Mcgard wheel nuts. Arghhhhhhhhh!!!!

[johnandchris]

Took my car to the local tyre place to get my winter tyres put on. Sat in the waiting room and 10 mins later the mechanic came back in with the key and said it had snapped. Sure enough the centre flower had completely sheared out.
Been down to my local scrappie who has hundreds of them, none of the fit.

Mine do not appear to have any sort of washer on them which would stop an reverse threat easy out type socket gripping. If I can't find something to do the job I may have to resort to drilling them out.
Any ideas? Will be throwing them away and replacing with standard bolts.
Grateful of any help, even better anyone in the Westbury area with experience.
Thanks
John

[pletevl]

Halfords sell a nut removal kit, it got my standard rover locking nuts off.

[pab]

If you have a Xpart dealership close by, they will have a set of keys. That would be my first port of call. Your right, ditch the chocolate bolts when you get them off.

[T-Cut]

And it should never be used with an air wrench. That's most likely why it sheared. If you get it out, I'd suggest replacing all four McGards with a standard wheel bolt. They're cheap as chips on eBay.

TC

[dqr22d]

Have a look at some of the fluted type security nuts on the popular auction site. They dont slip like mcguard as the head is fluted in a unique pattern. I got some for mine last week and much better than the Mcguard type which were becomming hard to remove.

ps. They were only about £7 delivered next day.

[stevestrat]

I had McGard on a Volvo, would never entertain them again, keys are too delicate.

[T-Cut]

- - - McGard - - - keys are too delicate.

Too delicate for tyre fitting depots that's for sure.

TC

[johnandchris]

Going to try something. I still have the "flower" part of the key. Going to try and weld!!!!!!

[DMGRS]

It's worth a try - once you get them off, I'd still change them for standard bolts though (unless of course you have some rare or unusual alloy wheels).

[ROBBIE G]

there's a set here if you want them I took them out and fitted standard bolts

[johnandchris]

Called out the RAC. Specialist tool got them out. Now in the bin.

[Curly68]

Halfords 12 point socket, can't remember what size it was - banged it over the mc guard nuts and undone - 6 point are no good as the flats grip but 12 points dig in

[john2443]

I had my McGard ones removed by event tyres (mobile service) £25 for all 4, they used a Dynomec tool. They are quite expensive to buy and I think only available to the trade.

I considered drilling them off and was advised that it's an absolute b of a job to do due to the hardness of the bolts and the risk of damaging the wheels. Dynomec worked a treat and had the advantage that I was in the office working while someone else was outside in the cold grovelling round on the floor! The bolts were unmarked once they were off, but I didn't put them back in, replaced with non locking ones so I have a spare set if anyone want them for the cost of postage. I also have a socket (that doesn't match my bolts!!) if it's any good to anyone.

I'm not sure if the sort of tools that Halfords sell are up to the job.

[john2443]

Halfords 12 point socket, can't remember what size it was - banged it over the mc guard nuts and undone - 6 point are no good as the flats grip but 12 points dig in

When I tried that it gripped well...on the rotating outer collar! but not on the bolt itself so it depends on the design of the bolts. It might be possible to get the outer collar off but there's not much room to get access to them.

[Curly68]

I did think the collars were meant to rotate but mine were solid - even the new mc guard set were solid