Hey all....yep, I'm an official newbie (yes, I've watched the cool video, and yes , I've searched to see if this topic has been adressed! But feel free to spank me anyway if I missed it!).

K, recently bought a 95 runner, and just now got around to trying to get the spare down. Now, I've done this before, I used to work at a Toyota dealer. But now I'm stumped....

Whatever linkage is supposed to go from the crank(where the long rod fits in) to the winch itself (with the chain, etc.), appears to be, well, missing. So you can turn the crank all you want but it's not connected to the winch, so nothing happens.

Any ideas as to how else one could lower the tire, so that perhaps this could be fixed? Pretty hard to get at it with the tire up there!!

 

hmmmmm may have to cut it out... hopefully someone will chime in with an "ah ha!" but if not, I'd get the cut-off wheel out.

The good news, you found out you cant get it down before you needed it...

 

Yeah, my linkage was broken on my '93. I let most of the air out of the spare, so that I could move it around a bit, then I got creative with my dremel tool to get the tire down. I had to cut the cable. Now my spare lives strapped down in the cargo area.

 

There's supposed to be a shaft between there unless it's been replaced with a chain type out of a truck. If so, the rod would go straight in instead of at an angle. I did this on mine because the little gearbox over on the side was rusted all to hell. I used the deflation method described above. Worst part was the valve stem was up - made it a little tricky!

I would be willing to sell my chaindrive one if you're interested...

 

k, so maybe the previous owner did replace it with the chain type, coz I can see the chain in the winch(there used to be a cable???).....but the tire is blocking the rod from goin straight in. And Geez, why didn't I think of deflating the sucker?????

.......curious as to why Toyota changed this, I know the older ones just went straight in to the winch....grrrrrrr....when I first tried to crank it down I couldn't believe I had to go at an angle with it.....

Thanks for the help,guys.......and if I do end up needing a chain winch, I'll holler...thx.

 

i just cut my tire down cuz the linkage was siezed. now its held on by ratchet straps!

 

I did it redneck style... Had a buddy lay underneath the spare and hang from it while I attacked with the bolt cutters... Hilarious...

Anyway, I took the whole assembly out... spare's in the bed until I find better means to mount.

 

hope he was'nt somebody you liked raven lol...

tc would the chaindrive fit my '94 or does it have the shaft drive for the 4runner? if it would work I'm interested (so long as it ain't too rusty heh heh)
I'm running spare-less right now... already got me onto trouble once...

 

Hey guys as long as we're on this topic, I recently was lowering my spare to "demonstrate" to someone, and it would only lower about half way. This isn't normal is it? I have a warrantee and I'm more then happy to use it.

I'm going to go tell them that my g/f got stranded because this thing didn't perform. lol j/k "Thou shall not lie" but I will bring it up if it's not working correctly...?

 

It fits and works fine on my '93 runner so it should work on yours... the rod will go straight in now instead of at an angle. The little gearbox that is so exposed to the elements won't be a factor anymore.

It was basically brand new when I got it, and I greased it up well, it should last for a long time. Since everything is above the tire, it's a little better protected from the elements.

 

pm sent

 

Mine was a pita to get off. i gave up and threw a tow strap round the spare and a tree.....worked well with me haha