AMGeed
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2009
- Messages
- 9,030
- Reaction score
- 7,007
- Location
- Poole, Dorset
- Your Mercedes
- S204 C180K
I think there is a differing school of thought on the actual use of locking wheel bolts nowadays.
At one time, they were all the rage and anyone with a decent set of alloys had them fitted, and it did deter wheel theft somewhat.
Then the thieving vermin caught on that removing these lockers wasn't so difficult, and a lot more cars were left on bricks in the morning.
The problems for the user seem to occur when either the bolt hasn't been removed in a long time, or more likely has been overtightened on a tyre change and become a real b1tch to remove. This put many owners off from using them. They weighed up the inconvenience, and pain in the ar$e locking wheel bolts are to remove against the liklihood of having their alloys stolen and decided to ditch them.
I'm still in the camp of using them, after removing them and retightening them to the correct torque. The wheels are removed every 4 months or so for a proper clean anyway.
I balance the inconvenience of using a different socket, and the possibility of it being lost or the bolt seizing, against having to replace an alloy (or all 4) plus the tyres at no inconsiderable cost. ( around £1k+ per corner).
Yep, the pro's will laugh at locking wheel bolts, but if it slows them down or inconveniences them in any way, then I've done all I can.
All I would wish for is that Mercedes OEM bolts and lockers didn't rust!
At one time, they were all the rage and anyone with a decent set of alloys had them fitted, and it did deter wheel theft somewhat.
Then the thieving vermin caught on that removing these lockers wasn't so difficult, and a lot more cars were left on bricks in the morning.
The problems for the user seem to occur when either the bolt hasn't been removed in a long time, or more likely has been overtightened on a tyre change and become a real b1tch to remove. This put many owners off from using them. They weighed up the inconvenience, and pain in the ar$e locking wheel bolts are to remove against the liklihood of having their alloys stolen and decided to ditch them.
I'm still in the camp of using them, after removing them and retightening them to the correct torque. The wheels are removed every 4 months or so for a proper clean anyway.
I balance the inconvenience of using a different socket, and the possibility of it being lost or the bolt seizing, against having to replace an alloy (or all 4) plus the tyres at no inconsiderable cost. ( around £1k+ per corner).
Yep, the pro's will laugh at locking wheel bolts, but if it slows them down or inconveniences them in any way, then I've done all I can.
All I would wish for is that Mercedes OEM bolts and lockers didn't rust!
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