after 3 years of driving around the threaded holes for my hitch bolts are corroded and need to be re-tapped before i can secure my hitch. i assume these are metric threads. can i buy a tap this large or is this something i need to have a shop re-tap?

check out mcmastercarr.com or other industrial tooling place.............

If you just want to run a tap through to clean the threads up I dont see why you couldnt find a tap that size. Tractor supply, Sears, Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and even Places like Big lots might have a tap that would work for you.

Sorry dont know what the size would be.


Of course a shop would probably run a tap through them for less than the price of the tap.

_________________
It may be that your only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others.

06 CRD Sport
Built 5/11/06
Jeep Green
Rocklizard diff cover
V6 Airbox

I had that problem the outher day and we enden up using a 45 cal bore brush to clead it,with a lot of wd40. Just a though. good luck

_________________
2002 liberty, Daystar 2.5 Lift, 265/75/16
2005 Unlimited, , 9.5 , BB , 33x12.5 15 , 7" fender flares
2000 S10 PU

The thread is 12mm x 1.75. Be sure to get a through tap, not a bottoming tap and clean the threads carefully. Dirt is the threat to the tap not rust. Use plenty of oil and back up about every 1/2 turn forward if you meet resistance. The thread information can be confirmed by downloading your hitch installation instructions.
Lewis

_________________
Mail Rated 2005 Red CRD Sport with large rectangular hole in top right behind the EVIC and above the heated leather seats.
2004 Jetta TDI

i tried that w/wd40 and even tried some goof off (it made sense at the time) and then tried chasing the threads w/no luck




is that a tap size that i could find at a home depot or is that a special size? ( i'm not too familiar w/metric)

Any hardware store should have that size and I do not see why Home Depot wouldnt have it.

My threads were alittle tight when I put my hitch on, but I didnt need a tap. I keep the underbody of my jeep fairly clean though.. And it wasnt as old at the time.

_________________
LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

thx. I'll give it a look at lunch

Wholesale Tools of Harbor Freight might also be a good place to look, you will be well advised to use a .45 or .40 cal. bore brush to clean the nut first. Remember it only takes 60-65 ftlbs of torque to snug the bolts, read the mfgs instructions.

_________________
Mail Rated 2005 Red CRD Sport with large rectangular hole in top right behind the EVIC and above the heated leather seats.
2004 Jetta TDI

I had to tap mine last year. Bought the tap at Sears hareware, I think it was aroung $4. I used a 1/4" socket on a long extension and ratchet, worked great. Spray well with wd-40 before you start.

_________________
L.O.S.T. #050943
2002 Liberty Sport 4x4, Black
K&N FIPK, Drain pipe ram air
235/70-16 A/T Revo
Optima red top
Rancho RS5000, no lift
Hidden Hitch w/Yakima Bighorn 4 bike rack
Vent shades and deflector.

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act" - George Orwell

i went to home depot at lunch today and they didnt have the size tap i needed. so i went to autozone and found the correct size tap for $29.99


silcone spray also works wonders when tapping metal/plastic

I just installed a hitch over the weekend in my 05 sport. The hitch I bought came with M12x1.75 bolts, but they didn't fit. I had to go to the hardware store and buy 7/16-20 bolts. So I guess they changed them for 05??

Callaway, I hope you didn't spend the $30 for the tap. The "Do it Best" hardware where I live has them for $10.

i went and returned the $30 set and went to Menard's where i found a $7 one.

everything went smoothly and i got all the bolts in EXCEPT the last one on the muffler side. the exhaust pipe was in the way and i could neither re-tap it not get a ratchet in there to start the bolt.
the other 5 bolts are all in a torqued to 70 ft lbs. should i worry much about that last bolt i couldn't get in?

My 05 sport used 12x1.75, I wish DC and others would make the switch to metric totally.

_________________
Mail Rated 2005 Red CRD Sport with large rectangular hole in top right behind the EVIC and above the heated leather seats.
2004 Jetta TDI

You can reach the last bolt using a universal while you push the exhaust pipe out of the way. It was a PITA but it can be done.

_________________
2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Lt Khaki, sunroof

Thankful to now be an EX-CRD owner.

The last bolt on the passenger side under the exhaust pipe is a pain. Since my mom never tows anything and she has an 05 CRD, she just let me swap the hitch from hers to my 06. I took the passenger rear wheel of her jeep to get the bolt started, stupidly, after which point I realized that there's enough play in the exhaust you can just have another person reach behind the tire and pull it out of the way.

_________________
2006 Sport 4X4, Deep Beryl Green, NSG370, NV241J, Lifted with OME 927/948 and Bilstein, JBA 4.5 UCA's, Custom 3" Rear Y-Link Extension and Swaybar Relocation, 265/75-16 Toyo Open Country AT2 tires, Black Plastidipped bumpers, flares, and doors, Pioneer speakers, Alpine head unit, 1200w Phoenix Gold Amp, 12" Dayton Reference sub.

how much movement is there in that pipe?

i had to retap the other 5 holes so i'm sure that that one is gonna need work as well. is there enough play to get the tap in there?

An inch of movement at maximum, I would say. I had no trouble getting the bolt in with my friend pulling the exhaust pipe to the side. I've never tapped out a hole before so I dont know how much clearance you will need for that. You could always detach the exhaust hanger to gain some more leeway.

_________________
2006 Sport 4X4, Deep Beryl Green, NSG370, NV241J, Lifted with OME 927/948 and Bilstein, JBA 4.5 UCA's, Custom 3" Rear Y-Link Extension and Swaybar Relocation, 265/75-16 Toyo Open Country AT2 tires, Black Plastidipped bumpers, flares, and doors, Pioneer speakers, Alpine head unit, 1200w Phoenix Gold Amp, 12" Dayton Reference sub.