Community Forums

tsut · 05-07-2016, 06:09 PM

Unbelievable, but on my recent trip, I noticed, just sitting there on the pads for my two rear jacks were a nut (half inch, maybe) and a 3/16" thick slotted shim (one on each pad). Above both were a bolt (no nut, no shims) and a nut/bolt with another shim (thru hole shim) but with an air gap. The no-nut/no shim side also had an air gap.

These were behind and above the rear axle, and looks to be a frame to house chassis fastening arrangement. Seeking advice on a) how it happened, b) what is right amount of 'shim', and c) how to preclude it from occurring again (besides locktite).

And yes, I'm worried I'm stressing some structure until repaired.

Ford F-53.
2012 Winnebago Vista 35F.
About 22,000 miles.
Cleveland, OH area.

Will do some photos once home.

Thanks.
Tom

Gormleys · 05-08-2016, 08:07 AM

Wow! Now I want to go out and check my jacks! This is the first post that I have seen about anyone discussing this. Any other comments out there?

tsut · 05-09-2016, 06:13 PM

here are the photos (so "up" is to the left, apparently)

Right Rear - I had put the nut back on
Left Rear - you can notice the gap above the nut on bottom
shim - well, its a shim

Again, any thoughts?

Tom

aauummm · 05-09-2016, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsut

here are the photos (so "up" is to the left, apparently)

Right Rear - I had put the nut back on
Left Rear - you can notice the gap above the nut on bottom
shim - well, its a shim

Again, any thoughts?

Tom

My unit is in storage or I would grab a quick picture of my chassis/body-truss connection. I was able to dig up a picture that shows my right side connection although the angle is not too good. The picture was taken for a different project. The view is from the rear wheelwell towards the rear of the MH.

I see no slotted shim below the steel piece that is welded to the chassis so if there is one, it must be on top of that piece and between it and the steel truss member.

Maybe the pic will give you some ideas. It's possible that vibration loosened the bolts or that they weren't tightened in the first place.

aauummm · 05-09-2016, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsut

here are the photos (so "up" is to the left, apparently)

Right Rear - I had put the nut back on
Left Rear - you can notice the gap above the nut on bottom
shim - well, its a shim

Again, any thoughts?

Tom

Found another picture from when I made rear mudflaps. I see no shims on mine and there is no air gap. It appears that your shims were in that air gap and fell out when the bolts loosened. Try to fit the shims in the air gap, they should slide right in if that's where they came from.

RogerRoll · 05-09-2016, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aauummm

It appears that your shims were in that air gap and fell out when the bolts loosened. Try to fit the shims in the air gap, they should slide right in if that's where they came from.

I agree that they came from that gap. (There would be no point putting an open shim against the nut)

If they're there to create a gap, you might have a hard time "sliding" them back in. #hammertime

As far a preventing a reoccurrence, the bolts might be long enough for a second nut to 'jam' against the first one. (Instead of using thread locker.

I'm going to look underneath our MH tomorrow and see if we have shims.

This is some scary sh.....

2010 Winnebago Aspect 28B