Smaller tool for rim nuts?

[Fonzie]

This could quite possibly be the dumbest question I've ever asked, and I'm missing something very obvious. You've been forewarned.

I recently got some 18"x8" rims for the VS so i can ditch the stockies. Got 16 wheel nuts and 4 lock nuts from repco. Problem occurs when i put the rim on the wheel studs. The wheel nuts fit in the holes, match the bevel, match the thread, and i can do them up hand tight. The X tool i have fits the hex size of the nut, but it doesn't fit on the wheel nut when it's in place. I used my expertise *cough* in paint to illustrate this (paint ftw.JPG). The green section illustrates the X tool.

I took some quick webcam quality pics of the wheel nuts... 01.jpg shows the end of the nut that faces the stud, 02.jpg shows the visible end when it's on the car.

Now.. the lock nuts i have (03.jpg) are like any other... When these are in place, i can put the key in and tighten them to where they need to be, because the key brings the hex head out past the rim face, and hence the X tool fits on it.

Question is, do i need to get wheel nuts that have a hex indent or something, and use some sort of allen key? Or can i get an X tool that has thinner 'sides' to fit between the nut and the rim? Or is this topic something i will have listed under greatest failures for the rest of my life because the solution is far too obvious?

[Philthy]

Don't feel too bad, I had the same problem on my old car. I ended up swapping tyre irons with a mate of mine out of his VN because it happened to fit my wheels, and mine still fit his.

So there must be tyre irons with thinner sides out there. Maybe just go into repco/autopro etc and ask to test a few of theirs and see if you can find one that fits

[VYMAD]

I use a socket with a short extension and T-bar.

[02DUBH]

i had the same problem when putting 20's on my car yesterday.

ended up using a socket set with a short extension live the above

[Fonzie]

Yeah i tried a socket, to no avail. The next size down fitted in the hole perfectly, but obviously didn't fit the wheel nut... Perhaps i need to get wheel nuts that are smaller, but have the same thread diameter, and leave a socket+extension+tbar in my car...

[STEALTHY™]

The lock nuts i have have a 'key' that goes into them, the hex head is about 21mm, but the side that goes over the lock nut fits perfect in the holes.

So change lock nuts

[camstatic]

You can buy special sockets from any auto parts store for this purpose, usually painted an anodised colour in my experience if you're just browsing.

[Fonzie]

So change lock nuts

I think you misunderstood, the lock nuts aren't the problem. It's the other ones.
The key goes into the lock nut, and the hex head on that key then sticks far enough out of the hole i can get the X-tool onto it. But the standard nuts obviously don't have a "key"... So the nuts are too far into a hole that my tool doesn't fit in.

[Fonzie]

You can buy special sockets from any auto parts store for this purpose, usually painted an anodised colour in my experience if you're just browsing.

Sweet, that's what i was wanting to hear. I'll go shopping Monday.

[STEALTHY™]

I think you misunderstood, the lock nuts aren't the problem. It's the other ones.
The key goes into the lock nut, and the hex head on that key then sticks far enough out of the hole i can get the X-tool onto it. But the standard nuts obviously don't have a "key"... So the nuts are too far into a hole that my tool doesn't fit in.

Oh if thats the case, just buy standard holden wheel nuts.

[Fonzie]

Oh if thats the case, just buy standard holden wheel nuts.

The nuts aren't the problem though... the hole in the rim that the nuts sit in, is smaller than my X-tool.

[DannyboyDS]

I have had the save issue, I got some VN SS (I think) Tri Spoke rims on my car, the rims and nuts are fine but my wheel brace (The X tool) is too fat to fit into the nut holes, so I ended up using a tourque wrench a socket and an extension.

I'm planning a trip to autobarn or repco this week for a new wheel brace, pitty as my wheel brace is like a million years old, my dad handed it down to me, guess it will have to live a happy life in the shed.

[delcowizzid]

a lot of the rims have very small holes and have special nuts and a special tool to do them up that has grooves instead of flat sides like normal nuts the tool slides over the nut then you use the wheel brace like normal on the nut on the tool

[vlv8vic]

had the same problem with the camry (yes, a camry with factory alloys) - the bar that came with the car didn't fit but i found a wheel brace that did - it was only a $10 one i think but it did the job the whole 4 or whatever times i ever had to take a wheel off.

[Tas_HSV]

Go to your toolkit,and grab out the 21mm or imperial equivalant sparkplug socket....should slide in the hole nicely,and fit snugly on your wheelnut...pull out the rubber insert first if your plug socket has one....never found a wheel yet that the trusty plug socket wont go in....my plug socket has a hex head where the rachet plugs in,so the standard wheelbrace fits the end

[STEALTHY™]

The nuts aren't the problem though... the hole in the rim that the nuts sit in, is smaller than my X-tool.

Oh lol. I only ever buy genuine holden parts, so never had such and issue with wheels before.
Maybe do the same.

[rocco555]

what you need to solve your problem is called a 'thin wall socket'

they are specifically designed for this purpose, to fit in tight holes and not damage your rims... a lot of auto shops sell them, else ebay

[ephect]

Go to your toolkit,and grab out the 21mm or imperial equivalant sparkplug socket....should slide in the hole nicely,and fit snugly on your wheelnut...pull out the rubber insert first if your plug socket has one....never found a wheel yet that the trusty plug socket wont go in....my plug socket has a hex head where the rachet plugs in,so the standard wheelbrace fits the end

^^ My exact solution, the handy sparkplug socket

[woteva]

Had the same problem until I used a bench grinder to grind down the outside diameter of my wheel nut 'X' tool.

[Ms 5ltr VK]

The problem is simple.
Get a big spark plug socket and attatch it to a wheel brace.
If you have just a standard tyre lever, it won't work, You can get cross braces for under ten bucks.

[ephect]

oh and my X wheel bar fits on the end of the sparkplug socket

[Tas_HSV]

oh and my X wheel bar fits on the end of the sparkplug socket

Spot on,mine too....works a treat

[ephect]

i dont know how many times i've given my locknut and that socket to tyre joints, and say dont do them up by rattle gun, please do them up by hand, and use this!

couple joints looked at me weird, but all have done as i've asked and my rims dont have scuff marks from the sockets.