Spare Tire + Rust + Gravity

[TT4RLtdV8]

So at 141k miles and being a Northeast Ohio truck, I've got some rust going on underneath.

Realized that the spare tire on this thing 1) was the still new (had the sticker on it) OEM Michelin and 2) had an OEM wheel on it. So I got curious as to what condition it was in, and started to attempt to take it down.

After half a can of WD40, the bolt for the pulley turned three times. Then the tire free fell from the back and on to the driveway. Taking the whole assembly with it. The wires were totally rusted and it just snapped.

So do I replace the pulley assembly? Or do I look at a bolt on/up option where the tire is physically mounted to the underside?

 

[08T4R]

I've seen some that have replaced the whole assy. Might find a good used one at a junkyard or eBay. Only other option is dealer. I've tried to find a way to secure it using another method to prevent it from falling off going down the highway. No such luck.

 

[04_4runner]

I had the one on my 04 replaced a month ago. Exactly the same symptoms as yours, original tire/rim frayed cable that could no longer support the tire. I switched to larger tires and was looking to check out / upgrade the spare. I ended up having the dealer do the replacement, but I was going to do it myself. I found that this place had the Toyota OEM assembly for $98:
CARRIER ASSY, SPARE WHEEL. 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER # 5190035380

 

[Bob J]

Had to do mine a couple of weeks back..... Cable didn't break but got pinched and was very deformed and the entire assembly was a ball of rust.... Couldn't get the bolts out due the the rust and overall difficulty getting to the bolt heads.... Major PIA.... Was scheduled for my 90K service so had the dealer go ahead and replace it.... Guess it was a good call since the dealer told me they had to torch the bolts to get them out.... New assembly is a chain/sprocket assy which looks to be much more reliable than the old cable design....

 

[aha2988]

your welcome to purchase mine for shipping cost and a small price I don't use mine as the tire size i run doesn't fit. Need to get it out of the way for a relocated gas tank anyway.

shoot me a PM if your interested. I can't speak of it's condition I'll check it out this afternoon to make sure there isn't anything wrong with it and clean it up. but it hasn't seen the salt being here in NC.

 

[TT4RLtdV8]

Thanks aha.... yeah let me know what it looks like/picture and I'll see about it... my 21st b day is on Thursday... I might sell my 911 (restored in high school) for a rear carrier... among other 4runner fun things as a present for myself haha

Or keep it and continue scrubbing oil off the garage floor... damn german cars...

 

[sven]

...Was scheduled for my 90K service so had the dealer go ahead and replace it....

...New assembly is a chain/sprocket assy which looks to be much more reliable than the old cable design....

Bob J,

Could you please post the part number for the chain/sprocket assembly from your service invoice? I called the parts department at my local dealer and they could only find the cable version. Thanks.

 

[eddiebx]

Problem solved...:behindsofa:

 

[Bob J]

Bob J,

Could you please post the part number for the chain/sprocket assembly from your service invoice? I called the parts department at my local dealer and they could only find the cable version. Thanks.

No problem.... I got mine off partznet and had my dealer install it....

Spare Tire Carrier

Part number is 5190060280 (body hardware, spare tire carrier, carrier & components, spare carrier)

 

[Zuke]

My T100 (same cable type spare tire carrier) let go while driving down the road at 35mph. I heard a noise and looked in my rear view mirror to see people swerving around a tire in the road. I thought to myself wow I didn't see that tire in the road... then it made sense.

I believe some Toyota models had recalls on these types of carriers for rust prone states. I don't believe our T4R are under that recall.

 

[TechWrench]

I couldn't find it right away, but there are at least several threads on this issue. As I recall, Toyota recently changed the lift mechanism from the cable/pulley type, back to the chain/sprocket type. Probably because of the number of failures of the cable type. I replaced mine about 4 years ago, and at that time they were still stocking the cable type. Removing the 6 mounting bolts was the most difficult part of the process. I had to use a chisel to cut the bolts off and install the new one with new bolts. I coated the new cable with never-seize, and haven't had a problem so far. But, I also remove my spare at least once a year (for tire rotation), so that helps with keeping it working.

 

[unfrozen_caveman]

I just bent the end of my jack handle trying to loosen the stupid thing. Time to find a wire cutter and get this thing off for good. What's the best rear or top mounted spare carrier?