Need to resecure my Miata's spare tire

Leonard Cachola · Post by **Leonard Cachola** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:29 pm

While trying to remove my spare tire on Saturday, the bolt securing it seized up. While trying to loosen it up, we broke the weld holding the nut to the bracket in the trunk, which meant the bolt was now spinning freely. Later, while trying to remove it, we broke the bolt that was securing the spare in half. Looking at the bolt, it wasn't cross-threaded or anything - it just seized. Don't know how or why. As a result, there isn't a way to secure my spare tire to the floor of my trunk any more.

Someone suggested I find a welder to re-weld a new nut to the bracket on the trunk floor. If anyone knows anyone who could help me out (or has other suggestions), I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Bob Beamesderfer · Post by **Bob Beamesderfer** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:32 pm

Is there a hole in the floor of the trunk where the original mount was? If so, some threaded rod with an elastic stop-nut on each side of the floor. A piece of aluminum bar stock and a nut on top to hold the spare.

Tom Denham · Post by **Tom Denham** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:12 pm

Leonard,You should locate the necessary nut. then find a muffler shop nearby and have him weld a nut back on there for you. Don't pay anymore than $25.00.

Kevin Price · Post by **Kevin Price** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:28 pm

You could also get a coupler nut from the hardware store and bolt it from the backside using a short bolt and a few washers, then thread your old holddown into that. (A coupling nut looks like a regular nut, but its around an inch long- kind of like a threaded tube that's hex shaped on the outside.) Not as clean as welding up a new nut, but only a $2 fix.

John Coffey · Post by **John Coffey** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 4:52 pm

Or just leave the spare out of the car... just a thought.

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:16 pm

It's why they make Flat Fix in a Can ...

Jeff Shyu · Post by **Jeff Shyu** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:47 pm

Mako Koiwai wrote:It's why they make Flat Fix in a Can ...

your tire guy will HATE you if you show up with a wheel filled with that stuff.

John Coffey · Post by **John Coffey** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 8:52 am

your tire guy will HATE you if you show up with a wheel filled with that stuff.

And if you hand him a $20 he'll shut up.

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:48 am

The original Fix A Flat created a bomb ... that's no longer the case with the new versions.

Bob Beamesderfer · Post by **Bob Beamesderfer** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:40 am

Mako Koiwai wrote:The original Fix A Flat created a bomb ... that's no longer the case with the new versions.

New stuff's water soluble and if you tell them ahead of time they appreciate the heads up.

Mako Koiwai · Post by **Mako Koiwai** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:55 am

I think some of the new ones also come with a sticker that you're suppose to put on the tire

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Need to resecure my Miata's spare tire

Need to resecure my Miata's spare tire

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