My problem w/ my 2006 Escalade is not the typical secondary latch catching when the tire goes down 3-4". I have a similar but worse problem. The cable lowers but the spare is jammed up tight and will not budge. The tire cannot even be rotated it is so tight. Also, the mechanism on mine does not look like the ones on all the videos. I just got new tires and the guys at that shop had no idea how to release it.
A DIFFERENT STUCK SPARE TIRE PROBLEM
- Thread starter bldn10
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
Post a pic of it. There's 1 or 2 bolts--i forget--that hold the holder to the frame, can you squeeze a socket with an extension through the spare to drop the entire assembly? That's what I had to do to mine. Easier to see what you're looking at and figure out.
I'll try to take a photo through the bolts holes but, like I said, my mechanism does not look like ones in the videos or like the one on your '03 Tahoe. IIRC there are no bolts holding it on - looks like it is welded or bonded.
It’s probably already been replaced at some point with the newer design that does not have the secondary latch. In which case it’s probably since rusted again and the winch is jammed.
They don’t cost that much, I’d do whatever destructive method works for you and your toolset and just replace it.
I got my OEM one to release the wheel by bending the flange that flares out in the center of the wheel opening. If you have a die grinder or dremel cut the cable end off. A fire wrench (oxy acetylene) would be even easier.
They don’t cost that much, I’d do whatever destructive method works for you and your toolset and just replace it.
I got my OEM one to release the wheel by bending the flange that flares out in the center of the wheel opening. If you have a die grinder or dremel cut the cable end off. A fire wrench (oxy acetylene) would be even easier.
Can you let some of the air out of the tire to make it easier to get loose?
Tony! Where have I seen these pictures before? Let's see.....HHMM...Oh, yeah, I had the same problem. To get the spare tire to unlatch I put a 12 ton bottle jack under the spare tire (centered) and literally lifted the entire rear end of my Yuke 5 inches off the ground before the spare tire unlatched. After which I cut the locking mechanism and haven't had any problems since. Seems to be a recurring problem throughout the years for GMC trucks. Nice pics by the way!! Aloha!!!
First thing I thought of too but the valve would be on top and likely impossible to get to. Sooooooooo, stick a knife in the sidewall.
Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
Shame to ruin a good spare.
It is what it is and it is not my spare.
Why would the valve be on top, and how do you know?
I am guessing that when a spare tire is stowed, it is stowed with the valve on top to keep road debris from it. The bracket at the end of the cable, that is fed thru the center of the wheel to attach the cable, would leave a mark where it grabs the wheel and that would mean having the bracket grip on the backside of the wheel instead of the front of the wheel that could show those marks.
Pretty sure my owner's manual says the spare should be stored with the valve stem down. Maybe that's so it will be easy to check the pressure from time to time, which not many people do.
I get it, I really do and what you say makes sense and even @Tonyrodz pics show it that way. I was just assuming, I need to stop that, that the OP tire was different because I would have thought he would have thought to let the air out of the tire asap.
Just to let you know, I have only one time in my whole life had to drop a spare down and I did not pay attention to how it was stowed. The tire shop put the spare back for me.
Just to let you know, I have only one time in my whole life had to drop a spare down and I did not pay attention to how it was stowed. The tire shop put the spare back for me.
drakon543
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2016
- Posts
- 2,473
- Reaction score
- 1,722
ya i had one stuck up there on a customer's truck once. i was installing a class 3 reese hitch and needed to lower the spare to install the far bolt. was riveted in place and the winch was locked solid. customer gave us the go ahead to use a torch on it. if we couldn't get it down it wouldn't help him on the side of the road so having it permanently down was better for him anyway.
Tonyrodz
Resident Resident
This is that pita latch after I was able to get it down. 
