Spare tire fell from mount

So I just went to Toyota to get a new gas cap in the hopes my engine light for samll leak would go away and my spare tire fell from it's mount. I'm lucky I noticed it in the rearview trying to catch up to me...bizarre, I thought someone wheeled a tire at me. Luckily I had just gotten off the highway, could have been a disaster.

Quick look and nothing looks broken?



Most likely that dangling thing is rusted beyond capability.

Is there a better replacement?

Thanks as always,

-Ugmold

 

Damn! Yeah the cable looks like shit. I'd post a WTB ad. I'm sure there's plenty of people here that don't use theirs anymore. I would've sent mine to you if I hadn't given it away last week.

Or just look for an aftermarket tire carrier.

 

durn

 

You can just throw it in the bed... hehehehe

I don't know of another that would fit in there besides stock.
Shouldn't try to repair it.

 

It's not really the cable as much as the piece that holds the rim completely rusted until it bent. That's crazy.

 

Just took a close look, that holder is trash indeed, folded it with my fingers. How do you replace that?

-Forrest

 

Wow, it kinds looks like the whole plate that goes through the wheel hub has just rusted to oblivion. But like Jonathan says, post a WTB on the site and someone who relocated theirs for serious offroading may be able to sell (or give) you one cheap.

 

Cable "assembly"/winch/crane/whatever

If you're looking for an OEM replacement, it's kind of a PITA because the bolts are on top of the crossmember so you'll probably have to remove the bed to get to it.

 

Wow man, that is an insane amount of rust. You live in New England or something?

 

I live in Mass, and I also surf, so it is down at the Beach on Stormy Days.

Looks awful to replace.

 

Looks like 4 bolts holding it there? I'd spray it down with some penetrating oil for a couple days if your thinking of replacing it. I bodyboard alot so my truck gets all the sand and salt blast from the wind cutting across the island here Though I'm a puss and only go during warm water hehe

http://www.car-part.com/

Spare Tire Carrier I think is what you need, looks like they run around $75 or so.

 

I just sprayed it down with PB. The bolts on top are right against the bed, if they are not rotted, I nay be able to use them again.

 

I would think you could cut that cable at the end where it's crimped and put a new plate up there and re-crimp the cable. I bet if you try to reel that cable down it will be pretty rusty inside too so some penetrating lube could help that.

 

Doesn't look easy. I'm wondering how the cable is attached at the other end... if it can be removed easily enough, maybe you could slip a new plate onto the cable?

 

So the Cable looks fine and everything is good except that piece.

If I cut it off. I have a 2 Bars of aluminum, 3/8 thick 9 inches long. Cut the first to fit the hole to center the rim. the second to be longer goes underneath to hold the rim. Only problem is getting the cable to go thru....? If I could take that spring thing apart, I don't want to cut it off.

 

If you had to, you could make a hole in the aluminum plate large enough for the end of the wire thingy to go through then make a notch on one side of the hole for the wire to fit in and put a short bolt through the large hole you drilled and fit it with some washers and locktite.

Kinda shaped like this except make the rectangle notch smaller for the wire size. Not the most elaborate setup but it would work I think.

 

I bit like what I am doing. top and bottom pc. Top will fit into the hole, after a bit more grinding. hole will be drilled in center for cable, then I will have to cut a notch to the hole.

The bottom, hole for cable, another notch to the hole, but on the opposite side, bolt the two together......can I has cheeseburger now?

 

Ah yes that will work good too! +rep for being the first to acknowledge cheezburger cat, you may can have cheezburger now

 

I want to send Toyota a picture of the damaged piece, anybody have a contact email?

 

Toyota did a recall for that issue on both generations of Siennas (in salt using states). We didn't have either of ours done though. Heh. Perhaps they will need to do one for Tacomas too!