So my brakes are acting up again, and I need to take the truck in to have the shop fix whatever they didn't get right the first time, but the brilliant anti-theft devices known as wheel locks are thwarting me, the owner.

I have torn my garage apart and my room apart looking for the dang key and can't find it anywhere! I have been real ginger on the brakes, but I am still really worried. Big O says they will take the locks off for $5 a piece... Sounds good, but, I don't want my wheels screwed up, and they said they can't guarantee the wheels will not be damaged. The wheels are brand new, and I don't mind the center caps getting dented or dinged, but the wheels must stay in tact.

I don't have gorilla locks, I have some locks that have the key pattern in between the threaded bolt and the lug itself. I bought them from Big O. Do any of you know this brand, or ways of going about getting a new key? I am going to try to find the original packaging and see if there is anything on there about ordering an extra key, like the gorillas I had before came with... :cry:

 

I can't find the packing anywhere. In fact, I don't believe they gave it to me when they installed the wheels to begin with. Its looking more and more like I will have to have them take the locks off, so I will probably put some cardboard down on the wheels and try to give them a little protection. :cry

This absolutely sucks.

 

Sometimes you can hammer on a large socket like a spark plug socket and get them off that way.

 

i had the same problem with my wheels. im not sure if they were gorilla locks or not. my father in law is a mechanic and he just hammered a socket into the locks with a hammer. it would be best to use a deep socket one if you have it. i cant remember the size he used but it was either a 22, 23, or a 24mm socket. after i took them off i just went to the tire store to get regular lugs. i have a 85 pickup so it should be the same. i hope this helps you out. let me know if it works.

 

I would do that, but these lugs are very small. They come just to the top of the lugs themselves, the outside of them is reverse threaded, but like I said, the lug is very short, so getting a socket on there is a heck of alot easier said than done.

 

try tightening the snot out of the other lugs. hopefully it will push the wheel in enough to make the locking lug loose enough to grab and turn with a pair of visegrips.

 

where are you at in colo? i work at discount at 92nd & wads. i can take a look if you would like. let me know, i work all day friday. 3039405502.
---steve

 

Hmm, maybe McGard locks? They make wheel locks that are often sold at auto dealers (repackaged 'Toyota' or 'Acura' or whatever).
Maybe call their customer service for help
http://www.mcgard.com/custserv/auto_parts.asp#wheel

 

wheel locks are a good idea, but they suck when your in the middle of nowhere and need to get a wheel off. I had my tire shop replace all my lugs, which were beat up pretty bad with new ones. No locks at all.