D'oh.
The hateful anti theft bolts were on so tight that I have damaged the slots for the special adapter key. The key itself is still OK. The bolt heads. with the four slots that the key fits around, are now really knackered and the key just slips off. Each time it slips it makes things worse.
Help, any advice please?
Edited by Pugugly on 11/05/2008 at 12:46
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I did the same to one of my C5 bolts. As the wheel was corroded and kerb damaged I replaced the locking nut with a plain nut. £2.
However, your wheels might be in good condition still and worth buying a replacement set of locking wheel nuts. Either from the dealer or look on AutoExpess website as they reviewed locking nuts.
If buying aftermarket locking nuts, be sure they are suitable. Check with the manufacturer.
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The OP needs to remove the damaged one never mind fitting new ones. I would pop into the Citreon dealer as I suspect they have encountered this before. Some better tyre fitting places carry removal tools for this problem. Some are knock on and others are left hand course threaded. Regards Peter
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Yes the problem is getting the bolt out.
A helpful tyre fitter just tried to use a special tool, but the dummy head of the anti theft bolt just sheared away, even before trying to turn it.
Now it looks almost flat except for the gouged keyways.
Tyre man said that drilling out is the only way but he would not chance do it because of risk of damaging the wheel.
I suppose I can't make it any worse if I have a go myself. Famous last words...?
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Do a forum search and you should find lots of answers for this one.
Tyre fitters usually have a selection of tools for extracting the damaged nuts.
I sorted mine by taking someone's advice on here and hammering a suitable old socket onto the damaged nut far enough to get it to turn with an ordinary wheelbrace.
Good luck.
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From what the OP says, the head has sheared off, but there is still enough of a head on the bolt tostop the wheel coming off. I suspect drilling is the only option. He could try drilling then using a stud extractor, but if he tries to do that before the head is completely off, then the extractor may well break in the stud, making the situation even more difficult to remedy.
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Mike's advice sounds gud to me.
How to avoid this problem in the future? Avoid tyre fitters who overtighten wheel bolts. If you can't do that then loosen them off when you get home before they become corroded and stuck. Then buy a torque wrench, really not expensive. The hand book may give you the correct torque setting or you may need to pester your dealer for it (they may not readily know or even be interested).
Torque bolts up to correct setting, recheck after a week or two and when the wheels next need to come off, remember this could be in the middle of nowhere in the rain if you have a puncture, then your usual manufacturer-supplied wheelbrace will shift them easily and, due to its dimensions, will not overtighten them.
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Thanks for the replies guys, gave me food for thought.
I tried drilling. Maybe it would work with expensive bits - not with the cheapo crap I buy.
Any way job now done a bit unconventionally.
Basically I used a bottle jack (pushing horizontally against a wall) to hold a socket in place, over the stupid key, and applied enough pressure from the jack to stop the key from "camming out" of the damaged keyways, while turning the socket very carefully.
Not recommended unless you either or all of foolhardy, desperate and sympathetic to forces and materials. Also the keyways must not be totally knackered.
Hope this helps someone else.
Proper bolts available from Citroen at less than £2 each.
Edited by StrawMan on 12/05/2008 at 13:32
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Basically I used a bottle jack (pushing horizontally against a wall) ......
Had to resort to the same method to remove a damaged locking bolt from an old Cavalier I used to own.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=53...3
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 12/05/2008 at 13:41
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