Locking Lug Nut Keys
Toyota and Lexus use McGard wheel locks across their entire lineup. From time to time these specialized lug nuts will round or break when you try and remove them, making the lug nut almost impossible to remove. We wanted to share our $4 trick to removing the stripped locking lug nut to help out an owner stuck either with a rounded locking lug nut or a missing wheel lock key. We ask that you not use this guide to steal wheels – that’s not cool. The tools you’ll need are:
- A large, heavy hammer with a metal face.
- A cheap 19mm 12-point 1/2″ drive socket.
- A large 1/2″ breaker bar or 1/2″ impact gun.
Locking Lug Nut Removed
The procedure is simple: hammer on the 19mm 12-point socket until it won’t go on any further. The 12-point 19mm socket is just the right size to dig into the flared base of the locking lug nut and will effectively grip the outside of the nut. From there it is just a combination of elbow grease and hammering. Don’t be dismayed if the 19mm socket comes loose – it may take several attempts of hammering the socket into place to get a good bite on the outside of the locking lug nut. The socket is usually destroyed in the process, but for $4 it is well worth the price of being able to remove your wheel.
As Eden Prairie and Chanhassen’s independent Toyota and Lexus repair shop specialist we hope this helps a DIYer or technician remove those pesky locking lug nuts. If you’re stuck, CARspec is happy to attempt to remove a stuck luck nut at a low price point, so give us a call today!
