Older VAG Locking Wheel Nuts are poor quality accessories

Chat about your MKV (6N2) Polo GTi
Post Reply
morrismen
Silver Member
Posts: 273
Joined: Sat May 15, 2004 6:35 pm
Location: Hertfordshire

Older VAG Locking Wheel Nuts are poor quality accessories

Post by morrismen »

I had to have a wheel bolt drilled out this week as I went to the tyre garage to get new tyres and the locking wheel bolt was ceased (or done up too tight). :?

The problem appears to be common to the VAG LIGHT Wheel Nuts. These were accessory items sold by VW (VAG). These were the Mrk 2 version of locking wheel bolts apparently.

As they are LIGHT, by the very notion of them being light they are made of soft poor quality steel.

The outer collar slides around the outside of the inner nut and the three holes for the locking nut are soft, whilst the locking wheel nut has three wholes for the 3 studs inside the locking bolt, the latter studs bend when undoing the nut if too tight. Then you have the problem - drill out the locking nut. Or, if possible you chisel off the collar and bang a socket onto the inner circular bolt and then turn - it may then turn off, if you're lucky.

Dealers are advising you replace these with the Mrk 3 version of the VAG locking nut - I have some new ones now and they are much better made and much tougher! No holes and no studs to bend.

WARNING: Put it this way, if these VAG light nuts are soft and bendy, and you get a puncture on the motorway, how are you expected to get your wheel off? The only option is to get towed and get it drilled out to change the tyre or wheel. Not nice. :oops:

So, if you've got these old VAG LIGHT wheel bolts, I'd recommend you get the new Mrk 3 versions. At least you can guarantee to undo them and get your wheel off. :wink:
User avatar
Josh_PoloGTi
Site Admin
Posts: 2782
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 8:32 pm
Drives: BMW E85 Z4 3.0i
Location: Sheffield, UK
Contact:

Post by Josh_PoloGTi »

Nicely put!

I spent hours getting the 2 MK2 Nuts off my rear wheels a couple of months ago as they'd bent.

Real pain in the arse.

:(
morrismen
Silver Member
Posts: 273
Joined: Sat May 15, 2004 6:35 pm
Location: Hertfordshire

From what I hear

Post by morrismen »

VW bought these locking wheel nuts in as accessory items (Mrk 2) as owners were getting their BBS alloys stolen. :(

Unfortunately, this was rather reactive to the problem and VW (VAG) didn't realise how poor quality these locking wheel bolts were until VW owners started taking their cars in to the VW dealers to get the locking wheel nuts drilled out to change tyres.

So, VW (VAG) now produce their own Mrk 3 versions.

These are much better. :)
Post Reply