I had not lowered my spare in 5 or 6 years, and that baby was STUCK. I took the head off a two-pound hammer and kept hitting the wings until they finally retracted. Keeping in mind that you are working by feel since you can't see anything inside the wheel. Thanks to your video I at least had an idea of what I was trying to accomplish. Thank you very much. jim
Having the same problem with a 2005 dodge ram. will stop by and pick up socket tomorrow and give it a go. Nice additional info about those clips on the tire holder. I have watched a lot of videos this is the best one i seen so far. Thanks.
Yes, I have this exact problem. This is the first and only video on RUclips that I have come across to show me how that thing works. Awesome man, thanks.
Had my 2005 Dodge Dakota and just got to have your problem. service people did not know what to do. Thanks to your video, my spare will not go in the garage as my wife wants. Mine had a lock frozen on it as well. Found the key(mirical of miricals) but fourteen year of corrosion. Tapped with a hammer to loosen rust and the darn thing fell down. Broke away from plate. Had to cut off with a saw to be able to change tire.
The female side of the extension for the jack handle fits perfectly on the socket to lower the tire. The tool is in the pack that comes with the jack. You can even use the extensions to make a handle to lower and raise the wheel.
Thanks . I did not know that. Just recently bought a 2005 4×4 Dodge quad cab been sitting for 2 months w/ 133K for $ 3800. Great to know jack handle end is designed for letting tire down.
Thanks for the vid. I am mechanically dumb. If it weren’t for this vid I would still be out there trying to find an invisible hook with the loop on the extender that is meant for the jack. God bless.
I recently acquired a 1998 Dodge Dakota that I'm fixing up enough to drive around. However, when I saw how the tire released with a mechanism similar to this one, I wondered how easily it would be to release. Fortunately, I have one that did not have the fingers that can seize up with rusting.
So very cool that you made this to share. Very informative and descriptive. I have this problem and now feel able to correct it (saving a load of money I"m sure). Rock on - thanks again.
05 Dakota here. I cant get the square to fit in there and undo it ! Probably needs some penetrating lube but of course can’t get to it since the spare is in the way. And this sounds like same problems as me with ours. Rusty damn truck
Most likely your jack handle is under the rear seat on drivers side . Cut a hole in the carpet just as it is on passage side, added plus you got storage under the seat too.
2005 Dakota Laramie Club Cab - Jack handle sections are stowed underneath passenger side rear jump seat. Need to open a small access panel to remove jack handle.
Got mine working but not sure how to position tire--put tire on ground with stem side down and feed winch wings through center hole OR put tire on ground with stem side up and feed winch wings The truck came without a spare so I can not copy
Update to all. I was able to spray some PB blaster in there on the square. Shortly after I was able to break it loose. But now it lowers just a bit. Not sure if that is normal. Working on the next step. Get some penetrating oil sprayed on there first
Stop the video at 5:24. There are 2 flat metal pieces between the 2 plastic ones. Those are the bottoms of the 2 "hooks". Those can be pushed up to retract the hooks. However, the wheel retainer has to be lifted just enough for the hooks to clear the mount for the hooks to retract. Lower the cable about 6 inches lower than the retainer. Lift and support the wheel about 2" from it's hanging (stuck) position. Spray lube up into the bottom of the retainer. Push the retainer up about 3/4" into the mount and using a flat screwdriver, push the bottoms of the hooks up to retract them from the retaining position. The retainer will now drop free from the mount. Lower the tire back down onto the retainer and resume lowering it with the tool. I have designed a simple helper tool to eliminate that issue. A 1" long piece of metal tubing (or longer but not too long...it just needs to be long enough to work with in that tight space) with a slit big enough to fit the tubing past the cable. The tubing diameter must be large enough to push the bottoms of both hooks but small enough to clear the plastic pieces. Lower the cable until the wheel rests on the hooks and hangs just low enough to slip the "tool" in place between the washer on the cable and the retainer. Raise the cable up so that the tool seats against the retainer hook bottoms. Raise it another 1/2" to 3/4" to cause the hooks to retract. Then you can lower the wheel to the ground. Keep the tool in your glove compartment. I have had mechanics charge extra because they couldn't get the spare tire down out of the way. That will never be an issue again. :-)
Just used this video as a tutorial yesterday. To free up the release hooks i used a wire rotary brush on a drill to remove the excess rust. After that I let it soak in a tray of original PB Blaster for a few hours. I repeated this process several times, each time tapping the hooks in and out several times. I left the mechanism soak overnight in the tray of PB and it was like new this morning. 7 dollars to fix it vs 80 for a replacement cable mechanism. blastercorp.com/product/pb-blaster-penetrant/
Habitats Finest explains how you find the jack and extension under your back seat. He then explains how the female end of your extension is what fits that socket to lower your spare. Just F.Y.I you shouldn't have to buy a special socket. Goodluck!
imagine? if your a woman! with a flat? ya got kids in the rig? and its raining or worse? IT'S dark! who thought this up? heaven forbid shes wearing a nice dress😳
I had to drop it down and use a long screwdriver and hammer between the tailgate and bumper. I prelubricated it with original PB Blaster. See my comment I just made. Went full detail.
When you're stuck on the side of the road and have a flat and are just trying to find what end of the tools that come with the truck goes in to lower the spare, all there is are rambling bumbling idiots that waste a lot of time saying a whole lot of nothing. But that seems to be the same for any dodge Dakota video I find on anything.
Авто/Мото
I had not lowered my spare in 5 or 6 years, and that baby was STUCK. I took the head off a two-pound hammer and kept hitting the wings until they finally retracted. Keeping in mind that you are working by feel since you can't see anything inside the wheel. Thanks to your video I at least had an idea of what I was trying to accomplish. Thank you very much. jim
They got you first in line, and now I know why. Great video, I was already tapping with my hammer, and I already sprayed it with PB blaster.
You just saved mine and my husband's life! We could not figure out what was going on and finally were able to get that little prong to go in!!!!
Having the same problem with a 2005 dodge ram. will stop by and pick up socket tomorrow and give it a go. Nice additional info about those clips on the tire holder. I have watched a lot of videos this is the best one i seen so far. Thanks.
Yes, I have this exact problem. This is the first and only video on RUclips that I have come across to show me how that thing works. Awesome man, thanks.
I hope this helped you figure out the mechanism. It's certainly a problem when they rust out.
Had my 2005 Dodge Dakota and just got to have your problem. service people did not know what to do. Thanks to your video, my spare will not go in the garage as my wife wants. Mine had a lock frozen on it as well. Found the key(mirical of miricals) but fourteen year of corrosion. Tapped with a hammer to loosen rust and the darn thing fell down. Broke away from plate. Had to cut off with a saw to be able to change tire.
Sometimes that's the only option.
Mine is seized up there. Cannot turn the mechanical square deal. Where should I cut to get it out
The female side of the extension for the jack handle fits perfectly on the socket to lower the tire. The tool is in the pack that comes with the jack. You can even use the extensions to make a handle to lower and raise the wheel.
Thanks . I did not know that. Just recently bought a 2005 4×4 Dodge quad cab been sitting for 2 months w/ 133K
for $ 3800. Great to know jack handle end is designed for letting tire down.
That's right I have 2005 4x4 V8 113k 👍
Thanks for the vid. I am mechanically dumb. If it weren’t for this vid I would still be out there trying to find an invisible hook with the loop on the extender that is meant for the jack. God bless.
Appreciate this video, so hard to see how the mechanism works with the tire so tight up there
Thanks for taking the time to share! Great job!
Just the video I was looking for hopefully I have long enough extensions and I’ll get a 1/2 inch socket in there. Thanks
That really helped out. Thanks for putting in the work to help others!
I recently acquired a 1998 Dodge Dakota that I'm fixing up enough to drive around. However, when I saw how the tire released with a mechanism similar to this one, I wondered how easily it would be to release. Fortunately, I have one that did not have the fingers that can seize up with rusting.
Thanks. That was very helpful being a new 2008 Dakota 4x4 owner.
So very cool that you made this to share. Very informative and descriptive. I have this problem and now feel able to correct it (saving a load of money I"m sure). Rock on - thanks again.
Thanks Marcus. Good luck with it.
05 Dakota here. I cant get the square to fit in there and undo it ! Probably needs some penetrating lube but of course can’t get to it since the spare is in the way. And this sounds like same problems as me with ours. Rusty damn truck
Most likely your jack handle is under the rear seat on drivers side . Cut a hole in the carpet just as it is on passage side, added plus you got storage under the seat too.
2005 Dakota Laramie Club Cab - Jack handle sections are stowed underneath passenger side rear jump seat. Need to open a small access panel to remove jack handle.
Thanks...very instructive. Shame you hv to bellycrawl to lower the spare. Do the ear prongs always need 2 B pushed in
ALWAYS? Thanks
Thanks, nice video & informative. I'm sure it will help others
Exactly what happened to me on a cold rainy morning. Can you get your hand in there to release it easily?
Got mine working but not sure how to position tire--put tire on ground with stem side down and feed winch wings through center hole OR put tire on ground with stem side up and feed winch wings The truck came without a spare so I can not copy
Great video. Crappy design. About to cut mine off with torch.
Update to all. I was able to spray some PB blaster in there on the square. Shortly after I was able to break it loose. But now it lowers just a bit. Not sure if that is normal. Working on the next step. Get some penetrating oil sprayed on there first
Stop the video at 5:24. There are 2 flat metal pieces between the 2 plastic ones. Those are the bottoms of the 2 "hooks". Those can be pushed up to retract the hooks. However, the wheel retainer has to be lifted just enough for the hooks to clear the mount for the hooks to retract. Lower the cable about 6 inches lower than the retainer. Lift and support the wheel about 2" from it's hanging (stuck) position. Spray lube up into the bottom of the retainer. Push the retainer up about 3/4" into the mount and using a flat screwdriver, push the bottoms of the hooks up to retract them from the retaining position. The retainer will now drop free from the mount. Lower the tire back down onto the retainer and resume lowering it with the tool.
I have designed a simple helper tool to eliminate that issue. A 1" long piece of metal tubing (or longer but not too long...it just needs to be long enough to work with in that tight space) with a slit big enough to fit the tubing past the cable. The tubing diameter must be large enough to push the bottoms of both hooks but small enough to clear the plastic pieces.
Lower the cable until the wheel rests on the hooks and hangs just low enough to slip the "tool" in place between the washer on the cable and the retainer. Raise the cable up so that the tool seats against the retainer hook bottoms. Raise it another 1/2" to 3/4" to cause the hooks to retract. Then you can lower the wheel to the ground. Keep the tool in your glove compartment.
I have had mechanics charge extra because they couldn't get the spare tire down out of the way. That will never be an issue again. :-)
What is the outside diameter of the tubing?
I cannot get it to turn left and lower the tire ! Must be seized ! Any ideas wha to do next to get it out of there
So you have to have that square drive with you when you’re stuck out on the road?
Thank you!
My 03 doesn't have claws nor does it take a socket. It has a proprietary anti theft key like a lug nut. Don't ask me why.
Just used this video as a tutorial yesterday. To free up the release hooks i used a wire rotary brush on a drill to remove the excess rust. After that I let it soak in a tray of original PB Blaster for a few hours. I repeated this process several times, each time tapping the hooks in and out several times. I left the mechanism soak overnight in the tray of PB and it was like new this morning. 7 dollars to fix it vs 80 for a replacement cable mechanism.
blastercorp.com/product/pb-blaster-penetrant/
Good deal. The smallest bit of rust and that thing is locked up. Thanks for the tip.
Thank you. I am not looking forward to any of that, but it will happen.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya.
How on EARTH are you supposed to be able to do this on the road if you get a flat?!
Thank you for the info.
great video.... thanks
Think you you fix my problem
Hell on Earth do you push those rusted safety catch pieces into lower the tire if you got a tire on there?
How about reinstalling a spare tire back onto it?
Habitats Finest explains how you find the jack and extension under your back seat. He then explains how the female end of your extension is what fits that socket to lower your spare. Just F.Y.I you shouldn't have to buy a special socket. Goodluck!
Terrific ~ Thanks!
imagine? if your a woman! with a flat? ya got kids in the rig? and its raining or worse? IT'S dark! who thought this up? heaven forbid shes wearing a nice dress😳
How did you get your hand up there though?
I had to drop it down and use a long screwdriver and hammer between the tailgate and bumper. I prelubricated it with original PB Blaster. See my comment I just made. Went full detail.
Easy fix..after removing spare..cut cable toss spare in back of truck and go. I hate these cable systems
I'm with ya! Terrible design. And all the manufactures do it!
When you're stuck on the side of the road and have a flat and are just trying to find what end of the tools that come with the truck goes in to lower the spare, all there is are rambling bumbling idiots that waste a lot of time saying a whole lot of nothing. But that seems to be the same for any dodge Dakota video I find on anything.
1/2 inch square drive. Just like I mentioned in the video.
Cool NFOŚiGW thx
Follow the 10 commandments Christian’s and ask for forgiveness and repent from your sins
100%
I broke mine
It's not hard to break when they're frozen up.
Useless like all Chryslers
You talk too much
Well, you suck. Move along troll
Thank you 💞💞
It’s not working :(
Thank you very much.