Anti-theft devices on the steering wheel for cars
To protect your car from theft, you must use all available means. We have already written a lot on our website Vodi.su about various anti-theft systems: immobilizers, alarms, mechanical interlocks. The easiest and most affordable way for most people to secure their car is mechanical anti-theft tools.
In this article, we will talk about anti-theft devices on the steering wheel.
Types of steering wheel locks
Steering wheel locks can be divided into three large groups:
- put directly on the steering wheel;
- mounted on a shaft going from the steering column to the steering wheel;
- locks-blockers that are installed in the steering column and block the steering mechanism.
The first type is the easiest to install and use. These are universal blockers that are suitable for any car. Although there are devices that are designed for a specific model.
Blockers that are put on the steering wheel
The simplest steering wheel locks are spacers. They are a metal rod, with two metal hooks on it, and between them there is a lock. The lock can be coded or with an ordinary locking mechanism. Due to the fact that one of the hooks moves freely along the rod, such a spacer can be installed on almost any car.
The rod is quite heavy, so it is almost impossible to bend or cut it, except perhaps with a grinder. Usually it rests at one end on the front left pillar. It is not difficult to install and remove the device (naturally for the owner). In addition, you will always have protection at hand - the rod can be used as a baseball bat.
If a thief decides to steal your car, then, having seen such a lock, he will think about whether he can open the lock or pick up the code. Although if you have the tools and experience, removing the spacer will not be difficult. That is why you can find blockers with special tongues that, when trying to dismantle, press on the signal switch.
In addition to spacers, drivers very often use another type of blockers, which is a metal bar with a clutch. The clutch is put on the steering wheel, and the bar lies on the front dashboard, or rests on the floor or pedals, thereby blocking them too. Again, such devices vary in their price category. The cheapest are equipped with a rather complicated, but ordinary lock, to which you can pick up a key or open it with simple pins.
The most expensive ones are sold with complex locking mechanisms with a high degree of cryptographic strength, that is, with combination locks with a large number of options - several hundred million.
What are the advantages of such devices:
- they are universal;
- are clearly visible, and this can scare away an inexperienced thief or a bully who wants to ride and then leave the car;
- the owner of the car just needs to put them on and take them off;
- made of durable material;
- do not take up much space in the cabin.
But I must say that experienced hijackers will deal with such blockers quickly and almost silently. In addition, they do not protect against penetration into the cabin.
Steering shaft and column locks
It will not be possible to install such types of blockers on your own if you do not have enough experience. Many specialized services offer their installation services, and there are quite a few products of this kind on sale today in different price categories.
Shaft locks are of two types:
- external;
- internal.
External - this is a more advanced version of the locks that we wrote about above. They are a rod with a clutch. The coupling is put on the shaft, and the bar rests on the floor or pedals.
The internal locks of the steering shaft are installed hidden: the clutch is put on the shaft, and the metal pin contains a locking device. Either a very experienced thief or a person with a set of tools can open such a lock. The pin completely blocks the steering shaft, so it is unlikely that anyone will be able to turn it.
Steering column locks are usually standard mechanical anti-theft systems. A metal pin with a locking mechanism is installed in the steering column, and under the steering wheel there is a lock cylinder. It is worth noting that regular blockers are quite easy to crack, sometimes even the drivers themselves are forced to do this when they lose their keys and try to start the car without a key. If you purchase locking mechanisms from well-known manufacturers, such as Mul-T-Lock, then you will need to tinker with the lock.
When choosing one or another type of steering lock, be aware that for experienced hijackers they are not particularly difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the car from theft in a complex way, using several methods. You should also not leave your car unattended in crowded places, such as unguarded parking lots near supermarkets or markets.
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