MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - Help !!

Ladies and Gentlemen: Help !!

I have, this morning, discovered that I have a damaged security wheel nut on my nearside front wheel, and that the removal tool for the security nuts is also damaged – one of the internal 'lugs' has been broken off.

Now, obviously someone in the past has been a little 'heavy-handed' to say the least, but I am not too concerned about trying to find out the who, when and where. My concern now is that I need to remove the security nuts on the front wheels in order to change the brake pads.

Would I be correct in thinking that this (removal of the security nuts) will have to be a job for my 'local' MGR dealer ?? – I also realize that I will have to source a replacement set of security nuts. Would the general recommendation be to obtain a new set from MGR, or are there other types available which are as good as, if not better than, the MGR version ??

All and any helpful comments/recommendations gratefully received.


Jonty

Ps – a puncture is not too much of a concern either – I do have 'back to home' recovery via Saga


pps - I would like to point out that I have already searched the archive regarding this problem, and have managed to glean the information that my MGR dealer should be able to provide me with a replacement removal tool if I quote my car's VIN number. However, there do not seem to be any recommendations as to whether it is best to replace the MGR security nuts with more from the same source, or whether it is better to source replacements from an aftermarket supplier.
M.J. Tait

I've heard about this problem before Jonty - and it would lead me to the conclusion that the MGR locking nuts are a bit cr@p.

Mike Satur does some alternative locking nuts (McGard) which would be a better buy IMO. I’ve attached a link to his website showing these (they’re about ¾ of the way down the page)

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/satur/fx01.html

HTH

Jim

Jim Hosking

Thanks, Jim - will have a look.

Jonty
M.J. Tait

Jonty, there was a thread on this subject a month or so ago. If I recall someone suggested Ford locking nuts. They said that they were better than MGR ones. MS ones were also discussed.

David
David Clelland

The Rover items are pretty simple affairs - but as far as I know no tests have been performed to compare the performance of Rover locking wheel nuts to those available from other sources (although common sense would suggest that these others ought be be slightly better).

Difficult to make a recommendation really :o(
Rob Bell

I have just had a similar problem after my car's first 12 month service. I suspect that a bit too much brute force has been applied when the nuts have been either removed or tightened. The result was that the nut key sheared one of it's pins when I tried to remove the wheel. I explined the problem to Horners in Manchester who did the service, and they reluctantly replaced the key, however when I thried the new key, I can get two of the nuts off, but the other two wheel's nuts have been so distorted by the deformed key that the new key won't fit! (and yes they did give me the correct coded replacement).
It's going in again tomorrow for them to get the busted nuts off and replace all four nuts (free of charge I expect, either at their cost or under warranty). But expect the usual "Bring it back again in two days when we have the parts in" scenario......
Duncan

I have this hazy recollection that Auto Distress did a group test of locking wheel nuts and the ones Mike Satur flogs came out best.

AS I say only hazy recollection. As Rob points out, none OEM replacements should be better.

Cheers

Patrick
Patrick Beet

Thanks everyone - I have now ordered a replacement from the MGR dealer, so that I can get the original nuts off ( I hope!! ), and a set of McDee nuts from MS to replace them.

Jonty
M.J. Tait

or even http://www.mikesatur.co.uk :-)

I don't think you need the VIN number, as far as I can tell any the nuts are all the same. I know because I forgot to give it to my dealer one time and they had no problem using the one off another F they had in stock.
T.E.D.

Ted, you are correct, VIN number not needed - all I had to do was tell the dealer what number was stamped on the end of the nut removal tool. They also did this over the 'phone, which to me is not very security-concious, is it !!

Jonty
M.J. Tait

With regards the MGR locking nuts, I believe there are only 7 or 8 different "Locks", and most MGR dealers should have one of each for serviceing etc.

The McGards are unique, each key is different and you have to Register with McGard and prove your identity before ordering a duplicate. Autoexpress did do a test and the McGards came out top, they couldnt get them off.

Got mine from Mike S for 35 quid.

Cheers,

Russky
R Goodman

This thread was discussed between 10/11/2002 and 13/11/2002

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now