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Does anyone know if there is some kind of lockable lug nut that can be used to secure a stock Mercedes spare tire and wheel to the MY2022 G550 rear door (no doubt, it's the same bolts/nuts that are used on the MY2021 G550, as my MY2022 is on order, and will not show up until Spring 2022). Long story, I plan to mount an HF antenna on the rear spare wheel by using a special antenna mount meant to do the job, but I'm wondering if the same lug bolts used for the other 4 vehicle wheels might work, as this way I could use a standard Mercedes G-class locking nut. Pics are attached below from the antenna manuffacturer. it's the owners G, over in UAE where the antenna company is located. He owns the antenna company. As you can see, his antenna mount is not locked to his wheel on his white G500, but he can afford to have it stolen, as his company manufactures the antenna, so no big loss, I suppose. Then too, there's the reality that over in UAE, if someone were stupid enough to rip-off this $4k antenna, no doubt they'd be caught and punished, like having their hand cut off. So my guess is, that's another reason the owner likely is not very worried about somethibg that is a cold hard reality for us here in the US. Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that he obviously does not have a pad lock on the antenna's vertical stud. I do have a special hardened steel padlock meant for just this putpose. Then again, a mildly determined thief could simply hacksaw off the stud. I do know that over in Australia, where there is still lots of mobile HF communications use,so they have a special cap assembly that fits over the entire vertcial antenna stud to make all of this more difficult.
Last edited by JetRanger; Jun 11, 2021 at 08:13 PM.
Reason: additional info
I secured my spare with McGard locks p/n 712-680 (thread size M14x1.50). These come in a package of 4 and I used 3 of them, one on each stud. I had to fabricate an additional spinning collar out of 1" tubing to cover the back-portion of the lock nut so that channel locks or vise grips could not be used to wrestle the nuts off (see photo). Nothing is "theft-proof", but these are modestly "theft-deterrent".
I secured my spare with McGard locks p/n 712-680 (thread size M14x1.50). These come in a package of 4 and I used 3 of them, one on each stud. I had to fabricate an additional spinning collar out of 1" tubing to cover the back-portion of the lock nut so that channel locks or vise grips could not be used to wrestle the nuts off (see photo). Nothing is "theft-proof", but these are modestly "theft-deterrent".
Thanks for this great info, Streborx. So, I take it the spinning collar is necessary since the wheel is reverse mounted?
This particular lug nut is designed for a wheel that has a recessed lug nut well where the nut's shank is inaccessible. There might be another McGard nut design that is shorter and designed for a flush mount so that no additional collar would be necessary, but I haven't looked. The nuts I used were what I found off the shelf at a local auto parts retailer, so I bought them and made the collars. The M14 size is used on all the 463A's (the mounted wheels use M14 bolts and the spare uses M14 nuts), but I'm not sure about older models. Some parts catalogs spec'd M12 for the 463A, so earlier G's might use this M12.
If you do an internet search for "metric tamper proof nut" you might find something suitable for both the wheel mount and the antenna mount.
Thanks for the follow-up, Streborx. That info is exactly what I was looking for! I am sure I will be able to run down a sutiable 14mm nut that is lockable, similar to what you found. One thing I don't understand: How does the collar you refernced stay afixed to the shaft of the nut? What prevents it from sliding off of the shaft of the nut's axel?
Thanks, in advance, Streborx, for all of your kind help on this!
Thanks for the follow-up, Streborx. That info is exactly what I was looking for! I am sure I will be able to run down a sutiable 14mm nut that is lockable, similar to what you found. One thing I don't understand: How does the collar you refernced stay afixed to the shaft of the nut? What prevents it from sliding off of the shaft of the nut's axel?
Thanks, in advance, Streborx, for all of your kind help on this!
The collar is the same diameter as the spinning collar that's integral to the lock nut, so it is retained between the integral collar and the wheel when installed. I trimmed its length so that it spins freely when the nut is tightened. The end result is that there are two collars that spin freely, thus making gripping with pliers difficult.
OK, got it, Streborx! That makes perfect sense now. I agree with you that nothing is 100%, but that sounds plenty effectve for what I'm trying to accomplish. I'll post pics when it's done. Of course, that will be a while, since my 2022 G550 will easily be out in Spring 2022, if not even later in time. I sure hope this doesn't end up like the Cyber Truck timing, out into the ethos!
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