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The value of locking lug nuts

59K views 156 replies 70 participants last post by  jeffashford 
#1 ·
Folks who get new Jeeps frequently ask here whether or not locking lug nuts are worth it...and many say no since they can be removed fairly easily. Personally, I always use them since the only Jeep that I didn't have them on had its spare stolen, but your mileage may vary.


That said, I just saw this thread on reddit and thought you folks might find it interesting:

I work for a Chevy Buick dealership. This is what I came to work to this morning. : funny



According to the OP (who works there), they had the wheels stolen off 18 of the 19 Buick Enclaves on their lot. The 19th one was the only one with locking lugs.

xbxiii comments on I work for a Chevy Buick dealership. This is what I came to work to this morning.


It's not that they cannot be defeated...it's just that it takes more time...and they might decide to go steal something else instead.

Just a thought.
 
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#3 ·
Exactly, it just slows the thief down.

I don't use mine anymore because A) that's why I pay an insurance premium every month and B) the risk of losing the key or breaking the key and being screwed while on the highway or the trail isn't worth it to me.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Yep, mine came with locking lugs from the dealer as well...and I assumed that they put them on for their benefit, not mine. ;)

If you do get them when you buy a Jeep, make sure that the dealer gives you the lug key, the paperwork (with ID), and the five OEM lugs. I realized when I got home that they had forgotten all three...and the dealership was 70 miles away. Yeah, they mailed them.

Regarding losing the key, I got a spare...for 15 beans shipped...from McGard (the OEM Mopar source).
 
#131 ·
Yep, mine came with locking lugs from the dealer as well...and I assumed that they put them on for their benefit, not mine. ;
My dealer made me very angry. He asked if I wanted to purchase locking lugs and I declined. Come to find out they were already on the Jeep and he knew it. He was just trying to get me to pay for them. And I agree with the above. Grab 5 spares of Rubicons and you have a set of wheels/tires you can get $800-1200.
 
#6 ·
Nice.... That is what insurance is for.

I never use locking lugs. I am insured for more than what the wheels are worth. They take them... I get NEW wheels and tires. Call to DTD or one of our vendors here and it's shopping time. Learned the hard way a few years ago...I never put aftermarket wheels/tires worth more than what new OEM replacements cost.

Also it's harder to get true torque specs with the key, since that flexes anyway.

Also, I have had 3 or 4 of those locks freeze/ rust to the studs.... OR the key break when most needed. Since then, never again.

Just my .02
 
#7 ·
I don't use them either. The thief knows that the key has to be in the vehicle somewhere so why invite them to break in and do more damage to your vehicle when they want to steal the wheels?
 
#41 ·
Amen!

at the very least lock the spare...that is just too easy to steal....look on craigslist...funny how you seem to see A LOT of brand new single jeep rim and tires for sale with no miles....obviously someones spare


.... and my deductible is to high to cover a spare theft (mine is $500)
 
#12 ·
I will pay anyone here $1000 in cash if they can get my s2000 wheels off within 30 minutes, and not alert a person sitting in my house. You can use whatever you want. A welder, vice grips, etc etc etc. If you fail however, you will owe me a new set of wheels. ;) Gorillas are made with a mixture of metals that welds don't stick to. They cannot be vice gripped. You cannot bang a socket onto them. Nothing. They are theft-proof.
 
#11 ·
I always use locks, but make sure it is a QUALITY lug. The garbage sold by mcgard might as well be plastic. Complete and utter trash. Will not stop a thief and is almost guaranteed to break on you when you least need it. Buy gorilla. Have them on all my vehicles (all 20 lugs) and have never, EVER, had a single lug or key rust, break, fail, discolor, chip, etc.
 
#14 ·
The issue I have with the locking lugs is that when you get them full of mud and clay and then need to change a tire it gets very difficult to get the key on them and you end up scraping the grooves out just to be able to get the key on....
 
#21 ·
Is anyone else thinking...why enclaves?
 
#25 ·
I had the wheels stolen off my car back in '98 and it had locking lugs. I thought about them for the Jeep,but then realized I should also buy a locking gas cap/fuel door, locks for the door hinges, never use the soft top, new hood latches, locks on the A pillar lights... then they could still take whatever they wanted. :surrender:
 
#28 ·
Both of mine are locked with Gorilla's...
 
#31 ·
I also got the full set of ALL Gorilla lugs
made especially for Quadratec.
It is a set of 23 lugs.
Rob ....
 
#33 ·
I can not find out anything on the gorilla website if they work with steel wheels. I bought a set of Mopar (macgards) and when I got home on the inside of the package at the bottom of the instruction sheet it said "do not use on steel wheels" not sure why but I took them back. looking for a set that work with stock steel wheels.
 
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