What is this wheel lock and how do I remove it?

Shammy08

Shammy08

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Sep 28, 2020
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Atlanta, GA
Just bought a 2011 JK. Lots of after-market gear. Had a flat last night. No key to remove this. Can anyone identify it and tell me how to remove it without a key? I've tried a sockets into the center; there is no snug fit in a standard metric or imperial socket set. Would really appreciate a pro tip here so I can get up and running again. Thanks!

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Grab a socket that will barely fit over the lock, but one that you CANT push in by hand. When you find that one, hammer it on there so it does fit - very tightly. Once secured, use your ratchet, impact wrench or breaker bar and loosen it as you would a lug nut. If it strips or slides... use a smaller socket. It works - bought a vehicle last year with the same issue and that's what the tire guys used.

Cheaper (you might have to replace the socket) and more efficient than anything else I can think of.
 
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That $27 kit BLACKJKU pasted a link of, is actually awesome and a pretty damn good alternative if you're not in a pinch.
 
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72c10 said:
Grab a socket that will barely fit over the lock, but one that you CANT push in by hand. When you find that one, hammer it on there so it does fit - very tightly. Once secured, use your ratchet, impact wrench or breaker bar and loosen it as you would a lug nut. If it strips or slides... use a smaller socket. It works - bought a vehicle last year with the same issue and that's what the tire guys used.

Cheaper (you might have to replace the socket) and more efficient than anything else I can think of.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the thoughts/advice!
 
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72c10 said:
That $27 kit BLACKJKU pasted a link of, is actually awesome and a pretty damn good alternative if you're not in a pinch.
Click to expand...

And they can be used for about any nut or bolt that has a messed up head, I have a set of smaller ones that have used quite a few times.
 
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Those sets work great. Mine is impact 1/2 drive imp & metric. Needed it to remove the rounded heads of the bolts on my wheel hubs assemblies to change out my u joints. Ten years of winter salt. Had to replace all six bolts, and had to get them from the dealership. Not cheap.
 
Autozone and any major auto part store has those tools in stock. Just picked one up a few weeks ago for a wheel lock on my Tacoma.
 
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