Spare wheel carrier screw rusted solid. SOLUTION, post #14

[StuBeeDoo]

Afternoon all.

Wor Lass got a puncture the other day and I couldn't get the spare out.  What a frakkin' stupid idea that screw head is!?!?!!!    I had to leave the car at the side of the road, on the jack, while I took the wheel to the tyre place in the BMW.

So I've spent all this morning fighting with the rusted thread and even after emptying half a can of Crack-It on, it still won't budge.  Any option for removing it, other than to cut it with my trusty angle-grinder?

I'll have to get a new one from the dealer, and I'm wondering about having a nut the same size as the wheel bolts welded to the head before I fit it, so that it can be wound with the wheel brace.  Any thoughts on this??  I also need to make a mental note to remember to wind the carrier up and down, and oil it, on a regular basis.  In 40-odd years driving I've never had a car with an external spare wheel before.  I guess it's because it's really a van.

TIA
Stuart.

[3rensho]

That is a known problem. I grease mine whenever I change from summer to winter tyres and vice versa. There was someone on the forum that had made some out of stainless steel and was selling them. Good idea.

[Johny555]

Its common mines the same I just put a jack under it to take the load then fiddle with a bit then comes off,no chance trying to free the threads,

[Solent]

Sorry to say it but it's down to lack of maintenence.
If the wheel was dropped once a year, checked over, the steel wheel and carrier threads given a light coat of anti corrosion spray (I prefer ACF-50) there wouldn't be a problem.

[StuBeeDoo]

Sorry to say it but it's down to lack of maintenence.
If the wheel was dropped once a year, checked over, the steel wheel and carrier threads given a light coat of anti corrosion spray (I prefer ACF-50) there wouldn't be a problem.

Thanks for that.  I wasn't aware that there isn't a well in the boot as it's not my car, so consequently I've never bothered to ask the garage to ensure they attend to the spare wheel carrier when they service the car.  I'm not in the habit of crawling on the ground underneath vehicles because my ageing body doesn't like it.  OK so I did it this morning, trying to get the spare out, but hell am I paying for it now.  In fact, it's that bad that I've told Wor Lass that I'll source a new screw from Citroen, but she'll have to get the local garage to sort it.

[Solent]

It wasn't meant as a criticism on your part Stu, no offence intended.

I'm a mechanic and on a daily basis I see where the 'service list' is followed by garages to the letter. Change oil & filter, top up washer fluid etc.
The customer has a lovely, and expensive, stamp in the service book yet many important things such as your spare wheel carrier get totally ignored.

[StuBeeDoo]

It wasn't meant as a criticism on your part Stu, no offence intended.

I'm a mechanic and on a daily basis I see where the 'service list' is followed by garages to the letter. Change oil & filter, top up washer fluid etc.
The customer has a lovely, and expensive, stamp in the service book yet many important things such as your spare wheel carrier get totally ignored.

Sorry for going off on one, but the pain-killers haven't kicked-in yet. I get the impression you have the same opinion as me on service stamps......... They're worth jack.

[raynoon]

Mine is the same, my Citroen XM's are the same design too, although the hook is mounted on the opposite side on the carrier and I've never encountered a problem removing them.

[Peter Guy]

I had this on my picasso, only option was to angle grind it off, and ordred a new one off Ebay which has a cast hook, less likely to rust, still greased it well b4 fitting.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-Xsara-...yZJpO6kewg

[landcrab]

why do they put that stupid slot in it .pain in the ass to undo.