Wheel locks are one of the worst inventions ever

"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
06/14/2018 at 15:18 • Filed to: None

And you will never change my mind.

DISCUSSION (42)

HammerheadFistpunch > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:24

I have nothing but agreement for this.

deekster_caddy > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:24

+100million stars for you!

OPPOsaurus WRX > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:25

i brought my wife’s van in for new tires and I get a call asking where the key is for the locks.. I tell dumbass its in the glovebox, he insists its not. I walk back and open up the glove box and there, under the owner’s manual, is the key.

SmugAardvark > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:25

Worse than the Nintendo Virtual Boy? Worse than Snuggies for dogs? Worse than anal-leakage-inducing Olestra?

I mean, I’ve never had a set of wheels stolen while I had wheel locks installed. But then again, I’ve never been attacked by a tiger, so that rock I purchased from the shaman that lives under the bridge down the road from me must be working as well.

PartyPooper2012 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:27

they really need to stop with them.

10 times out of 2, I have lost the key and have to chew the wheel lock off with my bare teeth

I have a 2005 lexus gx470. Severely suffering from flaking paint. They came with wheel locks. I look at the pitiful rims and prey someone would steal them. I even took the wheel locks off

Image off internet. not my rims but similar problem. common issue for these cars

Kinja'd!!!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > SmugAardvark
06/14/2018 at 15:29

One of. Maybe not the worst. But up there. At least the virtual boy was aspirational and made people dream.

Do you want to know how fast I can remove wheel locks without the correct key? If someone wants your wheels badly enough, they will get them. Period.

SmugAardvark > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:32

Agreed. And I actually owned a Virtual Boy.

You’ll never separate me from my tiger-repelling rock though!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > SmugAardvark
06/14/2018 at 15:42

Even if you do get attacked by a tiger you can always throw the rock at it!

Tripper > SmugAardvark
06/14/2018 at 15:43

I actually liked Virtual Boy although it took a while to adjust back to real life after a match or three of red Mario tennis. Also ouch my neck

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:44

I think the worst thing about wheel locks is that they don’t even really work. Any thief with a toolkit can get those things off quite quickly. Those stupid spline ones are even worse since literally just a slightly smaller socket hammered on works. I have used that in order to get the lugs off of my Miata when I lost the key. It was WAY easier than I thought it was going to be.

Tripper > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:44

Yea I feel like you have a way better chance of fucking yourself with wheel locks than you do preventing theft.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/14/2018 at 15:45

Exactly. Also worst about them is the key is always missing or a pain to find.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:51

Yeah I can’t even imagine how terrible it must be for shops who deal with non-car people. I always tell a shop where my wheel key is or just hand it to them. The amount of people who just make the mechanic go on a digging through trash adventure to find it is probably significant.

Gerry197 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:51

Sure, but what options do you have besides them?

I’m seen guys with really expensive wheels using 5 different wheel locks, one for each lug nut.

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 15:52

I wonder how many of your regular customers would even notice if you “accidentally” replaced the locks with regular nuts.

HammerheadFistpunch > PartyPooper2012
06/14/2018 at 15:55

I know this feel.

fintail > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 16:04

My Bluetec was optioned with them from the factory. It has base wheels - nobody is going to steal those!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 16:09

“Sir/Ma’am, I cant seem to find your wheel lock key to do your tire rotation”

“Oh it’s at home. You need that? Dont you have a universal set of keys?”

*internal screaming*

I had a Regal come in earlier this week with TWO sets of wheel locks on it and I was very tempted to set the car on fire.

Oh, and no one’s gonna steal your base model Terrain wheels bud.

Urambo Tauro > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 16:09

Did you see InfinityAero’s post this morning?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
06/14/2018 at 16:42

It is significant. But there are even more who don’t even know they have them.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Gerry197
06/14/2018 at 16:43

Normal bolts. I can still get your locks if without a key fast enough to steal all your wheels. If someone wants them badly enough they get them.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever
06/14/2018 at 16:44

I’m guessing 90% wouldn’t notice. At least. I try not to think about it because I still can’t just do that.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/14/2018 at 16:47

Right! We have a set of keys for Mercedes locks, but it takes time to walk to the tool cabinet to find the set, only to realize it’s out with roadside or whatever. Then there are cars with aftermarket locks. Always a hassle.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Urambo Tauro
06/14/2018 at 16:48

Whoa! No I didn’t! That sucks!

Urambo Tauro > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 17:06

Hey, you’re not wrong- I still hate wheel locks too.

But yeah...

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 17:08

Or the key is soft ass metal, & it’s too fucked to work.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > SmugAardvark
06/14/2018 at 17:09

Starred for anal-leakage-inducing Olestr. Carry-on.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Urambo Tauro
06/14/2018 at 17:10

I’m not convinced they help or would’ve saved anyone any pain in that situation to be honest though.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
06/14/2018 at 17:11

They’re definitely not meant to be used with impacts. But tire jockeys still do it.

Stapleface > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 17:12

My 15' Civic came with wheel locks when I bought it from the dealer. The first time I changed the tires I took the locks off. If someone really wants to steal my 15" wheels, go ahead I guess. A lock really isn’t going to stop them anyway.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 17:13

Mine was fucked bad, so the last time I ever used it I forced it off with an impact. The locking lug nut came off, & the key was wrecked.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 17:14

How do you feel about Gorilla lug nuts? They require an adaptor to take them off, but the factory lugs seize and strip, so it was a necessary upgrade. I keep the adaptor in the glove box if that helps.

SmugAardvark > Tripper
06/14/2018 at 17:21

Once I got over the nausea it induced in me, there was some fun to be had. But the technology was still so far from practical, I’m still amazed to this day that it ever made it to launch.

His Stigness > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 17:25

I’d like to know what numbnuts who came up with the first wheel lock decided NOT to make the key withstand an impact gun.

His Stigness > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 17:27

The first thing I did when I got my Golf TDI was take the wheel locks off. I haven’t done that with the e-Golfs yet.

Nibbles > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
06/14/2018 at 18:09

I’ve got Gorilla bulge acorns and *gasp* locks on the HMS Def Leppard is cool guys shutup .

I have no qualms. Easy to work with, hold tight.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
06/14/2018 at 18:20

Not uncommon. I’ve had to torch them off before. Pain in the ass. Always.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
06/14/2018 at 18:22

They’re fine. It’s fun watching noobs lose their shit over them when they can’t find the key, thinking it’s a regular wheel lock. Let them steam for a couple minutes then hand them mine Most techs who’ve been around a while have one or two of our own.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > His Stigness
06/14/2018 at 18:23

Smart. I always do it on the rare occasion I do used car inspections.

brianbrannon > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 18:25

I am unanimous in support of this

His Stigness > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 18:30

There’s one particular type of lock which I think can mostly work. Its the bmw ones where the key is the mail portion, and the female portion on the wheel doesn’t leave any gap to get a grab socket around it. So the only way to get it off is to drill it out and use an extractor.

I’ve left the e-Golf ones on for now since they’re both outside. But I doubt I have to worry because I have security lights that show the house from space, and I’m going to add cameras too. But I’m super paranoid and if a wheel lock slows someone down then it’s done its job.

His Stigness > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
06/14/2018 at 18:31

Plus, no other technician, including a tire shop will ever see my wheel locks. I’ve already replaced the tires on both e-Golfs and I brought the wheels in loose. So the only person who has to screw with it is me.

But unfortunately both cars have different locks. That’s a pain in the ass.