Jack bolt mod

[wink]

After seeing the other threads on the jack bolt corrosion issue, I went out and checked mine. My truck is extremely clean underneath and not even any dirt on the threads. It unscrewed easily with my fingers. I put a little white grease on it and screwed it back in. That's all that was needed. However I still didn't like the fact it sticks out underneath. I don't want to be crawling around under there and stab my head on it. So I reengineered it, and hopefully will never have to think about it again.

Checked around the metroplex, and seems only Home Depot stocks M6 hardware. Found one on their site and went to get it. ******** show all thread on the site, but they're actually shoulder bolts. Which won't work. So I compromised and got a flathead Phillips screw that was almost long enough. Needed maybe another 10 mm, though it would work if you forced the jack down while putting the wing nut on.

I spotted another hole towards the back, that also goes all the way though the floor, and is open to water, or whatever. My jack was secured in the front hole from the factory. But the rear hole is slightly elevated, so my screw worked fine. I also like it secured in back as it gives a little room under the seat for stuff. With it in the front hole, the jack pretty much dominates the space. Not sure what the rear hole is/was for... I put a short capscrew in the front hole, from underneath, so both are sealed now.

So put the screw in from underneath and put a lock washer and nut on the inside. It ain't going nowhere. Works great, but I think I'll add a washer to go under the wing nut. Works fine as is though.

wink



Front hole, not used now.

 

[OCDTech]

^^^^This, the way it should have been done in the first place. Good mod!

 

[b-rock]

After seeing the other threads on the jack bolt corrosion issue, I went out and checked mine. My truck is extremely clean underneath and not even any dirt on the threads. It unscrewed easily with my fingers. I put a little white grease on it and screwed it back in. That's all that was needed. However I still didn't like the fact it sticks out underneath. I don't want to be crawling around under there and stab my head on it. So I reengineered it, and hopefully will never have to think about it again.

Checked around the metroplex, and seems only Home Depot stocks M6 hardware. Found one on their site and went to get it. ******** show all thread on the site, but they're actually shoulder bolts. Which won't work. So I compromised and got a flathead Phillips screw that was almost long enough. Needed maybe another 10 mm, though it would work if you forced the jack down while putting the wing nut on.

I spotted another hole towards the back, that also goes all the way though the floor, and is open to water, or whatever. My jack was secured in the front hole from the factory. But the rear hole is slightly elevated, so my screw worked fine. I also like it secured in back as it gives a little room under the seat for stuff. With it in the front hole, the jack pretty much dominates the space. Not sure what the rear hole is/was for... I put a short capscrew in the front hole, from underneath, so both are sealed now.

So put the screw in from underneath and put a lock washer and nut on the inside. It ain't going nowhere. Works great, but I think I'll add a washer to go under the wing nut. Works fine as is though.

wink



Front hole, not used now.

Good job on the mod. Curious though, is there a reason you couldn't just use the bolt from the factory but install it in the same manner you did with this mod?

I have seen the other threads regarding this topic and if I recall, that seemed to work.

2017 RAM 1500 CC, LoneStar, Black Pearl

 

[wink]

Good job on the mod. Curious though, is there a reason you couldn't just use the bolt from the factory but install it in the same manner you did with this mod?

Thanks!

The OEM bolt works fine. Just grease it up and probably never have to think about it again. And that's what I did, at first. However it still has that center punch like protrusion underneath. An example of poor engineering IMO. So I decided to fix both issues at once. A few bucks for parts, and maybe 5 minutes of my time. It was a worthwhile mod to me. YMMV

The other thing I found during this exercise was the 2nd hole open to the outside. More bad engineering, attention to detail? They could've put a plastic plug or something in there, but didn't care or think to. Who knows how many other holes like that exist? Next time it's on a lift I'll look for others. I just put a 12 mm capscrew in the unused hole, and sealed it. Could've just used a little silicon seal.

I just realized I never said what length bolt/screw you need. I got a 70 mm screw because that's the longest they had. If using the front hole, an 80 mm would work better. Since I used the rear hole I could've used a 60 mm.

wink

 

[wink]

Sorry b-rock, I didn't answer your actual question earlier. I needed to get a pic of the OEM bolt so you can see why it wouldn't work. It's only got around 25 mm of thread and the rest is shoulder. So it would never reach through far enough to reach the jack. But even if it did, I'd just be swapping a stud for two wing nut blades to hit my head on. Plus it would look kind of cheesy to me from underneath. Maybe other models/years use a different bolt, but this is what came in my truck.

wink

 

[kad]

The other thing I found during this exercise was the 2nd hole open to the outside. More bad engineering, attention to detail? They could've put a plastic plug or something in there, but didn't care or think to. Who knows how many other holes like that exist? Next time it's on a lift I'll look for others. I just put a 12 mm capscrew in the unused hole, and sealed it. Could've just used a little silicon seal.

Hmmm.. Now I have to go look for that second hole on mine.

-K

 

[wink]

Hmmm.. Now I have to go look for that second hole on mine.

-K

Be curious to know if yours has it too. Still like the know it's purpose.

wink

 

[Barney556180]

Checked my 2017 Sport Crew: The jack is bolted down at the rearward hole.

At some point the factory made a running change on the jack bolt-down. The carpet is cutout for the forward hole, but that hole is sealed off with some kind of tape.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[wink]

Checked my 2017 Sport Crew: The jack is bolted down at the rearward hole.

At some point the factory made a running change on the jack bolt-down. The carpet is cutout for the forward hole, but that hole is sealed off with some kind of tape.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Weird. Both of mine have carpet cutouts, but the rear was completely open through the floor. Must've been built on Hangover Monday.

wink

 

[JB1]

I changed mine last week, I used a rubber vibration isolator and a wing nut. Mine was always in the hole towards the back, the front has tape over it.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/VV20-20-M6-D...lator-Mounts-/262900415367?_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1

 

[wink]

I changed mine last week, I used a rubber vibration isolator and a wing nut. Mine was always in the hole towards the back, the front has tape over it.

I like that. Good job!

wink

 

[mike19950]

Damn thats a nice setup JB. Where did you find that wing nut?

 

[OCDTech]

Thats it im goin to lowes to stand in the bolt section for a while, dig through all those drawers.

 

[BWL]

I think removing the jack and cleaning and copper coating the bolt has made the annual spring maintenance list.

 

[SYKRAMMAN]

Check McMater Carr, they have almost everything ever needed that nobody can find in a typical big box store.

 

[wink]

And yet another option. I came across this and am going to order one. Don't really like wing nuts, and this is closer to the OEM setup.

https://www.amazon.com/JW-Winco-Pla..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=G0FWGPSRN63TGZBABKPC

wink

 

[kad]

Be curious to know if yours has it too. Still like the know it's purpose.

wink

My 2014 has the extra carpet cutout and hole, but the hole is covered with the same heavy butyle rubber tape that the middle rear seat bolt holes were covered with (I have the one piece rear seat) when I put a fold flat floor in.

-K

 

[JB1]

Maybe the HD trucks take a bigger jack that goes in that front hole

 

[wink]

Maybe the HD trucks take a bigger jack that goes in that front hole

As good an explanation as any. But mine isn't a HD, just a regular Sport. Speaking of the jack. Mine looks pretty small for the job. Though I didn't extend it to see how high it goes.

wink

 

[kad]

As good an explanation as any. But mine isn't a HD, just a regular Sport. Speaking of the jack. Mine looks pretty small for the job. Though I didn't extend it to see how high it goes.
wink

I've used mine once, it just barely got the rear tire far enough off the ground to change it.

-K