MikeBat

Hello guys,

Excuse my seemingly stupid question but.....

While washing a waxing my stored (damn winter) 2002 986S, I noticed that one bolt per wheel is different then the others. I looked through the receipts that I received when I got the car and one invoice clearly states McGuard wheel locks.

I looked everywhere for the "key" including in the spare tire and tool kit. I called the previous owner and asked if he had the key. He said he was not even aware that there were locks on the wheels. I know he had the tires changed during his ownership because we talked about it when I bought the car from him.

Am I insane? In stock form, are all the wheel lugs identical, or is one different?

I will take a picture tonight and upload it.

Thanks

99firehawk

one is a lock, chances are the po didnt know and the tire shop forgot to put it back in the car.
if you go to the dealer they have a master set and they can order a new one for ya
about 55$

MikeBat

Thanks Brad! I will post a picture tomorrow in any case.

Thanks for not laughing at me

racer

Any update here? My lug nuts are not all the same. I have one that requires a special socket (kept in with the spare) to loosen the lug not. Not a key, but not sure what they are called. Certainly a "theft prevention" measure.

Drew_K

I switched out my wheel locks with plain lug studs. It makes wheel changes simpler and I've heard the the locking lugs can break, meaning you need outside help to remove the wheel. Not fun if you have a spare tire. Personally, I'd replace with regular lug studs.

To remove the existing locking studs without the key or having to go to the dealer, you can force a regular socket on it. You may to hammer a little to get it on. It will damage the locking stud, so it won't be reusable, but you can definitely get it off this way.

99firehawk

people always talk about breaking the wheel lock key.
Ive taken off hundreds of wheels and ive never seen a porsche one break

Tool Pants

Sometimes stuff happens....

99firehawk

i belive it, its entilely possible ( thank you for the visual though) Ive just never had one break on me

MikeBat

Ok guys, here is the photo.... excuse the wax smattered on the wheel, I clicked the photo while taking a break while I was doing some winter projects.

So, what is this bolt... a wheel lock? It does not look like the ones on the McGard website.

Tool Pants

Looks like a not-a-planet Pluto picture to me.

You have some type of wheel lock.

It has been said that the factory wheel locks were made by McGard, but when I checked years ago, and then a few months ago, I could not find a 996/986 application on their site that matched the factory.

Plus you have a "button" on the end of the locking bolt that is not present on the factory style.

My guess is that you have non-factory but made by McGard wheel bolts. For whatever reason.

This is what the factory used. I removed the locking ones and put in standard wheel bolts

racer

The pic by Toolpants is exactly what my boxster has. I also have the special socket to remove them. And yes, I have already purchased 4 "regular" bolts to replace the "locking" ones.

The picture before, to me, does look like the same "locking" bolt as the one by toolpants...