Service your “tuck-under” spare tire lift
1 of 1Photo 1: Lubricate the lift cable
Soak a stuck spare tire lift with rust penetrant. Tap the T-bar to set up rust-busting
vibrations.
Most trucks, vans and SUVs stow the
spare tire under the vehicle. It's a great
space-saving idea, but one that doesn't
always work well in the real world.
The corrosive brew of road salt, mud
and sand usually eats away at the tire
lift's metal components, rendering the
lift unusable when you need it most.
Picture yourself with a flat tire at the
side of the road—in a storm, of course.
You can prevent that nightmare by
checking your spare tire lift right now,
in the comfort of your garage. If you
don't know how to lower the spare
tire, consult your owner's manual.
Check to make sure you still have the
factory cranking tools. Now is the time
to get any replacement parts.
Start by raising your vehicle and
supporting it with jack stands. Try
lowering the spare tire. If it's stuck,
shoot spray rust penetrant through the
wheel openings to saturate the lift.
