Broken locking wheel nut key.

So, I was all set to take my wheels in on Monday to get them re painted in GT Silver. I went to take them off and load them in the car and when I attacked the locking wheel nut on the front the un lock key thing just sort of fell apart. (See pic) I assume this is a dealer only part? it seems like it's made of very cheap metal, bit pants really & a real let down, what if I was at the side of the road?

i noticed today that my local halfords sell, yes sells locking wheel nut remover tools, made by laser. i didnt catch a price - but maybe you can ordre a replacement before you panic.

Fast fix to get them off put a set of mole grips on them to get the wheel nut off .They will hold the broken bit tight as you turn the nut. SEE YA

good plan, but with mole grips on the scocket won't fit on the locking nut, it's way too tight in the hole apeture.

There's only a finite number of Porsche wheel nut keys (I won't say the number), do you know any local 996/Boxster owners you could take a 'rough punt' with? If failing that give your OPC a call with your chassis number and they'll order a spare or even remove the locking and replace with a standard in the interim.

Tie-wrap it together, in two locations. Perhaps when the pressure is applied to the wrench the shape of the socket may be such that the vertical load on the socket won't split it, therefore enabling you to get the bolts out.

get a local engineering shop to either, weld it back together, or turn an interference fit collar to press over it

You can actually force a locked wheel nut off. I dont know the exact steps by you tyre specialist usually have the "know-how" as they probably come across this more often. It consist of using a drill, mallot, and some of other bits of pieces. Sometime the actual screwing bolt may require rethreading - rarely likely. - Had it done when the pins on my locking bolt/nut got broken (was a "first edition" locking bolt on previous car). Once the bolts off, maybe replace it with a decent (aftermarket?) set.

Saw a similar post about this elsewhere. A handy DIY tool that may help? Never used it myself though... so not sure about the claims. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFXfEhTi8VU

I think it's time for some McGuards, having said that , all these "solutions" kinda make a mockery of the whole conceot of a locking wheel nut! I mean it's not too difficult these days by the look of it to steal anyone's wheels if you really want to. And, come to think of it, who's going to nick std Porsche wheels anyway.

There's a lesson here for all of us. I suspect that your wheel nuts have been tightened with a pneumatic gun rather than a torque wrench sometime in the past. The bolts should never be that tight when it shears the unlocking bolt. When you get your wheels changed in the future, especiallt=y at a tyre specialist make sure they only use a torque wrench to both loosen and tighten the wheel bolts.

Plan B put out a SOS someone on here may be near to you ask to use there one .The mole grips have worked before I had a long nose type . Good luck SEE YA

Absolutely, 100% agree.

There about 40 different sockets all numbered All OPC's carry a master set take the car to an OPC, Find the right no the parts dept will order one for you for next day delivery, about £18 from memory or you could take the car to a tyre centre they can remove the locking key with a special too which will destroy the wheel bolt the order a set of 4 locking bolts from your OPC, about £70