Lowering down the spare wheel!!

[matthew]

Hi

Do you have to lower the spare wheel down If so what tool do you use as i know where it goes but seem to be missing the wheel brace but have the jack and the long hinged bit.

Thanks
Matt

[MrMPuk]

It's the end of the long hinged bit you use.

[matthew]

is it. ive only got a half hook at one end for the jack and at the other is a full loop but that does not fit as it seem to have to be a long bar.

[Nighthawk]

Is this on a standard van or a chassis cab?

if it's the Van, you need to use the actual wheel brace, stick the pointy end through the hole in the back bumper and turn anti clockwise to lower.

Chassis cabs are similar, but your long jack handle has a flat section to locate in the carrier winder.

[Lee J]

or do what I did and stick a chisel in there! I lost the jack and the wheel brace.

[matthew]

i will give it a go, it need to be a long wheel brace as i have the rear bumper with the built in step.

[stevew]

I remember having a huge struggle with this on our works van (MK6). As I recall it was possible to lower it slightly wonky and then it would catch on something and never get any lower. It's a bit vague i my memory but I think that we eventually got it out by winding it all the way back up as far as it would go and then carefully down keeping it straight.

EDIT: Now I remember. The wheel is held up under the van by both the cable and a safety catch. The catch is released by pushing the tool into the hole. BUT if the cable is lowered slightly without releasing the catch the it jams and cannot be released. This happens if someone tries to lower the wheel just using a srewdriver or something.
Good luck!

Steve

[matthew]

thanks for all your help, i have mangaed to sort it out by buying a wheel brace with the end that fits the winder if you see what i mean, cost £10 but its all sorted now.......I think


Cheers

[Gunslinger]

nice to see its not just us with older vans that have spare wheel issues (and no surprise ford has managed to botch it again) ..... this is exactly why i fitted an LDV carrier to the rear of my mk2