What's your experience with the Honda wheel locks? The ones the dealer sold me with the car are taller than the lug nuts themselves and certainly weigh more. After discussions with two different Honda dealer parts departments, I was convinced that these were all they had to offer. I have seen wheel locks advertised on the Honda website as accessories for the S2K and they appear to be the same as the ones I have. Has anyone found a better solution?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bigal:
[B]What's your experience with the Honda wheel locks?

 

I bought a set of 20 lug nuts that require a socket type of device (called a key, by some) to slip over the nut and then use the standard lug wrench to unscrew the socket to get the lug nut off. It's akin to a spark plug socket.

It's a FAR more secure solution than just having one lug nut on each wheel that locks somehow. Also, I think the socket type of key is far better than having the traditional locking lug nuts that use a key that inserts into the head of the lug nuts. Those are harder to remove and also if it strips out the head of the lug nut, you're pretty much out of business...

My dos centavos...

 

I refused to use the Honda locks because of the weight difference. I was ready to buy a complete set to get nuts and locks of equal weight but because of the spherical seat that Honda uses it is very difficult to find anything.

A friend in Europe did find and send me a set of wheel locks sold there.. same weight as the stock lug nuts! Honda of Europe part number 08W42 S1A 600. Perhaps Giampiero can find a way to sell them here.

I was curious about a set of nuts and locks sold by Gorilla in LA but never got an answer about weights.

Something so simple should not be so hard to acquire.

 

Greg, I looked at those but found none with the spherical seat that the stock wheels use. Did you find the right seat type or did you just decide to use what was available?

I have a nice set of Mugen nuts but they are for the conical seats so I am not using them.

 

I've been using the Honda locking nuts. They are actually OEM McGuard locking nuts as my mechanic pointed out. He said he's had a lot of problems with the McGuard products and on occasion has had to forcably remove them. This can obviously result in terminal damage to the wheel.

The problems stems from a very commom issue, when wheel nuts freeze onto the post. With a normal socket type nut, a bit of force will remove it. The internal key-type structure of the McGuard nuts are not up to the amount of force needed to remove a rusted on nut. The internal key strips out and you're stuck.

My mechanic said to loosen and retighten the locking nuts every few months to
prevent them from freezing on.

So I'm definatly looking for a better solution, but have yet to find one. I did check into the Gorrilla locks awhile back, but they look very much like the McGuard product.

 

Unfortunately all of the McGuard types can be removed without the key. They will not slow down a thief who wants your wheels. Since the locking lug sticks out higher than the rest it is even easier to remove.
I did not become aware of the problem until a mechanic showed me how to remove it with very little effort after the key broke (Miata experience).

 

I would think the master thief would be able to remove any of these locking nuts with little problem. Even the 20 locking nuts that greg has about could probably be removed with an adjustable wrench.

But I think the real threat to a set of wheels on this car are the local rice-boys, and the McGuard products are more than a match for most of them.

My mechanic friend also told me about a technique to remove locking nuts. He said his old shop had a special tool for performing the task.

 

Trust me it doesn't require a master thief and the threat you mentioned is real. No special tools are required, just a very common one everybody has. I am looking for new locks.

 

Yes, if you don't care about scaring the locks, there is an easy process to remove the McGuards.

But it will still take more time and make a lot more noise than stealing wheels without locks.

Removing wheels without locks only requires a lugwrench and a jack. Something every thief will certainly have in their trunk. Lockless wheels make for a much easier target of opportunity. Forcably removing wheel locks requires a bit more in the tool department.

[This message has been edited by Mikey (edited October 20, 2000).]