Rep Power: 482

Yes, I know this sounds like one of those stupid posts, but I'm actually having some trouble. I can't get the lugs off of my rims! I tried to loosen them up with the supplied key, but all it did was spin. It looks like this key was designed only to put the lugs on, not to be able to take them off. I need to get them off because I received new center caps for them, I have new rotors coming and I want to rotate them. I've tried everything I can to get them off. Any ideas are greatly appricated. BTW, the lugs are tuner-style, skinny ones. They came with my Tenzo-R Passion-5s. If necessary, I can provide a picture of the key in case someone has an idea.

 
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Are you using a hand wrench with the key to remove the locking lug or a impact wrench? I've seen in some shops I worked at, that if you use a impact air wrench you can strip the key out. The only other thing i can think of is someone gave you the wrong key at the shop that put them on.

 
Rep Power: 482

Nope. No impact wrench at all. I'm just using the lug wrench that's in the toolkit. That's what I used to put them on with and they went on fine. This is the same key for all the lugs. I really need to get some wheel locks.

Attached are a few pictures of the key:

 
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Does it work on any of the wheels? You should be able to feel by hand to find out if the key is fitting correctly, you do know that the key will only fit in one way. Even though the key looks simetrecall it only goes in one way. Just my 2¢ here not flaming.

 
Rep Power: 420

Whoa! How ****ing retarded is that!? [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

You need a new key. You basically answered your own question. If you bought that set of wheels and lugs from cbwheels.com, then I would send them an e-mail with the picture of the key asking them for one that is able to loosen the lug nuts. They should ship one out to you for free. Well, maybe for a small price...

 
Rep Power: 482

I understand you're not flaming, but look at the last 2 pictures. There's a 'ridge' on one side of the lug that 'grabs' on the inside of the lug and tightens it. You can really see what I'm talking about in the last picture. I've tried doing it with my hand and it doesn't really grab. Just kind of spins in there. I'm at a loss.

 
Rep Power: 482

Hahaha Grey. You stole the words right out of my mouth. I never thought there'd be a "one way" key, but it does kind of make some sense. It'd make stealing your rims a lot harder if someond did happen to find the key. That's about the only thing I can think of.

 
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Where do you see in his thread that he is using a old key? I'm assuming the key came with his lugs, not his wheels? I think I'm really confused here, I'd better understand the problem if I could see it first hand.

Doesn't the same key that installs them also remove them? My Mustang lug locks uses the same key for tightening and loosening.

 
Rep Power: 420

New key as in another key that's similiar to that one, but can loosen the lug nuts. His lugs and his wheels came from the same place. My key loosens and tightend for example, I've never seen a key that does just one. It's weird, but there's no way he can remove his lugs by using that key.

Well, wait a moment. Can you take a picture of your lugs?

 
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The plot thickens.............[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] the only thing I can think of is he has the wrong key to begin with, or its stripped out, or it not inserted correctly.

 
Rep Power: 482

I'm working on getting some pictures hosted. It'll be a few minutes as these are some rather large ones. If you want some better pictures, let me know.

Check this link here and tell me what you guys think. I can try and get a better shot of the inside of the lugs if need be. As you can see, it's just your standard lug.

A few more pictures:

 
Rep Power: 420

Those are pretty standard. Just go to a hardware store and try to find a socket that will fit your lugs. You can measure it with a tape measure to get the dimension, then just look for the appropriate type of socket. Maybe Sears will have it in their Craftsman section? Maybe Lowe's will? Maybe Home Depot will. Look around, you'll find it. It you have extra lugs (I got a set for 5-lug wheels, so I have 4 extra ones), then just take a lug into the store with you. Remember to get the right socket for your wrench. Good luck!

 
Rep Power: 482

Yeah. They're pretty standard. But, the thing is this - why provide a key only to be able to put on the lugs, and not take them off? Why should I have to waste my time, going around, looking for a key to fit? If I was to buy a set of lugs, it should come with a key so I can take them off, incase I need to rotate or blow a tire or something. I'm definately gonna hafta do some research on this cause I need to get those lugs off. I've got some new cross-drilled + slotted rotors coming very soon.

Thanks for the help Grey. Much appricated.

I must say, I'm not too happy with cbwheels.com right this second. They were great with me ordering my product and getting it to me very quickly , but I'm starting to see that customer service on the backend is kinda shoddy.

 
Rep Power: 482

Update:

I contacted cbwheels.com about the key and everything, and they told me that the key was designed like that. That it kind of strips itself a little bit when you go to put it on, but when you go to take the lugs out, it just completely fubars itself. It just sits in there and spins, like the problem I'm having. They said that this was all they had when they were sending out lugs and that I needed to go purchase a "real" key. Should only be about $5 or so, but at least the problem has been solved.

 
Rep Power: 418

thats bs... why would anyone even make a key like that... well ya just goto a wheel/tire shop, the key should only be $3 or so.

 
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Yeah that sounds like a lot of BS,"thats the only key they had" I tought that each set of locking lugs came with a key in the package. I wonder if they sold you used or returned lug nuts. Anyhow hope you get this straightened out.

 
Rep Power: 482

I tried a pretty popular wheel/tire shop around here, and they don't car them! [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG] I also tried Pep Boys, Autozone, Advance, Tread Quarters and noone seems to want to sell me a key, or a complete set. Luckily, I think I found a place that has them, and they've ordered one for me. It cost me $10 though. It should be here tommorrow, so we'll see.

 
Rep Power: 418

you should try the smaller stores that sell aftermarket rims. or maybe even discount tire. i know tuner shops could get them but you might have to buy the set.

 
Rep Power: 0

Mark i want to know why are you talking bad about cbwheels after i hooked you up? And i told you that i am going to send you a new key at no charge, but you have to wait a few days.

 
Rep Power: 482

Carlos:

I'm not really giving you and cbwheels a bad name. I appricate the hookup on the rims and tires. They look and feel great on my ride. What it is I'm concerned and upset about is that I didn't get the right lug key with my lugs. I even called about this the other day and discussed it with you and one of your mechanics. When I asked if it was possible to get a key, I was told I couldn't and I should just look around at the shops around here. I shouldn't have to do any of that as all parts should have been provided when I purchased the rims/tires/lugs combo. How would you have liked to have bought your car, but told you would have to hunt around town to get an engine for it? Yes, granted I was provided a key to get them on, but what if I needed to get them off in case of an emergency? I'm stuck. I appricate that you're trying to locate a key for me, but like I said before, I'm a little upset that it wasn't provided originally.