Spare tire troubles

[JPVortex]

Hi, so on my 05 tahoe I want to drop the spare tire to make more room for replacing the differential cover and gasket, especially since the bolts are round and I need to hammer a socket onto them, so any room helps. Only problem is the spare tire, after down an inch or 2 stops moving. It also makes this clicking noise when it stops going down. I know theres a safety latch that can get stuck, is that what the problem is here?

Video of problem:

 

[Sparksalot]

I had something like this one my 2011. I discovered I needed to tighten the winch up a bit to get that latch to release. Then it came down fine.

 

[Myfirstz71]

Hi, so on my 05 tahoe I want to drop the spare tire to make more room for replacing the differential cover and gasket, especially since the bolts are round and I need to hammer a socket onto them, so any room helps. Only problem is the spare tire, after down an inch or 2 stops moving. It also makes this clicking noise when it stops going down. I know theres a safety latch that can get stuck, is that what the problem is here?

Video of problem:

Absolutely. The safety catch is supposed to release when you push the rod into place. They get super corroded and freeze up.

I used a ratchet strap to hold the spare tight to the frame, and loosened the cable. Sprayed the hell out of everything and waited. Tighten the cable up, remove the ratchet strap and lower the tire until it just stops. Then with a long thin prybar, a few choice words, and a hammer I was able to pop the safety release.

I found it helpful to reach up over the spare and feel the safety rod to understand where it would pivot and where I needed to angle the prybar for leverage and tap with hammer.

 

[Myfirstz71]

PB blaster is what I used to spray it down.

Once it was free I removed the spare and soaked the entire safety mechanism in oil.

FYI, with the spare out of the way one bolt and the entire spare tire assembly is off the truck. You may be able to find one at pick-a- part.

I now drop my spare once a year and spray down the safety catch

 

[Fless]

Have you tried the procedure in the manual?

 

[Myfirstz71]

@ Fless……… LMAO. ‍Rtfm

 

[Tonyrodz]

I had to bend the arm on the safety latch to get it to release.

 

[tungsten]

Is this system the same as the trucks? Ive had to cut off a few if they are.
Is there an aftermarket fix?

 

[TollKeeper]

Is this system the same as the trucks? Ive had to cut off a few if they are.
Is there an aftermarket fix?

After you get the spare tire down, remove the secondary catch, or replace the entire assembly. Those are the only 2 options that I know of.

 

[tungsten]

Absolutely. The safety catch is supposed to release when you push the rod into place. They get super corroded and freeze up.

I used a ratchet strap to hold the spare tight to the frame, and loosened the cable. Sprayed the hell out of everything and waited. Tighten the cable up, remove the ratchet strap and lower the tire until it just stops. Then with a long thin prybar, a few choice words, and a hammer I was able to pop the safety release.

I found it helpful to reach up over the spare and feel the safety rod to understand where it would pivot and where I needed to angle the prybar for leverage and tap with hammer.

That is the answer.I need to figure mine out.

 

[tungsten]

After you get the spare tire down, remove the secondary catch, or replace the entire assembly. Those are the only 2 options that I know of.

Yeah removal involves a cutting disk for the ones Ive seen.Once rusted their toast.

 

[S33k3r]

Or you could be an ass like me: I had one I *knew* was going to be impossible to drop. So I bought a spare tire from Firestone, and had them replace the existing one... I figured if it was going to have to be busted loose, it would be better at a Firestone than on the road.

 

[B-train]

This idea is nice in practice because it prevents a 75 lb bouncing ball from going down the highway into someone's windshield. The older c/k trucks and I think early 2000's didn't have the safety latch......I ended up with a 6 lug spare in my yard from a 90's Era chevy that some guy lost.

I had the same issue and I usually buy southern vehicles. I rust proof the heck out of them, but overlooked this little fella. Before a vacation I was doing my check over and couldn't get the tire down. That's when I learned about the safety latch......that was frozen. I was able to use a ratchet wrench and drop the whole assembly on the floor and cut the cable. I now make it a point to drop them annually and spray them down with grease and exercise them.

Now that you've experienced this, you'll see GM trucks and vans with a tire that's literally just hanging in the breeze when going down the road....scary and clueless drivers.

 

[S33k3r]

I was not clear; we replaced the spare, not the holder. And, since 3 of my last 4 purchases were Quadrasteer vehicles, the pickings are slim

 

[Mudsport96]

I had to cit the one on the Tahoe. And i have never tried ti get the Silverado spare down.. guess that is a project for spring.
Ive thought about trying to retrofit the style that is on the 8th and 9th generation ford trucks. Basically it is allthread on one end and a threaded eye bolt on the other and a bar connecting them that just pins the tire to the bottom of the vehicle.

 

[ncalvo]

To get my spare down I lowered it a bit, pushed in with a tool on the safety latch that was catching, then I took the entire assembly off and used a bench grinder to get rid of the safety latch. 4 years later no issues and my tire goes up and down as I want it to

 

[03yukXL]

Just discovered mine was stuck today while trying to replace some steel brake lines. Much easier to do without the spare in place. Had the safety latch catch and only allowed a 2 inch or so drop. Noticed the entire assembly was rusted pretty bad. Got out a 4.5 inch angle grinder and had that thing off in 5 min. Will replace the assembly. comes off with one bolt. Done.