Clonk! Gronk!! $%#^&#@#%

[NETim]

My new to me '14 has (had?) an intermittent and subtle "clonk" noise in the rear when braking and/or accelerating. So tonight while crawling around the truck inspecting the rear suspension and familiarizing myself with it, I noticed the spare tire was dangling ever so slightly.

So then, the fun started.

In order to tighten up the spare tire winch, I had to access the jack under the passenger seat. Unfortunately, the screw that retains the jack was very difficult to remove. It was rusty. It is fine pitch. It is 14" long. (Maybe a slight exaggeration.) But it is fine pitch and was rusty.

I had to back it out with various tools and sailor talk. It took much longer than I liked.

Anyway, I exercised the tire winch a little after I pieced together multipiece shaft that's part of the jack package. Hopefully the "clonk" is gone now. I got underneath the truck to get the shaft to line up with the winch. I suppose it can be done from above but that will involve some luck IMHO.

Now, I will tell you that re-installing the jack retaining screw requires a little patience. After hitting it with a little WD40 to bust the rust, I gave it a coat of antiseize in hopes that if I ever have to use the jack, it will be a little easier. The screw MUST be perfectly aligned as it will crossthread easily. The jack doesn't help with this matter.

But I got it all done and I am now much more familiar with the process. I would not like to fight with this mess on mosquito plagued MN highway some night though.

 

[NJMOPAR]

I keep the jack in a toolbox after experiencing the same fiasco.

 

[RVGuy]

This is part of the reason I use my spare tire while doing my tire rotations. It also gives me the opportunity to inspect the tire, check the tire pressure, and keep the winch that holds it up from seizing.
I usually put it in place of the first tire I removed and then take it back off at the end, instead of leaving that corner in the air on my jack stands.

 

[OCDTech]

So then, the fun started.

I had to access the jack under the passenger seat. Unfortunately, the screw that retains the jack was very difficult to remove. It was rusty. It is fine pitch. It is 14" long. (Maybe a slight exaggeration.) But it is fine pitch and was rusty.

Now, I will tell you that re-installing the jack retaining screw requires a little patience. After hitting it with a little WD40 to bust the rust, I gave it a coat of antiseize in hopes that if I ever have to use the jack, it will be a little easier. The screw MUST be perfectly aligned as it will crossthread easily. The jack doesn't help with this matter.

Think theres a thread or two on this, as a mod, maybe rigging it to do the opposite, make a bolt out of it and just put a nut on the inside under the seat. ( The way it should have been factory.)

 

[NETim]

The spare will be involved in future tire rotations, but I believe I'll cobble together some 3/8ths extensions and a handy cordless tool to run the spare up and down. I'll periodically check the infamous jack hold down bolt and put some good anti seize goo on it. Maybe do the above suggested mod if I can get the proper hardware. Thanks!!!

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

Welcome to the club.
I gained membership on a very rainy Interstate 287 shoulder.
Jack was no problem but couldn't get the spare to lower for a looong time.
Then it got dark.
Finally got spare down. Changed it and threw everything in the bed 'til morning.
You can bet the whole shooting match got lubed up that weekend. Neverseized everything.
Haven't had a flat since.
Oh, did I mention I was in office attire? Yeah.
Again, welcome. It's a club not everyone gets into. Congrats.

 

[JB1]

They revised the jack hold down screw in 2018. I swapped my 2017 to this new version.

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/do...wn-replace-yours-with-the-2018-pieces.146845/