Found My Baby On Blocks - This F***ing Sucks
Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 271
It appears that there are three modes to defeat wheel locks:
1) Have a set of keys and by trial and error, find the right one.
2) Hammer on a socket over the lock to undo the lock
3) Use a cryogen such as liquid nitrogen to freeze-embrittle the lock. It is then shattered with a chisel.
So it seems nothing can stop thieves except frustration. If so, what about using a multitude of locks on a wheel. Would this not add to the thievery work load and my deter the crime?
1) Have a set of keys and by trial and error, find the right one.
2) Hammer on a socket over the lock to undo the lock
3) Use a cryogen such as liquid nitrogen to freeze-embrittle the lock. It is then shattered with a chisel.
So it seems nothing can stop thieves except frustration. If so, what about using a multitude of locks on a wheel. Would this not add to the thievery work load and my deter the crime?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 113
From: South Florida
I'm in Miramar (you can call me Mr. 954). I drive through Hialeah all the time.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 113
From: South Florida
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 113
From: South Florida
Pics of Damage
Up close damage of the rocker panel, fender and splash guard
(the wheels are loaners sent from the dealership with the tow truck
operator)
The bar is the tow truck operator putting on one of the loaner wheels
Upper fender bulge
Last edited by Radsil09; Jan 7, 2009 at 08:04 PM. Reason: Wrong picture
OMG, bro im so sorry to see this. i live in pines, already bad enough i can barely sleep at night from being paranoid. after seeing this, especially being around the same area, im putting a chair in front of my window and sleeping on it....lol
It appears that there are three modes to defeat wheel locks:
1) Have a set of keys and by trial and error, find the right one.
2) Hammer on a socket over the lock to undo the lock
3) Use a cryogen such as liquid nitrogen to freeze-embrittle the lock. It is then shattered with a chisel.
So it seems nothing can stop thieves except frustration. If so, what about using a multitude of locks on a wheel. Would this not add to the thievery work load and my deter the crime?
1) Have a set of keys and by trial and error, find the right one.
2) Hammer on a socket over the lock to undo the lock
3) Use a cryogen such as liquid nitrogen to freeze-embrittle the lock. It is then shattered with a chisel.
So it seems nothing can stop thieves except frustration. If so, what about using a multitude of locks on a wheel. Would this not add to the thievery work load and my deter the crime?
Wow just for stock maxima rims?
and in a gated comunity, how secure is it? any one in the community that could have done it ?
Wheel locks help but if some one wants your rims they will take them. Wheel locks just make it take 20 minutes longer..
Will insurance at least cover anything ?
Good luck bro, keep checking your local craigslist and ebay, they may come up ....and if they do, call the police asap , dont try to do anything yourself...
and in a gated comunity, how secure is it? any one in the community that could have done it ?
Wheel locks help but if some one wants your rims they will take them. Wheel locks just make it take 20 minutes longer..
Will insurance at least cover anything ?
Good luck bro, keep checking your local craigslist and ebay, they may come up ....and if they do, call the police asap , dont try to do anything yourself...
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 115
From: debajo de un puente
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 113
From: South Florida
Finally Got Her Back
$4000 later, my baby is back home. After the loss, I called 3 dealerships, and told them about my insurance claim. As times are tough and dealerships want work, bargaining was the name of the game. I had the standard SV 18" rims and tires, and told them if they gave me the 19" inch rims and tires for the 18" price, they could have the job. Two dealerships agreed, so I went with the one I purchased the car from. I love the 19" sport model rims. Feel like I'm driving a new car, and more people are asking about it now.
I looked at after market rims for awhile, but honestly I could'nt find anything I liked more than the sport model 19's.
Good to be back on the road.
NOTE: I've heard about some roughness issues with the sport rims. When I first got her back I had a rough ride when exceeding 60mph. I asked for a "Ground Force Balance", as apposed to a standard speed balance, on the tires. That cured the problem.
I looked at after market rims for awhile, but honestly I could'nt find anything I liked more than the sport model 19's.
Good to be back on the road.
NOTE: I've heard about some roughness issues with the sport rims. When I first got her back I had a rough ride when exceeding 60mph. I asked for a "Ground Force Balance", as apposed to a standard speed balance, on the tires. That cured the problem.
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2
ay bro, same thing happened to me. i had aftermarket rims on my max. i get up in the morning go outside. my cars on blocks too. i cant afford to get new rims right now. so i got some ****ty infiniti rims from a junkyard. i know how u feel man. it sucks
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 20
Can't believe it happened to me. Got up this morning, happy as usual that I had a reason to drive my MAX. Opened the front door, took a sip of coffee, walked to my car and discoverd some a**holes had raped my Max, took the rims and left it on blocks. Because of the way the placed it the blocks the front fenders on both sides are slightly buckled. They hit 3 cars in my "safe gated community". I think I'll stop paying the association dues! Pics to come.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 113
From: South Florida
Sorry for your loss to man. After you realize it's not a bad dream, your stomach starts churning, then you just want to kill the SOBs that did it to you.
I feel bad..that's horrible. I am getting wheel locks just to be safe. And to all of you asking why did they take stock maxima tires/wheels..well it looks like you can get a set on eBay for $800-$1000+..so they tried to make a quick $1000 by causing so much sh*t and ultimately causing $4,000 in damage..sorry about that, glad you got and like the new 19's.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 80
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
After reading all these posts on wheel theft and considering that I am going to buy an 09 Sport soon, I went to Gorilla's websight and they do sell complete kits for each lug nut. I think if presented with 20 locks to undo that most people would give up and on to the next car. Just a thought.
!! I swear, you people don't take the time to read anything.
Originally Posted by Radsil09
$4000 later, my baby is back home. After the loss, I called 3 dealerships, and told them about my insurance claim. As times are tough and dealerships want work, bargaining was the name of the game. I had the standard SV 18" rims and tires, and told them if they gave me the 19" inch rims and tires for the 18" price, they could have the job. Two dealerships agreed, so I went with the one I purchased the car from. I love the 19" sport model rims. Feel like I'm driving a new car, and more people are asking about it now.
I looked at after market rims for awhile, but honestly I could'nt find anything I liked more than the sport model 19's.
I looked at after market rims for awhile, but honestly I could'nt find anything I liked more than the sport model 19's.
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3
Sorry to hear about you car man. Glad to hear you got the issue resolved. I feel your pain. One night my brother caught some crooks breaking into his truck. Once they realized they were spotted they fled. Had they not realized for another 30 seconds, they would've swallowed some shutgun shells. I HATE theives and feel no way for those that meet serious injury while attempting to confiscated other people's property.
Glad to hear it work out for you! And don't think everyone should be all paranoid and buy out Gorilla's stock of wheel locks. You just have to be smart bout it Gated communities don't mean s**t you just paying for the sense of security. I lived in the hood my whole life and on my third car and never had any vandalism of any sort. Because vandalism happens at random it can happen to anyone just do what you got to do to ensure it doesn't happen to you.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 56
I just recently joined the up on the blocks club...well block! Fortunately there turned out to be no damage. It appears they let the air out of the tires letting the car come down on the center block and they took the tires. I had a set of McGard locks which they snapped off.
Last edited by nemesis04; Apr 11, 2009 at 01:39 PM.
Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 32
From: CT
=O id be pissed. Sorry to hear that man.. I had someone try to steal my stock 98 Max rims a while ago. they tried to drill through the lock bolt but i caught them as i came out of the store... and called the cops while watching them :-D it was rather funny to see the cops roll up on them lol. But i realized that if someone wants the rims that bad they'll do anything to get them so i figure the regular nuts are just as good as the lock ones.. plus now i wont lose the key :-D
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 40
From: bronx new york
The responding officer said rims and tires are new thing. Less likely to get caught than if they stole the whole car. Also tires are what they are really after. I had the 18" stock wheels, didn't think they were desirable so did not get locks. Anyway one of the other guys that got hit had locks and they simply over torqued and and snapped the lugs that have the locks.
The worse the economy gets the more this sh** is going to happen.
The worse the economy gets the more this sh** is going to happen.
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 57
From: Maryland
Okay, I'm sorry that this happened to you, and I'm glad that you're back on the road. You have a garage? Put the car in the garage! If there is stuff in there, clean it out and make room for that car. Mine lives in a garage and is safe every night. Do the same, why take another chance?