Toss the wheel lock nuts

[AndyG]

I think I will toss the wheel lock nuts,

Presumably only a Defender owner would pinch my alloys, and we don't do that sort of thing, ;)
It doesn't go anywhere nasty, only on trips, accessory fitters, and the dealer, oops :p
And based on my track record, bound to have lost the adaptor in two years when I finally need it.:angel:

[Toxic_Avenger]

And when that time comes, there is always the saws-all*!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/02/1068.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/02/1069.jpg

:p


* not to be mistaken for actual advice

[komaterpillar]

Wow didn't expect that!!

[jimr1]

I agree , I suppose that in some Country's there is a higher risk of getting wheels stole , I don't think I ever heard of any land rover owners , getting there wheels knocked off . Now I'm sure It has happened , It tends to be more the sportier type of cars that are targeted . I have lock nuts on my mags , only because It came with them . I also have a set of steel wheels with mud tyres that have normal wheel nuts , I never even think that they will be stolen , and as you say Andy they don't fit to many other makes !!.. Jim :):)

[Orkney 90]

I am certainly thinking of replacing mine with standard wheel nuts as the locking nuts I had on my Citroen C4 (which looked similar and had a similar adapter) stripped after torqueing correctly as per the manual. They were a genuine pain in the bum. Stupid design and made from soft metal. I am not sure if the Land Rover ones are just as soft, but I don't want to find out the hard way.

[Tassie Bob]

I have thrown mine away after the special tool disintegrated.

[loneranger]

After removing the spare wheel on both of ours to fit the Rijidij wheel carriers on Friday I've added this to the list of things to be done.

[Summiitt]

My adaptor snapped just as I cracked the security nut..very lucky as I was out bush.. I got a new adaptor, 4 standard nuts and tossed the security nuts in the bin..they are rubbish

[alien]

This was one of the first things I did to mine.


I had tyres fitted as part of the purchase and thought I'd check the nuts could be undone before heading bush.
The nut adapter was damaged and unusable, luckily the old D2 used the same lock nut pattern.
I bent the wheel brace undoing the other nuts after I had to put a pipe on to get them loose:censored:
As has been said, don't forget the spare has a lock nut too so you'll need 5 nuts.

[Samblers]

I have thrown mine away after the special tool disintegrated.

Ditto. It's made of fudge.

[AndyG]

I suppose this will involve a trip to the Dealer, which is a pain, although might as well try the local independents first, you never know.

[Simon]

Will be doing this in the next couple of weeks. Just wondering if it's OK to simply undo just the locking nut and replace, or whether it's best to jack up, undo all the nuts on the wheel and then tighten evenly around the nuts (as you would when changing the wheel)

[YOLO110]

Given it is a 5 nut wheel, I reckon you would be fine just removing and replacing it... ?

[Loubrey]

I suppose this will involve a trip to the Dealer, which is a pain, although might as well try the local independents first, you never know.

Aftermarket to OEM style and spec...

Standard Wheel Nut - Stainless Steel Cap - Each - Aftermarket at www.rimmerbros.co.uk (http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RRD500560P)

or genuine...

Standard Wheel Nut - Stainless Steel Cap - Each - Genuine Land Rover at www.rimmerbros.co.uk (http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RRD500560)

$15.00 difference times 5...

Cheers,

Lou

[bradleyfamily88]

I got rid of mine, as the adapter had been damaged by the tyre fitters and did not want to be out the middle of no where and be unable to change a tyre if it got staked. We live in the Kimberley and get into some pretty remote places.:)

[DiscoMick]

I thought my vehicle had come without an adaptor, so I priced a replacement, but then eventually found it tucked away in an obscure spot. I've used my nut adapter several times and it works fine. I keep it in the cubby box. Apparently there are several different adaptors and each one has a number on it. They can be ordered if you know the number.

[loneranger]

Aftermarket to OEM style and spec...

Standard Wheel Nut - Stainless Steel Cap - Each - Aftermarket at www.rimmerbros.co.uk (http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RRD500560P)

or genuine...

Standard Wheel Nut - Stainless Steel Cap - Each - Genuine Land Rover at www.rimmerbros.co.uk (http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RRD500560)

$15.00 difference times 5...

Cheers,

Lou

And they probably come out of the same factory in China for about 10c each. ;)

[jimr1]

Will be doing this in the next couple of weeks. Just wondering if it's OK to simply undo just the locking nut and replace, or whether it's best to jack up, undo all the nuts on the wheel and then tighten evenly around the nuts (as you would when changing the wheel)
You will be fine just taking the lock nut off without jacking the wheel up !!.. Jim

[jimr1]

You probably know this , but just in case you don't Disco 1 and early Rangies have the same size wheel nuts , Most wreckers would only want a few $$ for 5 second hand wheel nuts , I always carry a couple of spare !!..Ji

[landoman]

I'm planning to fit a ridgidige wheel carrier ........now the big question ......does this take normal wheel nuts or special spare wheel carrier nuts like on the original Landrover door wheel mounting bracket

Also thinking of getting rid of the 4 wheel locking nuts ......and the locking nut on the spare ........so how many wheel nuts ( if they are what is used ) do I need for a single rijidige wheel carrier ...and how many for the second wheel attachment ........so I can order the right number for the 4 wheels .....the 2 wheel rijidige carrier ....and a few spares

Many thanks

[Wolfman_TWP]

I'm planning to fit a ridgidige wheel carrier ........now the big question ......does this take normal wheel nuts or special spare wheel carrier nuts like on the original Landrover door wheel mounting bracket Also thinking of getting rid of the 4 wheel locking nuts ......and the locking nut on the spare ........so how many wheel nuts ( if they are what is used ) do I need for a single rijidige wheel carrier ...and how many for the second wheel attachment ........so I can order the right number for the 4 wheels .....the 2 wheel rijidige carrier ....and a few spares Many thanks
I used my original wheel nuts off the land rover wheel carrier. They fit the rijidij wheel carrier just fine. The 'small' issue I found, was the studs are a little longer than the original carrier. So a long tube spanner is required to put them on and remove them.

I don't have lock nuts on my defender so can't comment on them..

Wolf

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[landoman]

Thanks for that
Does the riji wheel carrier come with any wheel nuts or do you have to source seperatly

[Marty90]

Just use the ones already on the spare

[D2lee]

don't forget it's not just the wheels, new tyres are worth $200-300+

[DazzaTD5]

I've mentioned this in another post somewhere with a pic...

*The Defender is the only Land Rover that still uses a locking wheel nut.
*As already mentioned the locking adapter pins readily snap off, it also doesnt allow you to stand on the brace to undo a tight nut.

*I do this as a standard when setting a defender up for travel/remote use etc.
*I also supply a large 600mm quality wheel brace with a 6 point socket.
*Some after market spare wheel carriers dont use a Defender wheel nut, yes its a good idea to change them to a Defender wheel stud and nut.

*The Britpart brand wheel nuts have the same finish/shape as the original.
*The Bearmach brand ones are ever so slightly more chrome and are slightly more dome shaped.

Regards
Daz

P.S although one customer has put on a brand new set of black sawtooth wheels and has left the locking nut on them as he is concerned about perhaps a higher than normal demand on anything Defender due to end of production ..... but hrmm I dunno

[ATH]

I've stopped using the nuts. If anybody wants to pinch my wheels hopefully they'll nick the whole damn vehicle with them. :o
Since having several nuts ruined by an idiot with a rattle gun and not being able to undo them with the supplied LR thing and bending it, I've purchased a 3/4 sliding bar with a long rattle gun socket just in case.
The tyre dealer replaced the nuts and hand torqued the wheels after I complained plus the idiot got sent down the road.......:p
AlanH.

[landoman]

Are the nuts that hold the spare to the back door mount the same as standard
Wheel nuts or are they different .....ie ....could you interchange wheel nuts with the nuts that hold the spare in the back door mounting plate

The reason I ask is that my new defender has 2 nuts with pimples on them
And inspectors locking nut with a dimple on it .......when I asked a guy at LR
why the spare nuts had pimples on them he said they were special nuts to hold on the spare ............if so why would they do this and not have all nuts interchangeable ..........or was the LR guy not correct ?

[PhilipA]

Well he is correct for a D2, but I don't know about Defender.

The D2 spare wheel nuts have a longer thread in them, and so normal wheel nuts do not fit without a washer or two.
Regards Philip A
PS I met a bloke in Longreach who was cursing Land Rover after taking off a spare wheel nut with multi grips and had to rip the chrome off.
He was a bit sheepish when I showed him the remover and the locking nut key.

[landoman]

Well he is correct for a D2, but I don't know about Defender.

The D2 spare wheel nuts have a longer thread in them, and so normal wheel nuts do not fit without a washer or two.
Regards Philip A
PS I met a bloke in Longreach who was cursing Land Rover after taking off a spare wheel nut with multi grips and had to rip the chrome off.
He was a bit sheepish when I showed him the remover and the locking nut key.

Thanks for that ......seems silly that spare and normal wheelnuts would not interchangeable ......but it's a defender so maybe .....any way my car is in therapy for a few days ....when I get it back I'll take a wheel nut off and a spare nut and check .......meantime if anyone can confirm that would be great

[landoman]

Also are britpart and Bremach wheel nuts of sufficient quality to be good substitutes for the the very expensive LR originals

[Wolfman_TWP]

Also are britpart and Bremach wheel nuts of sufficient quality to be good substitutes for the the very expensive LR originals
I have used them on my Series III without any issues.

Wolf

[landoman]

I have used them on my Series III without any issues.

Wolf

Thanks ......did you go britparts or Bremach ?.......there seems a big difference in cost between them ......but not sure if the quality difference would be that much

[Wolfman_TWP]

Thanks ......did you go britparts or Bremach ?.......there seems a big difference in cost between them ......but not sure if the quality difference would be that much
I think I have a set of each, hard to tell which are which, they look identical..

Wolf

[ProjectDirector]

Just an update on this post, today I dropped in at Fred Smith here in Melbourne, Bayswater and picked up 5 wheel nuts for $55. They are Britpart. A lot less than LR genuine.

[landoman]

So I ordered a spare wheel from Landrover direct and some nuts to replace my lock nuts ........but not sure what I got is right ...........I ordered the Britparts nuts as they were presented as suitable substitutes for the very expensive originals .............but they look totally different .......not too worried about the appearance ......I know the chromed up originals look better ........but concerned about the business end .........the original is quite tapered ......the Britpart ( yes a lot cheaper ) have a distinctly different profile .........so have I got the wrong thing? ..........and more. Importantly is it safe?...........

[Marty90]

The tapered one is for steel wheels and the other is for alloys.Not interchangeable.

[landoman]

The tapered one is for steel wheels and the other is for alloys.Not interchangeable.

Thanks ....now I'm a bit more confused ....the tapered one is what came with my sawthooth alloy wheels
The more flat one is what I bought as alloy nuts from LR direct .....the seem to fit and tighten up ok .......just confused by the different ends

[JDNSW]

I suspect the tapered ones may be designed to work with either steel or alloy - tightening on the collar for alloy and the taper for steel.

John

[DazzaTD5]

Also are britpart and Bremach wheel nuts of sufficient quality to be good substitutes for the the very expensive LR originals

You will likely find the Britpart ones are OEM.
The Bearmach ones look slightly better quality than both the LR / Britpart ones, but as already mentioned, they are slghtly more chrome and the top is slightly more domed (hard to notice though).

Also...
The LR / Bearmach / Britpart wheel nuts for the Defender alloy wheels are designed to work with either the alloy wheels or can be used on the steel wheels, hence why they have both a flat collar and a tapered end.

Regards
Daz

[DazzaTD5]

So I ordered a spare wheel from Landrover direct and some nuts to replace my lock nuts ........but not sure what I got is right ...........I ordered the Britparts nuts as they were presented as suitable substitutes for the very expensive originals .............but they look totally different .......not too worried about the appearance ......I know the chromed up originals look better ........but concerned about the business end .........the original is quite tapered ......the Britpart ( yes a lot cheaper ) have a distinctly different profile .........so have I got the wrong thing? ..........and more. Importantly is it safe?...........

The wheel nut on the left is a genuine, OEM or a copy of the original, it has a chrome pressing over the actual wheel nut, its the standard wheel nut for alloy wheels.

The one on the right is a solid wheel nut, there is no chrome overlay to get distorted over the years, its a far better idea as a socket fits on and off it with ease, I offer this option to customers but its then changing out at least 20 nuts. Its not a genuine or a copy of the genuine nut.

Regards
Daz

[karlz]

I can confirm that the wheel locking nut socket is a load of ****
I have used it once, to take off one wheel, now its toast and I cannot use it again to take off another wheel nut.
I'm going to order new nuts for each wheel and throw away the locking ones.

How do I get off the nuts without a functional tool?
Should I get the dealer to do it and claim under warranty?
Do the dealers have a better tool?

[ramblingboy42]

what vehicle Karlz?

on my d2 the socket split , I got it welded , it split again so I closed it up tight with a pair of locking pliers.....that was after I got myself more standard wheelnuts , got one last use out of it with the locking pliers attached and threw it in the bin.

no one stole my wheels.

[karlz]

what vehicle Karlz?
.

MY2015, Defender with alloys.


I just read somewhere that you can hammer on a cheap 24mm socket, but the wheel nut looks like this

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/1043.jpg

and the jelly socket looks like this


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/07/1044.jpg

[Ashleylipus]

Try a hammer and cold chisel. Looks like you can get to it easily enough. Have a look at a company called "gorilla nuts" ive got some on my patrol and they are excellent quality

[protonpills]

At my first service I bought 5 new standard wheel nuts to replace the lock nuts asap. If the adapter socket doesnt stuff up the plastic tool to remove the chrome cap over the nut surely will. Imagine getting a flat offroad in the middle of nowhere and not being able to change your tyre.. You would be phoning land rover assist and insisting they sort it at their expense.

Sent from my SM-T210 using AULRO mobile app

[loneranger]

I've already replaced mine but if you need to there's only 10 patterns I believe and you should be able to buy a replacement if the dealer can't take them off for you.

[Tombie]

You can spin the lock nuts off using one of these methods..

- Stillsons
- Smack a socket on and wind it off.

[karlz]

I got all the lock nuts off by buying another $30 socket from Ritters.
It was scary undoing them all, just waiting for another failure of the socket, you could "feel" it getting soft.

I also got a good deal from them for spare wheel nuts $16.50 each (5 of them)

I threw all the lock nuts and the 2 lock nut sockets in the bin.

Glad this episode is over.

Warning to anyone still with those stupid lock nuts.

BIN THEM

[Marty90]

I was in the NRMA for 16 years and people were losing their locknuts all the time. Tombie's solution works a treat!

[rar110]

Definitely bin them. I just had this problem on the RRV. The RRV standard wheel nuts have a alloy cap over the steel nut. That stripped first.

Next the alloy caps on the locking nuts on two wheels separated from the steel nut. And I was using the wheel brace.

I tried to get stilsens to grip without success. I used a rattle gut. That turned the key into a mess, but didn't move the nuts. I tried a hammer and chisel, didn't budge.

On one nut I welded a 10 or 12 mm bolt. That snapped off. I then gave up and took it to my usual LR repairer who has some tool to get them off.

[PAT303]

If you need a breaker bar,piece of pipe,different sockets etc to get the wheel nuts off what is that telling you?,have any of you wondered why the LR wheel brace has such a short handle?. Pat

[Marty90]

That's right.You don't need a lot of tension to tighten the wheel nuts.Problem is usually the mechanics/tyre fitters go crazy with the rattle guns.

[rar110]

On mine the rear wheel was last fitted by a tyre shop. However the front wheel was last fitted by a LR dealer.

[p38arover]

I replaced the lock nuts on my L322 soon after I bought it. $45 for 5 nuts off eVilbay (even though I only needed 4).

[rar110]

I replaced the lock nuts on my L322 soon after I bought it. $45 for 5 nuts off eVilbay (even though I only needed 4).

That was a good deal Ron. Do you have the link?

[p38arover]

They won't fit yours Peter, but here (I got them slightly cheaper than shown): http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121770385890?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Who knows, he may have nuts for yours.

[El Rey]

As a result of reading this thread I took the opportunity to order a replacement set of wheel nuts for my 110. Ordered a complete set of black ones because I have the black sawtooth wheels.

Coming from TMD Tuning in the UK after they found a cheaper way to ship than their automated checkout offered. They replied to my emails promptly every time and have been pretty helpful.

Cheers to all for this advice - as a first time owner I could have been up a well known creek if I was out whoop whoop with locking nuts.

[Toxic_Avenger]

Changed mine over a few weeks back. It's a peace of mind thing.
I'll probably live to regret that if I ever return to my car and find it up on blocks, but we shall cross that bridge when we come to it.
:p

[El Rey]

Changed mine over a few weeks back. It's a peace of mind thing.
I'll probably live to regret that if I ever return to my car and find it up on blocks, but we shall cross that bridge when we come to it.
:p

Yeah I'm the same. I can't think of many places I'll be where someone could remove all four wheels in a timely fashion and not attract some attention.

[stewie110]

Changed mine over a few weeks back. It's a peace of mind thing.
I'll probably live to regret that if I ever return to my car and find it up on blocks, but we shall cross that bridge when we come to it.
:p
That's what insurance is for?

[Toxic_Avenger]

Oh yeah.
But you never know what can happen up here in the wild west

[DazzaTD5]

Changed mine over a few weeks back. It's a peace of mind thing.
I'll probably live to regret that if I ever return to my car and find it up on blocks, but we shall cross that bridge when we come to it.
:p

You wont regret it....
Do you think some low life monkey is going to be able to remove a Land Rover Defender wheel in a timely manner??? especially if there is a Discovery 3/4, RRS, Grand Cherokee right next to it with no locking nuts and insanely expensive alloys on it.

Regards
Daz

[Tombie]

Daz, they're more likely to die trying to remove the D4 wheel - unless they have a better jack [emoji41]

[Surrufus]

As a result of reading this thread I took the opportunity to order a replacement set of wheel nuts for my 110. Ordered a complete set of black ones because I have the black sawtooth wheels.

Coming from TMD Tuning in the UK after they found a cheaper way to ship than their automated checkout offered. They replied to my emails promptly every time and have been pretty helpful.

Cheers to all for this advice - as a first time owner I could have been up a well known creek if I was out whoop whoop with locking nuts.

Does anyone know if the TMD Tuning wheel nuts are stainless or plain steel?

I was looking at these ones
Land Rover with Alloy Wheels (http://www.wrington.co.uk/landrover%20alloy%20wheel%20nuts.html)
But the black ones are plain steel, and the stainless ones are silver
I know I'm being picky!

[loneranger]

When I did mine I bought them from Roverlord.

Land Rover Defender Puma Discovery 1 Range Rover Wheel Nuts FOR Alloy Wheels | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Land-Rover-DEFENDER-PUMA-Discovery-1-Range-Rover-Wheel-Nuts-Alloy-Wheels-/252508846506?hash=item3acab339aa)

[El Rey]

Does anyone know if the TMD Tuning wheel nuts are stainless or plain steel?

I was looking at these ones
Land Rover with Alloy Wheels (http://www.wrington.co.uk/landrover%20alloy%20wheel%20nuts.html)
But the black ones are plain steel, and the stainless ones are silver
I know I'm being picky!

I would hope like hell they are alloy. I was looking at these ones too - which are: ANR2763BLACK - Black Alloy Wheel Nut | LR Parts (http://www.lrparts.net/black-alloy-wheel-nut-for-land-rover-defender-discovery-1-and-range-rover-classic-note-price-is-per-nut-not-set.html)

If you end up talking to TMD, they are at some auto show for the next week but you should talk to this guy about a cheaper shipping option than their system offers:
Paul Chaplin
paul@thethatchedgarage.com
(don't know why the email isn't TMD)

[Tombie]

The nuts aren't Alloy. They're for Alloy wheels [emoji6]

[El Rey]

The nuts aren't Alloy. They're for Alloy wheels [emoji6]

Well there you go. I have soft nuts. Hope I'll be able to get a firm grip on them.

[Tombie]

Hahaha

[AndyG]

Better than swollen nuts. :p

Funny how such a trivial thread proved topical, no such thing as a silly question

[El Rey]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/371.jpg

Here's one of the nuts I ordered.

- Arrived very quickly from the UK.
- Production quality seems good from first impressions.
- Can't comment on the black coating durability.
but they are black inside and out, including the threads.

Haven't had a nut off the Defender so far. Didn't realize they have a washer.

Will get these all put on at the 10,000k service next week.

[DazzaTD5]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/09/371.jpg

Here's one of the nuts I ordered.

- Arrived very quickly from the UK.
- Production quality seems good from first impressions.
- Can't comment on the black coating durability.
but they are black inside and out, including the threads.

Haven't had a nut off the Defender so far. Didn't realize they have a washer.

Will get these all put on at the 10,000k service next week.

The wheel lugs you have pictured are what I call "solid" wheel lugs, as in there is no chrome overlay as with the standard (for alloy wheels) lugs. They have the big advantage that over the years there is no pressed chrome overlay to distort and make attaching a wheel nuts that more difficult. I've only seen these in bright finish, your black ones look powder coated.

Regards
Daz

[El Rey]

The wheel lugs you have pictured are what I call "solid" wheel lugs, as in there is no chrome overlay as with the standard (for alloy wheels) lugs. They have the big advantage that over the years there is no pressed chrome overlay to distort and make attaching a wheel nuts that more difficult. I've only seen these in bright finish, your black ones look powder coated.

Regards
Daz


Cheers for the info!