spare tire winch socket

[pizzabooty]

weird question, and i wasnt sure how to word the thread title, so bare with me.

i'm a professional mechanic and a lot of times come into contact with spare tires that have to be lowered to the ground from under the car (although usually, i'm lifting them back up lol). it is definitely a hassle needing to use the kit that comes with the car to lower the winch and then lift it back up, so i was considering buying a female pipe plug socket to do the job with an impact.

in the past, i've used 12pt sockets, typically either 13-14mm, but that's sketchy at best so i was just wondering: has anybody else had this crazy idea? if so, have you found a specific size of socket to be more or less used?

 

[4xdog]

For some inexplicable reason, my Lexus RX spare tire winch -- inside the car -- has a pentagonal head and a special socket. I'm guessing -- hoping even -- that crazy system isn't common?

 

[pizzabooty]

For some inexplicable reason, my Lexus RX spare tire winch -- inside the car -- has a pentagonal head and a special socket. I'm guessing -- hoping even -- that crazy system isn't common?

i've seen this before! i think i've seen it on a couple toyotas, so that tracks. it's very uncommon though.

 

[retDAC]

For some inexplicable reason, my Lexus RX spare tire winch -- inside the car -- has a pentagonal head and a special socket. I'm guessing -- hoping even -- that crazy system isn't common?

Toyota started that on some cars with winches. Even had a recall to replace the hardware to 5 point. Tire techs were using impacts and damaging the 6 point hardware.
Friend had an '06? Sienna he bought used. After a few years he needed to change a flat and discovered he lacked the special socket!

 

[PelicanPines]

Don't use an impact... Use a drill. The impact will damage the mechanism.

 

[3baygarage]

All I can say is the Transit Van I drive has a female square, so male socket would do the trick. It's been a while since I dropped the wheel and can't remember if a 1/2" extension would fit or if it's larger.

That said, the tool kit *****. The bottle jack barely works. The 4 or 5 snap together extension jack handle is nonsense. I have to go secure the jack today as my coworker just had a flat and apparently left it flopping around under the seat.

 

[Badger 13]

I have a Steelman" spare tire removal tool for my truck. They make them in different sizes. This might be food for thought.

7-Piece Spare Tire Retrieval Tool Kit for Mechanics

The STEELMAN 7-Piece Spare Tire Retrieval Tool Kit allows you to remove cradle-suspended spare tires from a variety of vehicles quickly. Each powder-coated, 30-inch long carbon steel tool features a unique head.

steelmantools.com

 

[kjbenner]

There's this kit that I came across at one point: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FABVHWY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I don't think it's terribly universal, since my Toyota takes an 11mm square, and there's not pentagonal drive that others have already mentioned.

Edit: looks like Badger 13 posted the same thing just before I did.

 

[PelicanPines]

I have a Steelman" spare tire removal tool for my truck. They make them in different sizes. This might be food for thought.

7-Piece Spare Tire Retrieval Tool Kit for Mechanics

The STEELMAN 7-Piece Spare Tire Retrieval Tool Kit allows you to remove cradle-suspended spare tires from a variety of vehicles quickly. Each powder-coated, 30-inch long carbon steel tool features a unique head.

steelmantools.com

Again... on the holder for that set... "DO NOT USE WITH IMPACT"

Nice set by the way

 

[Damon L.]

I just chuck the factory stuff in a 1/2" drill.

 

[mervyn]

For some inexplicable reason, my Lexus RX spare tire winch -- inside the car -- has a pentagonal head and a special socket. I'm guessing -- hoping even -- that crazy system isn't common?

That's a Lexus / Toyota thing. They don't all have it though. I hated those things.

 

[4xdog]

For some inexplicable reason, my Lexus RX spare tire winch -- inside the car -- has a pentagonal head and a special socket. I'm guessing -- hoping even -- that crazy system isn't common?

...Tire techs were using impacts and damaging the 6 point hardware...

Don't use an impact... Use a drill. The impact will damage the mechanism.

That's the best explanation I've heard yet for why the winch has a pentagon-head nut! Also why the special socket has a large ring at the top -- not only to fit the crank, but to make it harder to somehow chuck it.

Thanks, guys.

 

[rust in the eye]

For some inexplicable reason, my Lexus RX spare tire winch -- inside the car -- has a pentagonal head and a special socket. I'm guessing -- hoping even -- that crazy system isn't common?

Just to piss off Chrysler?