David777
Well-known Member
- Location
- Silicon Valley
I posted the below custom anti-theft method on a website for Chevrolet Trailblazer owners since I just purchased a 2023 LS. The same strategy could be used on many other expensive vehicles. There are many locking products that install on steering wheels, fair numbers that install on brake pedals, and a few that attach to both. Any steering wheel locking bars can be easily defeated in this era by thieves with battery operated saws. Brake pedals however use especially hard to saw steel and are in a location doing so is difficult. I'm actually surprised that no others thought about doing the below since bicycles and motorcycles use anti-theft chains. Obviously, wrapping a chain around the whole steering column cannot be sawed through haha.
And by the way, the images below were processed on my new HP Omen 35L desktop by my yesterday loaded $35/month subscription of Adobe CC Photoshop.
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After looking at various off the shelf Amazon brake pedal locks, I've created a much better custom solution to prevent vehicle theft on my 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS. It requires purchase of a case hardened security chain and a case hardened lock. My vehicle uses a key fob and I have not investigated how the below might have value with the more common keyless ignition models. It will NOT prevent starting the vehicle but one will not be able to use the brake. The two parts will only ever be inside my vehicle, so no need for weatherproofing.
With the LS keyed fob model, the vehicle may be started without depressing the brake pedal. However, because the pedal cannot be depressed it would not be driven. One cannot use the Electronic Emergency Brake because according to page 199 of the owner's manual, "The EPD will automatically release if the vehicle is running, placed into gear, and an attempt is made to drive away."
On Amazon, there are many 6 foot length case hardened security chain products. The one I am using is a decade plus old. Much of my cable is protected from weather and tools by a blue plastic covering. I removed 25 inches of the plastic at one end of the chain. I just spray painted much of the blue plastic with neon orange paint in order to make it more visible to night thieves that may break a window to get into a vehicle if they cannot easily see what one has done.
I purchased this $31 Abus 4 digit combination lock. Although some users had issues, none would affect my intended use. In any case, purchase of a difficult to open lock is important with reading reviews of users worthwhile. The lock shown in my images is a different keyed padlock with my key fob hanging from it. I wanted a secure combination lock so I won't need to deal with another pocket key. Many inexpensive combination locks can be removed in a short time by experienced thieves. And all brake pedal locks like in my above post use keys.
https://www.amazon.com/ABUS-160-40-Weather-Combination/dp/B004C407GC?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1
What I did was first lower the steering wheel with the left side lever to its lowest position. I then wrapped the chain around the steering column with the short plastic covered end down from the right steering wheel side and the removed plastic chain end over the left side but inside the positioning lever.
It is important that the resulting locked chain be taut, so there is little possible downward brake pedal movement. With my 6 foot chain, that required shortening the chain length. I did that by loop knot shortening the uncovered with plastic end. The left end of the chain was wrapped around the base of the brake pedal shaft at the pad counterclockwise twice per my diagram. In any case and up to anyone doing this, the end goal of the wrapping is for the chain to be so taut that the brake pedal cannot be used.
And by the way, the images below were processed on my new HP Omen 35L desktop by my yesterday loaded $35/month subscription of Adobe CC Photoshop.
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After looking at various off the shelf Amazon brake pedal locks, I've created a much better custom solution to prevent vehicle theft on my 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS. It requires purchase of a case hardened security chain and a case hardened lock. My vehicle uses a key fob and I have not investigated how the below might have value with the more common keyless ignition models. It will NOT prevent starting the vehicle but one will not be able to use the brake. The two parts will only ever be inside my vehicle, so no need for weatherproofing.
With the LS keyed fob model, the vehicle may be started without depressing the brake pedal. However, because the pedal cannot be depressed it would not be driven. One cannot use the Electronic Emergency Brake because according to page 199 of the owner's manual, "The EPD will automatically release if the vehicle is running, placed into gear, and an attempt is made to drive away."
On Amazon, there are many 6 foot length case hardened security chain products. The one I am using is a decade plus old. Much of my cable is protected from weather and tools by a blue plastic covering. I removed 25 inches of the plastic at one end of the chain. I just spray painted much of the blue plastic with neon orange paint in order to make it more visible to night thieves that may break a window to get into a vehicle if they cannot easily see what one has done.
I purchased this $31 Abus 4 digit combination lock. Although some users had issues, none would affect my intended use. In any case, purchase of a difficult to open lock is important with reading reviews of users worthwhile. The lock shown in my images is a different keyed padlock with my key fob hanging from it. I wanted a secure combination lock so I won't need to deal with another pocket key. Many inexpensive combination locks can be removed in a short time by experienced thieves. And all brake pedal locks like in my above post use keys.
https://www.amazon.com/ABUS-160-40-Weather-Combination/dp/B004C407GC?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1
What I did was first lower the steering wheel with the left side lever to its lowest position. I then wrapped the chain around the steering column with the short plastic covered end down from the right steering wheel side and the removed plastic chain end over the left side but inside the positioning lever.
It is important that the resulting locked chain be taut, so there is little possible downward brake pedal movement. With my 6 foot chain, that required shortening the chain length. I did that by loop knot shortening the uncovered with plastic end. The left end of the chain was wrapped around the base of the brake pedal shaft at the pad counterclockwise twice per my diagram. In any case and up to anyone doing this, the end goal of the wrapping is for the chain to be so taut that the brake pedal cannot be used.