11 replies to this topic

[Gopherit]

Right, time to change the wheels before tomorrow's track day. Half an hour should sort it and the shock settings - NOT!

4 hours later I was recovering from what might have been a cancelled track day. First wheel changed, onto the second and....? why is the security nut key just going round and round and the bolt not undoing? Answer: the fancy shape security drive is actually an insert into the 17mm hex body. It is a press fit, relying on an external knurl to stop it rotating, which in this case was now a very smooth bit of knurling!

After phaffing around trying to press fit it back with a bit of additional knurling - no chance, rotated straight away - I bit the bullet and drilled 2 holes in the body and welded the insert in place. This was not easy - the last place the mig wire wanted to go was down that little hole!

Eventually got a couple of blobs on either side, then it was out with the dremel type tool and a tungsten bit to clear the weld from the fancy shape. Sounds easy but the clock was ticking and all this took a bit of time, not to mention raising my heart rate.

Yes, I have read the threads about whacking on 18,19mm 3/4" sockets, but (a) I try not to do whacking ( I had 3 of these to do © they were all torqued to 85 lb-ft and friction has its limits!

After a bit of grind/fit/grind we eventually got there, panic over, but needless to say, these security nuts will not be going back on.

Attached Files

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[techieboy]

Dumping the locking wheel nuts is the first modification anyone should do to these cars. They're a source of nothing but heartache and pain and offer nothing in the way of additional security.

[JG]

where does one buy new wheel nuts?

[techieboy]

flidBay, I guess.

[Craig S]

Anyone that did the TD group buy will have 20 new nuts so some local to you will have some spare nuts or your local tyre place will probably have some in stock.

[LY_Scott]

They're just like any other GM wheel bolt I've ever seen. So if you're really bored you could steal buy some at the scrappies.

[techieboy]

This is JG we're on about. Secondhand or marked in any way, just will not do.

[smiley]

And if you like fancy black ones, beemer 3 and 5 series also work.

[Craig S]

This is JG we're on about. Secondhand or marked in any way, just will not do.

He could spend a few weeks polishing, would be like a pig in ****

[techieboy]

He'll be using his special velvet lined 17mm socket to tighten them up, when fitting them.

[LY_Scott]

This is JG we're on about. Secondhand or marked in any way, just will not do.

Fair play. In that case they are about £1 each on the bay.....and very shiny

[He could spend a few weeks polishing, would be like a pig in ****

[Jon Fuller]

Dumping the locking wheel nuts is the first modification anyone should do to these cars. They're a source of nothing but heartache and pain and offer nothing in the way of additional security.

Funilly enough I did exactly that when I bought the Compomotives, all that faffing about with that poxxy tool is more than I could hack. And you can be sure (as the OP found), Just when you need them off in a hurry, that's when It'll turn to sh*t.

EDIT> bought a set of 20 std non locking newn's off fleabay for like 20 odd quid.

Edited by Jon Fuller, 03 September 2012 - 12:03 PM.