that will remove all types of seized locking wheel nuts: Dynomec.
The tool is used by leading breakdown/rescue organisations so must be effective but if you are near to Castleford (Leeds) they will remove stubborn wheel nuts for £10 a wheel. I visited them and hey presto 5 minutes later both seized wheel nuts were released. Not wanting the problem to reoccur I disposed of the locking nuts and fitted ordinary nuts, after all the wheels are quite old and unlikely to be attractive to a potential theif.
After a winters use the locking wheel nuts refused to budge in spite of trying the most usual methods of release.
Locking wheel nuts are designed to prevent expensive wheels being stolen but is their use still relevant? Various methods are available to release these locks and their success depends on the type of locking nut used. Where the locking nut material is mild steel and the outside of the nut can be accessed then reverse thread tools that grip the outside can be effective, an example is the type sold at Halfords or even a 1/2" drive socket
hammered over the wheel nut may release it although the socket is likely to be damaged. Other methods include drilling out or chiselling the nut and even welding on a large ordinary hexagon nut but these all may prove a failure and damage alloy wheels in the process.
Original Volvo lock nuts are made from hardened steel so are resistant to drilling and or chiselling. They also have a snug fitting rotating hardened ring on their outside that resists the reverse thread tools or hammering on a socket. One company has solved the problem and has produced a tool that will remove all types of seized locking wheel nuts: Dynomec.
The tool is used by leading breakdown/rescue organisations so must be effective but if you are near to Castleford (Leeds) they will remove stubborn wheel nuts for £10 a wheel. I visited them and hey presto 5 minutes later both seized wheel nuts were released. Not wanting the problem to reoccur I disposed of the locking nuts and fitted ordinary nuts, after all the wheels are quite old and unlikely to be attractive to a potential theif.