Two problems

1. I have a set of American Racing rims each with a locking lug nut and no key. I've tried using the Gator Grip, vice grips, hammering a socket onto it, and even the emergency lug nut remover (which, by the way, just stripped itself out on the lug nut and cost me $46). Any other thoughts on getting this thing off?
2. The upper and lower control arm ball joints. How do you get them off? Is there a special tool?

Spot weld a lugnut to it.

I would find the diameter of the studs center punch the lug nut and start with a small drill bit and work your way up the drill bit index use rapid tap or another drilling oil to keep from burning up bits, til you get it. cost you a new stud but I think this is what i would try i dont have a welder but i like budmans idea too.

I had the same problem with those lugnuts before. PITA, but hammering a lugnut on worked for me. You gotta get one that's just barely too tight to slide over the locking lug & slam it on with a mini sledge hammer. Right before it comes off of the lug after you loosen it, just give it a good "pop" & the socket will pop out of the lugnut.

Since you said you tried this already with no luck, I would assume Budman has the only solution here. I have heard of larger tire shops having a tool that can remove them though. Might be worth calling around to your local shops as they might even have a different solution.

So I finally figured it out. My little Dremel cut a big enough gouge in the lug nut (with the help of a chisel) that I could fit my Gator Grip over it and spin it off. The bad news is that it's going to take me about 2 days to get them off because the Dremel's battery only holds enough charge to do one at a time.

Congrats on getting them off.

Man... Go buy a 4.5" angle grinder from Home Depot. Be nice to it while you use it, and then take it back if you don't want to keep it. It would make short work of that project.

way to go.

I use my 4" grinder for lots of things like that. Once you have one around, you will want to keep it. Cut-off wheels come in 10 packs, and work great for cutting out rusty floors etc.