Windstar 2001 spare tire

My post is just to inform about spare tire. I have a 2001 Windstar and I have never down the little spare tire ( never got a flat tire) but I have just bought a new regular wheel and tire to use in place of that small spare. I lift the little cover on the van floor, loosed the nut but unfortunatly, nothing happened under, the spare tire remain sticked under the floor; I have to use a very long pry bar to unsticked the unit from his support and this happen after a few long minutes.

After removing the spare tire from the support, I have paid attention to fill the cable with grease, to be sure I would be able to use the spare in the future without having to use a pry bar. I live in Montreal were they use salt and calcium as road de-icer during winter and this probably make the system more rusted then normal.

Anyway take a look on that, if you do not want to be stuck with a flat tire
and not being able to remove your spare...

I check the spare once a year by lowering it down and greasing everything I can see. I check the tire pressure every six months. I see way too many people on the side of the road with flat tires along with a flat spare. Good tip to pass along catvents.

Yes, a good idea to check the spare - and its pressure - regularly. It helps to position the spare so that the fill valve is easily accessible.

One nice thing about the cable suspension system: It can hold either a full-size or space saver 'donut' spare. I upgraded my Windstar's space saver spare to a full-size spare when I began towing a popup camper. Note that, in general, space saver spares are not rated to tow a trailer.

Hello

On my 95 I can't lower the spare....MN salt/rust. How big of a bar did you need to use?

Regards

Dan

Hello

On my 95 I can't lower the spare....MN salt/rust. How big of a bar did you need to use?

Regards

Danit is a 5 feet long pry bar that I have; I have worked on the driver side, just behind the rear wheel. I have use a little block of wood (between the rail frame and the bar) as I don't want to cause any damage.

You really have to lower this spare tire otherwise it is like not having a spare at all.

I had to replace the spare storage cable-jack on my '99. The cable was mis-spooled from the factory. I was able to drop the mini-spare a few inches and then it locked-up. I had to use some "surgery" to remove the spare and jack (... think rotary tool with grinding discs.)

Luckily, I was also in process of upgrading the spare wheel to a standard size ... and not stopped by the expressway.

TIP: Are you familiar with the rubber loc-edge tumbling mats ... about 3/4" thick, flat, maybe in 2foot squares? They can be tiled together to make comfortable spots in a garage, or wherever.

Anyway, I had an extra piece of this mat material and I put it atop the new standard size spare when installing. The mat material helps cushion the top of the spare against the underbody ... and also acts as a separator when it comes time to lower the spare.

I realy need to check mine. Not looking to good, and I have not had the guts to try it.