Garage is going to cost me thousands

WTTM

Graham1979 wrote: »

pendulum - I'm only going off what he told me these sets cost. One was a laser emergency locking nut removal set that he reckoned cost £125, and a similar looking set from another company (can't recall the name) that he said was £100. The sockets of both sets of tools warped when he tried to remove the stuck nuts on my car so he'll have to order new sets (I assume the whole set, may not be that much if it's just the sockets).

My mate has only been doing tyre fitting for 2.5 years, but it's his dads company and he's been doing it for 25 years+ and still works there, so there is enough knowledge there between them to handle this job.

somech - The locking nuts have got the spinners around the outside so don't know if I could find a socket that would fit the inside of the lock nut (unless I could smash the spinner off somehow). It's an '07 plate Mazda 3 MPS.

WTTM - In terms of the thousands cost for me, the main dealer have advised that they will try their master key (goes in tomorrow) but won't force it because they don't want to wreck their master key. In that scenario (IMO quite likely given the tools that have failed on it so far) they reckon they'll have to chisel the bolts off, and they advised that this is likely to cause damage to the alloys and possibly some other parts too (they didn't elaborate so maybe they are just covering their backs with that last part).

What they've quoted me to remove the bolts and replace 2 alloys (with Mazda original parts) is just over £1200 all in (parts, labour and VAT), then there is scope for more damage during removal so that could rise.

I could be panicking over nothing I suppose, but I have a tendency to plan for the worst case scenario and see anything else as an unexpected bonus.

From reading the comments on here and a spot of googling, sounds like I'd be better off taking it to a local independent if the main dealer can't get it sorted with the master key tomorrow. The chiselling route sounds like it should be an absolute last resort rather than the first thing to try other than the master key.

Do more googling, your knowledge is lacking.



MOMENT

Hintza

I forgot to say though OP when I see a locking wheel nut I go all shaky...total pain in the backside!

plane_boy2000

Find out what work was done to your car, then find out what was required to complete this work. If the manufacturer states that to replace the front bumper you must remove the front bumper then ask your insurance co to explain how their approved repairer managed to carry out the work but didnt follow the manufacturers instructions.

xocbc

At the garage I once worked at, the mechanic once tried all the methods stated, and eventually had to resort to welding a piece of metal similar to a tyre wrench to the nut, which allowed it to be loosed. Can be done, but needs a very good welder to avoid making a mess of the alloy.

darich

Personally I wouldn't go to a main dealer for that type of problem. They'll charge several hundred pounds for a damaged alloy when you could probably pick up an entire set from ebay for the same price.

I've heard the solutions all suggested - smaller socket, welding, and even trying to shock the tight bolt loose - never had a bolt that couldn't be removed using smaller socket or impact.

somech

big hammer/socket to bend the spinner ring out of the way
big hammer/socket on to lock nut big lever bar and voila job done
have never been defeated by locking nuts in 20 years
the SPECIAL tools the garage refer to have a left handed thread that cuts onto the locking nut(useless on your car) and they cost £60 for a set of 4 from unipart

if all that fails then careful use of an air chisel (do it right and no damage)

cyclonebri1

Are they actually nuts or are they bolts? Either way I've had a few issues with both. Nuts I've found best tackled by drilling a hole parallel to the stud and finally cracking the nut with a fine sharp chisel.

Bolts need more carefull attention but buy drilling centrally in increasing drill sizes to the root dia of the thread the head will drop off, but they are dam tough to drill.

superclan

Park your car at the closest dodgy area, the kids will have the wheels off in a second, give them a tenner for their trouble.

Seriously the best way I found when I came across this problem the easiest way was to put a socket on and hammer a couple of steel pins in the slots. You know they only say that the wheels will be damaged if chiselled off to cover their own backs. Often the nuts are removed pretty easily with gentle chiselling. Good Luck