Impossible to remove spare wheel from boot.

joseph brand

Hi all,

There's probably a really simple fix to this.


The bolt that holds in the spare wheel will just turn and turn and turn without becoming loose. I've even (in a fit of rage) started turning the whole wheel anit-clockwise, to no avail. I'm just trying to dry the spare wheel well, as water accumulates in there somehow unfortunately. (I'm not stuck on the side of the road or anything).

Anyone know how to get this bolt out?

Riskymove

make and model?

patmahe

Can you get at it from underneath and hold with a spanner/vicegrips while someone else undoes the nut?

Hard to know without a photo of exactly what you are dealing with though.

biko

Is it an old car?
What make/model/year?
It sounds like the bolt has rusted loose and the base of it just rotates along with the rest of it.

You can try grabbing the bolt with grips and see if you can hold the bolt while undoing the nut.
Be careful to not squash the threads if you hold the bolt above the nut.

Spray mucho penetrating oil on nut first

Possibly use an angle grinder to cut the nut away.

antodeco

Some have weird Locking mechanisms that you need to push down hard and turn (the bolt is basically under the car and it drops down via cable).

It's not a Renault by any chance?

joseph brand

Riskymove wrote: »

make and model?

Sorry I forgot to mention it.

2006 Mazda 3. 1.6 petrol.

joseph brand

patmahe wrote: »

Can you get at it from underneath and hold with a spanner/vicegrips while someone else undoes the nut?

Hard to know without a photo of exactly what you are dealing with though.

Nope.

When I put my hands under the spare wheel, my hands get covered in this slime, which I think is there from the stagnant water.

I was trying to force the wheel upwards (lever under spare wheel) while I turned the bolt. Nothing! And being down in the wheel well, it's not easy to work with.

It seems to me that whatever the bolt is screwed into, has come loose and just spins around with the bolt. Oh joy!

the_pen_turner

have you a pic of the boot and the underside of the car

joseph brand

the_pen_turner wrote: »

have you a pic of the boot and the underside of the car

Here's a pic of the boot

corks finest

joseph brand wrote: »

patmahe wrote: »

Can you get at it from underneath and hold with a spanner/vicegrips while someone else undoes the nut?

Hard to know without a photo of exactly what you are dealing with though.

Nope.

When I put my hands under the spare wheel, my hands get covered in this slime, which I think is there from the stagnant water.

I was trying to force the wheel upwards (lever under spare wheel) while I turned the bolt. Nothing! And being down in the wheel well, it's not easy to work with.

It seems to me that whatever the bolt is screwed into, has come loose and just spins around with the bolt. Oh joy!

Grinder time

Spook_ie

Grinder remove head of bolt, remove wheel and likely repair patch welded to rusty boot floor

mickdw

You could butcher out that metal plate on top of wheel by drilling a few holes around bolt head. Wheel will then come out and reveal all.

Isambard

sounds like a captive bolt has broken loose. Grinder is the solution, protect your glass though as the sparks will ruin it

two wheels good

mickdw wrote: »

You could butcher out that metal plate on top of wheel by drilling a few holes around bolt head. Wheel will then come out and reveal all.

Good one. Or Lildi have hole-saws for sale at the moment.

CJhaughey

It will be easier to replace the bolt than the metal plate.
I would drill the head of the bolt off with progressively larger drill bits and then fix the plate on the floor with the captive nut that has broken loose.

monseiur

As someone suggested use a hole saw that's say 2mm bigger than the bolt.
If you can't get your hands on a similar recessed plate, just fit a longer bolt and use a piece of 6mm ply instead of plate - it will have the added benefit that if you have the same problem again the ply will be much easier to cut through.
M.