Spare tire Held up with nylon cord? '91

[Tony H]

OK I know I know, I've owned this vehicle for 3 years. The day I bought it I was going to drop the Spare and make sure it had air in it and that it operated correctly.
Well 3 years later I did it Sunday. What's the deal, the holding mechanism is basically Clothes Line cord holding the tire up there?

I cranked it down and Had to smack the holding mechanism with a hammer 'cause it was rusted onto the Rim.
Sprayed the heck out of the rotating parts with WD-40. BUT I can't believe it was nylon line.
Am I mistaken? How many tires exit the bottom of these cars woithout warning?

 

[410Fortune]

It is supposed to be a metal cable, not a nylon cord.
My guess is the previous owner replaced the cable with string = no good.

You can find a new winch for your truck in the junk yards.


It is common on older trucks in rust area's to lose the tire even with the metal cable, I would NOT trust string to hold my spare on, I would get this fixed ASAP and leave the tire out of the truck until you do.

Are you sure it is string and not cable?

 

[Tony H]

It sure felt like it. It looked like it had a factoy End holding it on that's why I was so taken back.

It looks like just a few bolts and I can take that winch assembly down. Is that true?
I'm guessing I can re-string it with cable?

 

[Mbrooks420]

It's easy to remove. I replaced the one in my old Explorer. I wouldn't think you could easily take them apart, because I don't remember trying to replace the cable. I'm sure there have been quite a few tires that have fallen off. My brother lost the one from his Blazer, but doesn't have a clue when.

 

[Tony H]

It's been up there at least 3 years. Now that I know it shouldn't be that way. I'm paranoid. I'll get to this Pronto.
Thanks guys

 

[410Fortune]

I suspect when you drop the tire you will find it is actually a metal cable. I cannot imagine anyone stupid enough to re-string this with a nylon cord (we all know anything is possible, see the fun hump day photo's thread)

 

[Tony H]

No worries, I called a collision place (Friend) I know. told him about this. He just happened to have a totalled '92 at his Shop. It was going to a Fire House for them to practice Entry techniques. I went there last night , Grabbed the whole assembly. Wouldn't you know it, the rear window motor assy was busted just like mine. I was hoping to score one for free.

It WAS nylon. OH MAN!!!

 

[410Fortune]

Really? WOW, that coulda killed someone on the highway.

I am not sure what the auto makers were thinking with these winch assemblies, metal= rust. Rust = break, break = tire falls off.

tire falls off on highway = bad.

They still make them like this too....I know a few people who have lost spares.
There should be some sort of safety on there to keep the tire in place no matter what IMO.

 

[Hartman]

Hell the nylon is probably stronger than the stock metal wire.

 

[Stic-o]

i have one I'll sell you cheap. Came off my '99 $5 bucks plus shipping

 

[alexefron]

Hahaha nylon's got a nice stretch before it breaks