Spare tire removal question

[YvesNL]

I'm in the process of messing with AHC, and while waiting on parts I thought I got the spare tire out.

The thing is I don't have the original toolkit, so not the correct tool to remove the tire.
I have the toolkit from my dad's Hilux but that doesn't fit.

Is there anyone who could measure the tool for me, so I can make my own.

I need the measurements of the end that goes into the tire lowering device:

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[flintknapper]

Hard to tell from the photo, but it looks as if you have the anti-theft 'key' on your spare tire winch. IF you don't have the corresponding 'tool' to fit it, that is where you need to start, OR remove the bolts from the winch (4) and drop the tire and winch together to remove that part...which will allow you to use the standard hook portion of the let down tool to operate the winch in the future.

You can do a search on it, for photos and other info.

I removed mine...so I can just use my jack/let down tool to lower my spare. Where I live the chance of having a spare tire stolen is less than zero. Same thing for those pesky anti-theft lug nuts, tossed those as well.

 

[ton504]

You definitely have a anti-theft setup. You can go to your local dealership and they should have a master set to determine which key is needed. Then call Mcguard with code on their key to order. I don't remember the cost but it wasn't bad, maybe 25 bucks?

 

[lhommec13]

Mechanism looks pretty rusted up. If it hasn't been used recently, I doubt it's going to lower properly even with the right key. Mine went through two New England winters without being lowered and the mechanism eventually seized up. Tried PB Blaster but couldn't get it to spin. It was seized up. Eventually had to just remove the entire assembly to get the spare down.

It's worth trying but I doubt it's going to work from what I can see.

 

[YvesNL]

I tried with a square piece of steel, it all makes sense now.
Thanks for the pictures and the info, I appreciate it.

The car has been standing still in high grass for two years and has quite some rust, also I suspect the tire hasn't been removed a few years before that. The tire seems quite old and has some cracks.

I will try and unbolt the four bolts that hold the tire carrier, or the whole arm that supports the tire.

I also have regular nuts on my wheels and don't think I will need the safety of the "anti-theft setup".
@flintknapper how does your new tire lowering system work?

Thank you all for your input.

 

[flintknapper]

I also have regular nuts on my wheels and don't think I will need the safety of the "anti-theft setup".
@flintknapper how does your new tire lowering system work?

IF your spare tire winch is still operable (turns, feeds and retracts cable or chain) then you can just remove the anti-theft 'key' portion of it (see photo #2 in my first post). That part is just pressed into the bore of the winch and held in place by a single external washer. You can use a pair of pliers to rock it back and forth and it will then pull out. That leaves you with the 'normal' set up Toyota provides, which uses the 'hook' of your tire let down tool to engage the two 'slots' in the cone of the winch.

We don't have to deal with rust (where I live). The photos I provided in my previous post are of the original winch off of my 18 year old vehicle. All I did was pull the winch off the cross member, remove the plastic cover from the 'key' which exposes the roll pin underneath, then rock the part back and forth. That will deform the external washer that holds the key in place and you can just pull the part out. That's it, you're done. Put the winch back in place and use your jack/tire let down tool (as Toyota intended) to lower your tire from that point forward.

 

[ptrsn]

flintnapper, Luckily I found my antilock key which had fallen inside the wheel.
I did everything up until removing the cone receptacle. I couldn't figure out how to use the hook around the cotter type slipstem or otherwise. Nor did I see a way to just slip in a square peg if the hex part was out.
I did remove the washer on the back side and slipped out the piston but the cone was welded around the front end. I didnt want to bugger it up. Guess I'll have to just keep the key method since I found it.

Thanks so much for the post and pics!

 

[flintknapper]

flintnapper, Luckily I found my antilock key which had fallen inside the wheel.
I did everything up until removing the cone receptacle. I couldn't figure out how to use the hook around the cotter type slipstem or otherwise. Nor did I see a way to just slip in a square peg if the hex part was out.
I did remove the washer on the back side and slipped out the piston but the cone was welded around the front end. I didnt want to bugger it up. Guess I'll have to just keep the key method since I found it.

Thanks so much for the post and pics!

You don't remove the 'cone', you remove the plastic cover inside the cone (if it is still there) which exposes the roll pin which is part of the anti-theft key. As previously stated...it just pressed in the bore of the winch. Once you pry/knock it out....you are left with the metal cone (which is there to guide the hook of your jack/let-down tool) into the the two grooves (in the cone) to let down the spare.

The 'HOOK' on your jack/let-down tool does two things.

1. It fits on the factory jack and along with the extensions...allows you extend or lower the jack.
2. It fits in the grooves on the spare tire winch (the ones WITHOUT the anti-theft key) to let you lower your spare.

 

[CRVH LX470]

Mechanism looks pretty rusted up. If it hasn't been used recently, I doubt it's going to lower properly even with the right key. Mine went through two New England winters without being lowered and the mechanism eventually seized up. Tried PB Blaster but couldn't get it to spin. It was seized up. Eventually had to just remove the entire assembly to get the spare down.

It's worth trying but I doubt it's going to work from what I can see.

I have the same issue with my 2003 LX, previous owner for some reason took the tools with him... How do you get the assembly down? I can feel the 12mm bolts up above the winch, and I can get a wrench on them but I can't get them to move at all. And there's no way to get a good angle to get any leverage up there with the spare on... Tips?

Thanks!
-Chris

 

[FLWookie]

Mine was so bad I had to cut the wings off the winch plate with a grinder to remove the tire. Now I need a new winch.

 

[CRVH LX470]

Mine was so bad I had to cut the wings off the winch plate with a grinder to remove the tire. Now I need a new winch.

Ugh, that sounds terrible... Don't think mine is quite so bad since it was a Texas car it's whole life but man I cannot get those bolts to move at all...

 

[flintknapper]

I have the same issue with my 2003 LX, previous owner for some reason took the tools with him... How do you get the assembly down? I can feel the 12mm bolts up above the winch, and I can get a wrench on them but I can't get them to move at all. And there's no way to get a good angle to get any leverage up there with the spare on... Tips?

Thanks!
-Chris

Soak the bolts with penetrating oil, let sit overnight. Let the air out of the spare tire, it will let it move just a little and give you (your arm) a bit better angle to manipulate your wrench.

Put a small section of pipe (it can be PVC schd. 40 even) over the wrench to gain some leverage. Once (IF) you get them broken loose...they should come on out. I did mine with a ratcheting wrench, but mine is a Texas vehicle, hence no rust, no trouble.

If you round out the bolts (at the winch) then you'll have to try to get the ones at the frame rail.

 

[CRVH LX470]

Soak the bolts with penetrating oil, let sit overnight. Let the air out of the spare tire, it will let it move just a little and give you (your arm) a bit better angle to manipulate your wrench.

Put a small section of pipe (it can be PVC schd. 40 even) over the wrench to gain some leverage. Once (IF) you get them broken loose...they should come on out. I did mine with a ratcheting wrench, but mine is a Texas vehicle, hence no rust, no trouble.

If you round out the bolts (at the winch) then you'll have to try to get the ones at the frame rail.

Thanks for the tips, will try that this evening. When I couldn't get any leverage on the top winch bolts I turned my attention to those at the framerail but similar results with the middle bolt of the trio on each side. Wouldn't budge and I was starting to round the edges...

Thanks!