Wheel locks (lug nuts) question

[DeusxMac]

If adding one locking lug nut to wheels with five total, can it be done while the wheel is on the ground, or should each wheel be jacked up for installation?

[cbelt3]

Technically you need to loosen all the lug nuts, remove the one you want to replace with a locking lug nut, then torque them all properly in the right sequence. HOWEVER.. it won't really hurt anything to remove one lug nut and replace it with another. As long as you don't overtorque it.

You do NOT need to jack up the car to remove one lug nut.

[deckeda]

As long as the other 4 are tight, no harm will come by removing one.

[lost in space]

And please do not perform this procedure while the car is in motion.

[RAMd®d]

I agree, no need to jack the car up for one lug nut.

I'd probably jack the car up and do all five lug nuts.

If it were a four lug nut vehicle, I'd definitely jack the car up and re-torque all four, even if it's probably not necessary.

[M A V I C]

I know you didn't ask this question, but you are aware that locking lugs only slow down a thief by about 10-30 seconds per wheel, right? What actually slows them down much more is parking on a slope.

[Carm]

What Mavic said.
They are easy to remove with the right tools.
(Loud) Example video with commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGpuFwEKpUM
(I would have used a breaker bar after locking it on with an impact gun)
Tool used in vid: http://www.amazon.com/Performance-Tool-M...r_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1455573452&sr=1-1&keywords=Performance+Tool+M980

Unless you live in a high theft area and your wheels cost over $2k, don't bother with the wheel locks.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

M A V I C wrote:
I know you didn't ask this question, but you are aware that locking lugs only slow down a thief by about 10-30 seconds per wheel, right? What actually slows them down much more is parking on a slope.

Or if they try to remove the wheel while the car is in motion.

[C(-)ris]

Just have the locks installed when you have the tires rotated next....you are rotating tires right?

Anyway, to get them off when you lose the key just take the next size smaller impact socket and drive it on with a hammer and then impact it off. Takes 30 seconds.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

After my Civic was stolen twice for the wheels, I went to several parts stores. I picked the hardest one to find adapters for and bought four sets, so all the nuts are the same locks. It is essentially the equivalent of a deep socket version of the @#$%^&* penta lobed screws on a MacBook. Someone might be able to get them off with the right size impact easy-out, but it's going to take some time and make noise.