Locking lugs - problem.

YELLAHEEP

NAXJA Forum User
Anyone have access to one of those locking lug removal tool kits? I just bought a parts XJ and it has - what I believe are "Gorilla Nuts" brand locks. It has 5 of these on each wheel. The XJ was a roll over and it appears the key/socket must be AWOL.

Look like these:

gorilla_socket.jpg


I've got the previous owner looking to see if they have the socket anywhere, but I'm not optimistic.

There's gotta be a way to get these off right? :dunno: I'd like to save the stock aluminum wheels from too much damage and they're deep set into the lug holes......

Worst case, I guess I could try to grind the tops, weld a bolt to each one and see if they'll break free...... Awful lot of work though.
 
This guy bought five sets of locking lugnuts? Good grief. I've got a double sided twist socket pound on remover, but I doubt it'd work with those deepwell wheels. I think you might be SOL without the right lock socket.
 
Ive got two keys but that doesnt do you much good cause im in the springs. But i think that discount tire sells the keys for these or advance sells them in sets.
 
Go to a little tire shop im sure theyd probably have one the one by my place has an exact fit for my splined lugs. Welding a regular lug nut to it and spinning it off works fine too. I had to do that on my bros ZJ when we bought it. Took us about 10 minutes.
 
I have had good luck using cheapo 12 point deep sockets that are just a tad to small to slip over and pounding them on, some times you can reuse one sometimes not so have a bunch ready.
 
I've got one that fits pro-comp alloy lug nuts. They look a lot like the one pictured but I have no idea if they are in fact the same. If you want to give it a shot let me know and I can find a way to get it to you.
 
I wonder if a gator grip universal socket would work?

gatorgrip_kinggator_etc125.jpg


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YELLAHEEP said:
what I believe are "Gorilla Nuts".
Look like these:

gorilla_socket.jpg


quote]

you sure know your nuts. i wouldn't thought gorilla nuts woulda looked like that. i'm not so sure grinding on the tops of the nuts is such a good idear. good luck with the great nut caper....boss. :looney:
 
I just remembered that I have another XJ at the lot that has these same lugs and the guy gave me two sockets for them. I wonder if Gorilla Nuts uses a variable pattern on the nuts/socket kits making them a true locking nut or if all of their lugnuts use the same socket......... I'll try one of those first...... (crossing fingers).

If not, I'll holler at ya DJ. If those remover sockets will fit into the wheel lug hole they just might work.

That Gator socket could work too........ I suppose it depends on if the pins in the socket would fit the splines on the lock nut surface...... Anyone seen those at the auto parts stores? Or are they special order?
 
YELLAHEEP said:
I just remembered that I have another XJ at the lot that has these same lugs and the guy gave me two sockets for them. I wonder if Gorilla Nuts uses a variable pattern on the nuts/socket kits making them a true locking nut or if all of their lugnuts use the same socket......... I'll try one of those first...... (crossing fingers).

If not, I'll holler at ya DJ. If those remover sockets will fit into the wheel lug hole they just might work.

That Gator socket could work too........ I suppose it depends on if the pins in the socket would fit the splines on the lock nut surface...... Anyone seen those at the auto parts stores? Or are they special order?

just go to a discount tire and tell em what you need. They should give you one with no problems at all.
 
Crisis averted! Apparently all Gorilla Nut kits have the same socket. The socket I had with the other Jeep worked perfectly.

Each socket does have a "key code" stamped on it, but both sockets worked on the lug nuts...... dunno if I just got real lucky or if they code them to make the buyer believe their locks are unique like a true key...... :dunno:

Either way, things went simple and easy....... and now I have a cool set of Gorilla Nuts to use on one of my XJ's!
 
I worked a Discount for a few years. It looks like what you have is a set of "tuner" nuts used on after market wheels.(locks X5 would be $$$$) Had a set on my ZX-2. They are pretty generic, just one special socket. I believe they were made by Gorilla. They are not intended to be "locks" but a low profile nut to fit in the smaller holes on some after market wheels with deep smaller holes. That being said, I hate wheel locks. With a Snap-On kit I could get a 4 of them off in 5 minutes. Discount would be the place to go.
 
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