12 replies to this topic

[silver_toes]

OK, so i can't get the wheel nuts of my 1997 cooper. they're the type with the stupid plastic cover on. I can get 3 off using my standard wheel brace but the fourth one seems to be an odd size.

Is this by design, and how do I loosen it off ?


Cheers

[Noah]

Get a pair of pliers and yank the covers off.

[minilee94]

Locking wheel nut ?

[silver_toes]

Not sure if the covers are supposed to come off. Also, were these alloys fitted with locking nuts ? If there is a wheel nut adaptor it's long gone.

[Noah]

Yes, max and I have had the same problem with his, rover used to sell a tool that took them off but I don't think its in existence any more.

Here they are without the stainless steel cover, you can undo them with the stainless cover on, but its nighon impossible and requires and odd size socket

http://minispares.co...75.aspx|Back to

[silver_toes]

yeah, I just measured the nut which won't come off and it's 18.5mm ! very odd size

I'll bet it's the black bit in this kit that I need
http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2047675.l2557

Damn you Rover . . . . . .

Can I pull the SS cover off with a pair of pliers ?

Edited by silver_toes, 24 February 2013 - 11:12 AM.

[Noah]

Yep, thats what Minimaxie did and his wheels haven't fallen off. You can just buy new nuts from Minispares and use them for the other wheels as well :)

[minimaxie]

I eventually gave in with having those rubbish and annoying caps and used a pair of Molegrips (with a lot of swearing) pulled and twisted them off! There isn't an easier way I don't think. Just yank them off and replace the rusty (believe me they will be under those caps) wheel nuts with some new ones from Minispares. I'm replacing them soon as I get paid

[silver_toes]

I think i'll order some new nuts before beggaring about with the one's on there. Would hate to do some damage that results in another week off the road !

Minimaxie - I like the look of these

http://www.minispare...39.aspx|Back to

but I think £65 is a little excessive for some wheel nuts.

Cheers Noah. I'll get an order in to Mini Spares, nice article in Mini Mag by the way

Ta

Liz

[Ipod]

you wont damage the nuts just by pulling the covers off (as said iv used grips)

[Dan]

The wheel nuts when new are the right size with the stainless covers on, Rover weren't that stupid. It's when they rust inside and the whole thing expands that you have trouble. Taking the covers off means an 11/16" will turn them once more but doesn't actually make them 11/16", they become an irritating undersize. Silver_toes, stop measuring things in metric, you have a Mini!

And yes locking wheel nuts need a key. It's not just an adaptor it's a key otherwise they wouldn't be locks! You need the right one, not just any adaptor. The black bit in the kit you found is just the cover remover, a small screwdriver does the same thing. The key is the bit to the right of that. If you don't have the key then you will have to destroy the nuts to remove them (either you or a tyre fitter) and get a new set of locks.

[Ocado Man]

This is what you need.

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item53f501ea2d

I recently bought a MGF & some monkey had air tooled the wheel nuts on & rounded them. They also had the alloy sleeves on, which as someone has pointed out, when you remove make it nigh on impossible to remove.

With these little beauties, all is peace & light (along with a little grunt)

[Vipernoir]

I believe you will find that the inner wheel nut (never take the stainless covers off, and check to see if they are the 11/16" or 17mm version before heaving) is a Whitworth size - 5/16"WW or 3/8"BSF