2009 Locking Wheel Nuts

[Whoever]

I had a puncture yesterday and spent an hour or so in the freezing rain trying to get the wheel off. I did not succeed.

The problem was the locking wheel nut. It would not budge, mainly because the supplied wheel brace was not snug to the wheel nut removal tool, nor was the removal tool snug to the wheel nut. This type has an irregular circle on the locking wheel nut, as opposed to the pins on my 2006 Lexus.

I was able to pump the tyre and I went to the nearest tyre place, who removed the nut easily with their equipment.

I am of the opinion that a better wheel brace might solve the problem, and may buy myself a late Christmas present. My reason for posting is twofold:

1. To ask if anyone else has had this problem or is it just me?

2. A suggestion that 2009 owners might like to try their locking wheel nuts now, before they are stuck in the cold, dark or rain. Of course we could always call out RAC..........................

[Sagitar]

I had a puncture yesterday and spent an hour or so in the freezing rain trying to get the wheel off. I did not succeed.

The problem was the locking wheel nut. It would not budge, mainly because the supplied wheel brace was not snug to the wheel nut removal tool, nor was the removal tool snug to the wheel nut. This type has an irregular circle on the locking wheel nut, as opposed to the pins on my 2006 Lexus.

I was able to pump the tyre and I went to the nearest tyre place, who removed the nut easily with their equipment.

I am of the opinion that a better wheel brace might solve the problem, and may buy myself a late Christmas present. My reason for posting is twofold:

1. To ask if anyone else has had this problem or is it just me?

2. A suggestion that 2009 owners might like to try their locking wheel nuts now, before they are stuck in the cold, dark or rain. Of course we could always call out RAC..........................

I always keep an extending breaker bar in the back of the car (they are quite inexpensive) and I keep my own torques spanner so that I can check that wheel nuts are torqued to the correct setting. Over the years I have found that wheel braces supplied as part of the OEM tool kits are often inadequate and that garages using impact wrenches will often over-tighten wheel nuts. Checking wheel nut torque when you have daylight and dry conditions can save a lot of hassle when trouble occurs at night or in poor weather.

[simon k]

had the same problem on my old 56 plate, ended up snapping the locking wheel nut, the rac came and plugged the tyre and lexus sorted out the removal of the nut as it still had part of the locking wheel nut pins inserted into it