highonchai
03-07-04, 01:17 AM
Are your '80s and early '90s wire wheel lock nuts making you look like this guy :rant2:because you lost the tool, or have the wrong one?? well heres a solution. The following is a list of tools you will need to remove the lock nuts without the GM factory tool, 1: 7/8 inch socket, 2: hammer, 3: Rachet to fit the socket, 4: rachet extender(optional) 5: screw driver. Thats it! SO heres what you do, take the socket, make sure its your 7/8" and attach your 2" extender to it (this is optional, but a good idea, it will protect your hands from whats comming next) position the socket over the wheel cover lock nut and gently, or forcefully tap it on with your hammer, then attach your ratcheting wrench and turn in a counter-clock-wise direction. you now have your lock nut off, heres the difficult part: getting the nut out of the socket. there are a few methods for this, but if you use them all in succesion it'll work, You can use a flat head screwdriver to put down in the socket hole and tap on it with your hammer, or you can use the screw driver to wedge between the end of the socket and the lip of the lock nut. for the first removal method i suggest the blunt end of a punch or some type of metal rod, the screw driver bites into the plastic nut otherwise. How have i discovered this you ask? Well GM made different lock nuts, my '89 has the green colored ones where as my '90 has red ones, the fulcrum holes are on oposite sides, therefor the green tool wont work, so i devised this method and decided to pass it along. Please use this on your own car, and not to score some caddy wire wheel covers!! OH, and suggest this to your service garage if they dont have the tool, DONT let them use vice grips!:helpless: Take it easy guys.