# '99 merc's aftermarket anti theft wheels **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 27, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676 "2009-01-27T22:15:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/21 "2009-01-29T21:20:10Z")
rick, Go back to the hubcap link texases posted, call their toll free number and ask how in hell to remove this cap. Let us know how you make out. ---
**Author:** ![rick\_en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d6d6ee/32.png) [@rick\_en](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rick_en)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/22 "2009-01-30T21:35:45Z")
roadrunner hi thought I was alone this is EXACTLY the hubcap shown FRD007A except it has a aftermarket locking devise, which sandwichs the hubcap between two metal washer/things…both cover the lugnut pattern this anti theft thing here is great in design…company probably went out of business because of the cheezy tube key buying an angle grinder and wheel tomorrow to remove the plastic part and actually see what I’m dealing with talked to some people on the island here and they agree using nitrogen to freeze each wheels locking nut and wacking with the cold chistle and sledge is the best bet having never used nitrogen (but seen in bank robbery movies) this IS sold within 20miles of me edit I’m buying the angle grinder and cutting wheel tomorrow, does anyone think I should start by try grinding the head off this locking bolt, hopfully releasing the back ‘washer’ and letting the wheel cover as one piece (all4 are still going to the reclcle bin, as one peice or many) ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/23 "2009-01-31T02:35:49Z")
Personally, I’d grind (cut) off the locking bolt, (and whatever else it takes). As you said, these are all destined for the bin. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/24 "2009-01-31T03:10:48Z")
One last time. You live near the ocean. Actually, ocean is all around your island, isn’t it? The air is filled 24/7 with salt. Salt corrodes and causes metal things to seize. Use a penetrant, like PB Blaster to loosen the locks. Wouldn’t it be ironic that, after you butchered the wheels, you found out there was some simple, non-destructive, way to remove the hub-caps?! ---
**Author:** ![rick\_en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d6d6ee/32.png) [@rick\_en](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rick_en)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/25 "2009-01-31T19:57:19Z")
yes the island is surrounded by the gulf of mexico car has been here almost 2years have used up three cans of penetrant, squirting every day for a about a week now don’t think salt is a big factor, having lived 40yrs up north where salt is used on the roads to deal with snow…this place is surprisingly free of rust damage to cars yes, it would indeed be ironic…if not down right belly-busting funny hence my hesition about going at it caveman/grinder style can’t even find a mobile arch welder around here…to arch weld a socket to each nut and get them out that way surprising because this is a fishing community…expected that there would be welders traveling around in trucks…ala agriculture communities edit just got the name of a mobile welder…but befor talking to him, I have to wait for him to get done hunting deer=meat this weekend ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/26 "2009-01-31T20:11:49Z")
If you’re going to have someone do any kind of arc welding on the vehicle, make sure the battery is disconnected first. Tester ---
**Author:** ![rick\_en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d6d6ee/32.png) [@rick\_en](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rick_en)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/27 "2009-01-31T20:16:46Z")
got the name of the hunting welder from a couple sheriff’s deputies I know from the fire dept didn’t think about that battery deal…not sure the local bubba would have thought of it either thanx tester ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 10:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/28 "2009-02-01T10:56:33Z")
Dah tool: [http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMERICAN-TOOL-400-A-9-Pc-Hubcap-Wheel-Lock-Removal-Kit\_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ\_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ\_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem250365783819QQitemZ250365783819QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMERICAN-TOOL-400-A-9-Pc-Hubcap-Wheel-Lock-Removal-Kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem250365783819QQitemZ250365783819QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools) ---
**Author:** ![rick\_en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d6d6ee/32.png) [@rick\_en](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rick_en)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/29 "2009-02-01T18:44:07Z")
thanx hellokit I’m familiar with these tools at NAPA but the problem is a locking wheel cover, not locking lugnuts although the previous owner WAS someone who wore a cowboy-buckle belt AND suspenders… if I get the wheel cover off and discover locking lugnuts, I wouldn’t be surprized, but they’d be easily off ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/30 "2009-02-01T21:28:08Z")
If you look closely at the ad, you’ll see that the tools are for the center hub cap, the plastic wheel cover nuts, and for lug nuts. On your present key tool, if it has notches on the end which have become rounded, you could use a file and a hack saw to form new corners on the notches. Then, press inwards, very firmly, on the tool, as you turn the key tool. ---
**Author:** ![rick\_en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d6d6ee/32.png) [@rick\_en](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rick_en)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/31 "2009-02-02T02:12:11Z")
hellokit I keep looking at each of the tool attachments (and directions on the inside box cover) and see nothing that could help before I buy an angle-grinder and wheel monday, I’m going to try a metal cutting hole saw(about 1/14-1/1/2")for a drill and see if I can saw around this center lock-bolt, these plate/washers things hopefully aren’t too thick then I could leave anything left over the nut and still get the hub rim wheel off…trash the wheelcover/hubcap 30+yrs ago I’d have been through a couple of sledge hammers and the pickaxe by now like they say’keep smiling’ edit-update today tried a small cobalt drill bit, for going into hardened metal the idea was to drill a small hole in the center of this bolt and then use an easy-out…I drilled and drilled and this bit does not make a mark on this locking bolt due to the hardness of this bolt… I am looking at this brand-new angle grinder with hesitation this is like a “larry the cable-guy” nightmare…without any humor re=edit tried grinding a small amount off the end off this “key”, hoping to get past the wore-out end back to original ‘press’ pattern not much lee-way and it didn’t work, same slip out and off…where’s hercules when I need him? ---
**Author:** ![rick\_en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d6d6ee/32.png) [@rick\_en](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rick_en)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/32 "2009-02-07T19:33:19Z")
sucess used an angle grinder with (numberous) Walter zip blades(metal cutting) cut the wheel cover(s) off… quite the design of these anti theft covers…except for the CHEEZY aluminum tool to unlock thanx for the give-a-hoot guys anyone want one of these wheel covers to hang on the wall…would be quite a conversation peice ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/33 "2009-02-08T01:00:30Z")
I’m glad you had “success”. After you “removed” the first wheel cover, did you see a “new, and improved” way to remove the others? I’m not sure that the covers were “anti-theft” in design. The tool and attachment mechanism may just be for secure attachment, not anti-theft. ---
**Author:** ![rick\_en](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d6d6ee/32.png) [@rick\_en](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rick_en)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676/34 "2009-02-08T02:08:32Z")
original and improved technique was cutting close to the outside diameter of the center “lock-bolt” (yes it was anti-theft) if you call having to cut the entire wheel cover off the vehicle to access the lugnut anti-theft (I do) must confess after the (long “thought-out” plan of attack) start to finish, it was 5 minutes and each cover was off the center lock bolt (male threads) connected to the female threads that was attached to seperate metal “dixie cup” deal (over dust cap) with its three “feet” that went drilled out to go over the lug bolts…held on by the lug nuts I suck at descriptions…rather simple design…but poorly designed at the same time [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/99-mercs-aftermarket-anti-theft-wheels/25676.md?page=1)