[A4] FYI - Removing Locking Bolts

[Richard Hurt]

Good deal on getting the correct fix.  I think the bigger lesson here
is to just forgoe the use of wheel locks.  I mean does anyone steal
wheels anymore (assuming your not rolling on chrome 24's!  :)?

Wheel locks just inconvience the owner; a thief has no trouble at all
removing them, and they might even damage the car further trying to
get them off or just getting pissed at you for having them in the
first place.

Later...
  Richard

> On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 14:48:47 -0500, Mitchell Segal <msegal at nsbgroup.com> wrote:
> > Hello all,
> >
> > I just wanted to relate to you something I learned yesterday, in the hope
> > that it helps even one other person out there.
> >
> > On Monday night while driving somewhere, I found out I had a flat time (a
> > nice BIG nail right in the center of my tread).  I was in a hurry, so I
> > figured to just change the tire as fast as possible, toss everything back in
> > the trunk, and be on my way.
> >
> > Well, in my haste, as the last step, I was tightening the lock-bolt I have
> > on my car, the emergency wrench slips, and I broke the pins off the lock key
> > for the bolt.  This was a major problem, since
> > (a) the spare I put on to replace the flat had a bent rim I got 3 days
> > before from a nice pothole (we won't go there right now), so it was
> > vibrating
> > (b) it's Winter here, and I need to put on my winter tires and rims
> >
> > So, I go back to the store where I bought the locks (not Audi original), and
> > found out the company that made them is no longer in business.  We search
> > through about 200 spares they had, but none matched my code.  I then asked
> > them what they do in this situation (ie: many people lose the keys), and
> > they told me that since the bolts are so deep into the mag (2001.5 A4 1.8TQS
> > w/ 17" mags), the usual bolt extractor wouldn't fit.  So the only other
> > option would be to weld a nut onto the lockbolt, and then remove it that
> > way.
> >
> > I tried a professional tire place just down the street, and got basically
> > the same answer.  I wasn't looking forward to this, as there was possibility
> > of damage to the wheel.
> >
> > Before going ahead, I decided I would stop by a local general mechanic that
> > I trusted, to see if they had any good ideas, or at least they would
> > probably charge less than the performance or tire shops.  It was a good
> > thing I did, because he had them off within 5 minutes.  The solution?
> >
> > 12-point socket set.  He simply found the one that would slip over the whole
> > lock bolt, hammered it on a bit, and then removed the whole lock bolt as
> > normal with a breaker bar.  Easy as pie, barely even nicked them.
> >
> > He told me it works just about every time.  Didn't damage the socket at all
> > (since they're usually stronger than the bolts).  Also, he said that this
> > was the way that theives usually get the locks off when they want to steal
> > your mags.
> >
> > So, if anyone in the future is facing a problem with lock nuts, and missing
> > or broken key, try using a 12-point socket (closer fit than a 6-point
> > socket, more contact points, better grip).
> >
> > Hope this helps someone!!
> >
> > Mitchell Segal
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>