Hi Guys:

As the subject says, yesterday I went to swap over to my winter tires and the McGard key broke (the inner teeth broke, not the actual key exterior). Problem is the car is used and came with the McGard locking lug nuts so I don't have any paperwork.

Has anyone actually gone thru the pocess of contacting McGard and getting a replacement key? Or has anyone figured out how to get the McGard lug nuts off without damaging the rims? I need to do this relatively soon since winter is here. I have no problem with busting the keyed lug nuts off if someone can explain how to do it without damging the rims.

Thanks
radarcav

Your key has teeth??

Do they not look like this?

Wild Weasel wrote:Your key has teeth??

Do they not look like this?

depends, theres 2 different kind. i have the spline drive kit and my key doesnt look like that

Hi:

That is what the lug nut looks like. The key has a hex-head and the "swirly-pattern" (ie; the teeth) is inside the key. This way when I put the key on to the lug nut, the "swirly-patterns" will join together and there is a hex-head facing outwards so that I can place the socket end of the tire iron on to the key to loosen/remove the keyed lug-nut. It is the teeth or "swirly-pattern" that is inside the key that broke.

Sorry, I am having difficulty attaching a picture of the key.

If you bring a standard replacement lug nut with you, I bet a quality tire shop can get the locking lugs off for you.

When I first bought tires for my very first car (yeah, I was 16), I forgot to check to make sure the Firestone dealer I bought tires from returned my locking lug nut key. They didn't. I took the car back and they removed the locked nuts somehow (I don't remember, it was over a decade ago) and bought me a new set of locking lugs.

In short, I'd have a tire shop remove all the locking lugs for you and then you can purchase a new set of locking lug nuts. It may be easier/quicker than trying to contact McGard about it.


Jason
North Carolina

1997 Cadillac SLS (147k miles)
2003 Dodge Grand Caravan (50k miles)

if it comes down to it you can do get the old keylocks off with a drill...make sure you have the center of the nut( i use a centerpunch to get a good point to start with) and just take your time and drill thru the center making sure to be level with the stud. removal of stud is fairly simple. remove the calipers and rotors(on front) and drum(on rear) and take a couple of good swings at the stud with a 2lb sledge. to instal the new one simply put into place and tighten it up, it should pull thru to a certain point. put brakes back together and put on the rims/tires. you should be good to go...do not overtorque the lug nuts tho it could cause several problems to arrise

Thanks Guys:

I am not keen on the "drilling out the stud" approach but I will keep that in mind as a last resort. I will call McGard on Monday and see how much of a hassle (time and money) it will be to get a repacement key. Depending on the answer I will check out a couple of tire shops as well.

Thanks Again
radarcav

I went right to McGuard and they gave me a new key for $8.00. It took a total of 5 minutes.

Well I contacted McGard yesterday. They said if I mail them the broken key and an imprint of the "swirly pattern" on the head of the lug nut, they will send me a new key.

Now I just need to figure out how to make a wax or plasticene impression. I will probably make impressions a couple of different ways and even take photo to mail to McGard. Hopefully that will be enough to make the correct key.

It is supposed to snow here heavily this week and I do not like driving around without my snow tires.

Thanks Again
radarcav

I mailed away to mcguard, but I honestly dont remember the process. I know it was easy though. I think I just sent them the old key.



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