Locking wheel nut - please tell me I'm not going mad!

[kernnowkarmann]

Ok, so I'm 99.9% sure my wheels don't have locking nuts. No idea why but I don't have a locking wheel nut in the van and in the picture below (sorry for quality) the nuts are all the same....

I need to get winter tyres put on so I don't want to turn up at the garage and have them ask me where the locking nut is...

 

[WelshGas]

Ok, so I'm 99.9% sure my wheels don't have locking nuts. No idea why but I don't have a locking wheel nut in the van and in the picture below (sorry for quality) the nuts are all the same....

I need to get winter tyres put on so I don't want to turn up at the garage and have them ask me where the locking nut is...

View attachment 101819

No locking nuts on that wheel.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Maybe not a standard fitment in your country. But would be a good idea to get a set or risk loosing a wheel or 2.

 

[Calimili]

Why not trying each bolt of each wheel if a 19mm socket fits?

 

[kernnowkarmann]

Why not trying each bolt of each wheel if a 19mm socket fits?

i should have thought of that!!

 

[kernnowkarmann]

Maybe not a standard fitment in your country. But would be a good idea to get a set or risk loosing a wheel or 2.

I have thought that, but also thought "how common is it to have a wheel stolen?" I know it used to happen years ago, before locking wheel nuts were common but does it really happen now?

My main worry is that the hubcaps will be nicked.. they're €100 each to replace

 

[andyinluton]

If you've got a hub cap covering the bolts, a locking bolt is really a waste of time.
Any half competent thief will have a tool for removing locking bolts on him anyway and will probably assume you have locking bolts fitted, so if he's got as far as removing the hubcaps your wheels are going whether or not you have locks.

 

[Californication69]

It was all the rage in the 80’s. The amount of MG Meastro and Montegos on wood or brick blocks found in the morning.

 

[CALI FATE]

Best without them - when they wear they are a bugger to get off and leave you stranded - speaking from experience

 

[Californication69]

Best without them - when they wear they are a bugger to get off and leave you stranded - speaking from experience

I can imagine. Seen pictures of welds onto nuts to try and remove them !!

 

[Mr T]

Best without them - when they wear they are a bugger to get off and leave you stranded - speaking from experience

Totally agree. Had them on my Ocean and at around 8 months old I couldn’t get one of the locking wheel nuts off. they’re like cheese.
After that I removed them all. Wheel theft is less common nowadays.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Totally agree. Had them on my Ocean and at around 8 months old I couldn’t get one of the locking wheel nuts off. they’re like cheese.
After that I removed them all. Wheel theft is less common nowadays.

If you use the VW tool kit wheel brace with the locknut adaptor added, the connection combined is 'wobbly', so it is easy to burr off the important contact edges and spoil the locking nuts. Personally I always carry a normal straight torque wrench (about 2' long) and a longish 19mm socket (about 3") and never use the tool brace on hub nuts. The difference is considerable. It is easier to remove wheels (with the extra leverage) and of course you can refit wheel nuts to an approved torque (I believe 180Nm or 133 ft/lbs).

 

[kernnowkarmann]

It was all the rage in the 80’s. The amount of MG Meastro and Montegos on wood or brick blocks found in the morning.

Let's face it, the wheels were the best bits of those cars, no wonder they left the rest behind

 

[Mr T]

If you use the VW tool kit wheel brace with the locknut adaptor added, the connection combined is 'wobbly', so it is easy to burr off the important contact edges and spoil the locking nuts. Personally I always carry a normal straight torque wrench (about 2' long) and a longish 19mm socket (about 3") and never use the tool brace on hub nuts. The difference is considerable. It is easier to remove wheels (with the extra leverage) and of course you can refit wheel nuts to an approved torque (I believe 180Nm or 133 ft/lbs).

I’ve never used the VW supplied toolkit. I have a torque wrench and appropriate socket etc.
I still cannot recommend the use of the VW locking wheel nuts, not worth the trouble.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I’ve never used the VW supplied toolkit. I have a torque wrench and appropriate socket etc.
I still cannot recommend the use of the VW locking wheel nuts, not worth the trouble.

I am too new to California ( 3 weeks tomorrow) to have much experience of its locking nuts, but I certainly noted, on my 'trial wheel change' - before we set off on a long continental trip shortly - the locking wheel nuts on my 2006 Phaeton were a more stable in use design.

I may now investigate a change - thank you @Mr T . The thought of being remotely stuck with spoiled locking nuts is worrying.

 

[WelshGas]

I am too new to California ( 3 weeks tomorrow) to have much experience of its locking nuts, but I certainly noted, on my 'trial wheel change' - before we set off on a long continental trip shortly - the locking wheel nuts on my 2006 Phaeton were a more stable in use design.

I may now investigate a change - thank you @Mr T . The thought of being remotely stuck with spoiled locking nuts is worrying.

After 8 yrs, all wheels have been removed on 7 occasions, 5 for tyre changes and 2 for brake pads/discs over 118,000 miles and the VW locking nuts are as new. Just saying.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

After 8 yrs, all wheels have been removed on 7 occasions, 5 for tyre changes and 2 for brake pads/discs over 118,000 miles and the VW locking nuts are as new. Just saying.

WG, your locknuts, 8 years old, may be more like my 2006 Phaeton, that have seen a lot more action even than yours and remain perfect; they are like an irregular torx. My new MY2023 locking bolts are three male studs in a recess with the adaptor a female match, and these are hopeless with the supplied wheel brace though, on my first exercise, came off OK with a carefully applied straight torque wrench and 19mm socket.

 

[Calimili]

I think you guys are trying to protect something that is not valuable anymore. 20 years ago 17" wheel were the big wheels everybody wanted for their cars to look sporty. So huge demand in 17" from people looking to upgrade their ride.
Nowadays 17" inches are the small "standard" wheels, which everybody is looking to upgrade from .

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I am sure that is true @Calimili. Old habits die hard (especially when you are 70) unfortunately.

I also bought a ‘sparesafe’ and as I was fitting it (behind my 5th alloy) I thought to myself: this may well be a pointless exercise.

I wonder, does anyone know of a recent 17” or similar alloy wheel theft?

 

[Calimili]

I am sure that is true @Calimili. Old habits die hard (especially when you are 70) unfortunately.

I also bought a ‘sparesafe’ and as I was fitting it (behind my 5th alloy) I thought to myself: this may well be a pointless exercise.

I wonder, does anyone know of a recent 17” or similar alloy wheel theft?

yep, I think nowadays DPF-safe or Cat-locking brackets to impede or slow down the otherwise fast removal of extreme valuable DPF would be more in line with current theft risks.
Locking bolt for fancy multifunction steering wheels and Sat-Nav units as well

 

[66tim99]

I think you guys are trying to protect something that is not valuable anymore. 20 years ago 17" wheel were the big wheels everybody wanted for their cars to look sporty. So huge demand in 17" from people looking to upgrade their ride.
Nowadays 17" inches are the small "standard" wheels, which everybody is looking to upgrade from .

My 18" Springfields might be a bit more attractive, but I struggle to remember hearing a tale of wheels being stolen this Century. I'll keep my locking nuts until I wish I hadn't though, I think.

 

[WelshGas]

I am sure that is true @Calimili. Old habits die hard (especially when you are 70) unfortunately.

I also bought a ‘sparesafe’ and as I was fitting it (behind my 5th alloy) I thought to myself: this may well be a pointless exercise.

I wonder, does anyone know of a recent 17” or similar alloy wheel theft?

Check out T6 Forum. Member had his spare wheel stolen very recently. He is now fitting a Spare Safe.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

yep, I think nowadays DPF-safe or Cat-locking brackets to impede or slow down the otherwise fast removal of extreme valuable DPF would be more in line with current theft risks.
Locking bolt for fancy multifunction steering wheels and Sat-Nav units as well

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Thanks @Calimili . Do you have links to any of those useful suggestions?

 

[Calimili]

Thanks @Calimili . Do you have links to any of those useful suggestions?

Unfortunately no. I don't think anybody has produced them yet.
I was thinking maybe the protection plates mounted underneath the vehicle from offroad converters like Seikel and Terranger would offer some hindrance from stealing a DPF, but those sections are left accessible, I assume because of the temperatures they generate.