[adelbalso]

I know this is probably considered something everyone knows how to do. But I haven't worked on many cars without a frame underneath (my first vehicles were 5 RWD cars powered by american made V8's).



Now having a unibody car, with many aluminum chassis parts, it's not as clear as I'd like.



The manual clearly states to only put a jack under the jacking points under the rocker panels. Okay, that's easy enough to do, but then where do you place the jackstand?



I used a box rail just inboard of the front jack point to place my jackstand. But it really creaks when you lower the car on there, and it's more inboard than I'd prefer while I'm under the car. And I had to jack the car up much higher on one corner than I'd prefer before being able to fit my jack under that spot.





What's the preferred method?

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[Stephenwz968]

I use the rear jacking points to get the front jackstand points onto the stands, then I use a 2x4 on my floor jack and jack the rear from the transmission to put the 2 rear jack points onto stands. You can also use the trailing arm mounts to for the stands, then use the trans to get the rear high enough to move the stands to the jack points.



Steve

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[Ryan]

It is not a good idea to jack the car using the tranny. The transmission kind of hangs from a single "silent block" or rubber isolated mount and is bolted to the torque tube which bolts to the engine that is held by the rubber motor mounts. So the motor,tube and transaxle kind of float in the car body in rubber mounts. I would only jack the rear from the jack points or trailing arm/torsion bar housing.



I know there are old posts with photos if you search.

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[jpk]

The torsion tube end (aluminum casting part) is a good place to support the car in back, and up front, I often use the castor block at the rear of the lower control arm (my jack stands just span across both bolt heads, so it's not really resting on the castor block)



Most of the time though, I use some wooden blocks that I've made up from 2x8s which go under the tires. I can easilly lift one side of the car using either of the jack points, slide the blocks under the tires, set the car down on that side, then repeat on the other. If I need to get a wheel off, I can then just jack that one corner, and the rest of the car is very stable sitting on it's suspension.

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[Eric_K]

I put the jack on the rear jack points to raise the car. Put jack stands under the front jack points and the rear stands on the torsion bar carrier tube (near the sway bar mounts). With a race car, you put it on jack stands a bajillion times.

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[SILVY968]

I also built the wooden wheel stands, as outlined on this site, and they work great. Very strong, stable and do not allow the car to creek and wiggle around when i am underneath...something that i do not like!

Brian

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[MikeNH]

Sears now sells a jack and jackstand combo. Looks interesting but it does not go low enough so you would need to drive the car on something.

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[jpk]

I have the KW coilovers, and right now, my car is a bit more than an 1 1/2" lower than stock. My jack has a min clearance of 4 1/4", and it will just barely slide under the sill to the jack points.

Earlier in the summer, I had the car a bit lower, maybee 3/4" or so - then, I had to use a 2x8 under the front tire to get clearance for the jack.

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[flash]

this is actually what has been holding me up on the lift - i am at 3.75" clearance and need to work out "ramps" or something (but it has to look good) to get the car high enough to swing the arms under

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[Ryan]

I have 2x10s running the length of my lift (one on each side) in order to ovoid any clearance problems. You only need them to enter and exit, but I doubt you you will find anything low enough for your car without help.



The price we must pay for a low rider.

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[MikeNH]

[quote name='Ryan' post='44996' date='Dec 24 2007, 12:21 PM']I have 2x10s running the length of my lift (one on each side) in order to ovoid any clearance problems. You only need them to enter and exit, but I doubt you you will find anything low enough for your car without help.



The price we must pay for a low rider.[/quote]



I picked up one of these. Kinda pricy but looks like a good tool



http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_0...=Lift+Equipment

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[TheMirror]

[quote name='Eric_K' post='44568' date='Dec 12 2007, 12:20 PM']I put the jack on the rear jack points to raise the car. Put jack stands under the front jack points and the rear stands on the torsion bar carrier tube (near the sway bar mounts). With a race car, you put it on jack stands a bajillion times.[/quote]



So that procedure is jack up one side from the rear jack point, then lower the car onto a jackstand placed under the front jackpoint.....then repeat for the other side?



Cheers,

-Mirror

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[spectre996]

Yes. That is what I did this weekend when I removed my front bumper cover. Just make sure to lower the car onto the first jack stand slowly in order to let the car settle on the jack stand properly. It is a bit of an awkward angle with only one side on the stand. Everything was nice and stable after the second stand was in place though.

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[968 GUY]

Check out the bluepoint aluminum jackstands. bluepoint or snap-on .com

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[rxter]

Looks like the integrity of the stand is in the pin. I know that pins work OK as I trailered lots of boats all over the place, but if the pin broke at least the trailer was, well, trailing me. Anyone else feel a bit uncomfortable having your head dependent on that little pin?

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[psuphoto]

I like the 2X10. nothing like a solid platform. I also bought a 3 ton low profile jack at harbor freight, when they go on sale, they are as cheap as $69. BTW: had to put a spare on the 968 in a parking lot at night. I would advice every one on this site to have a clue on how to use the 968 spare and inflate it AFTER its on (NOT BEFORE). wound up blowing a cigarette lighter fuse. fortunately, had spare fuses too. My recommendation is to take the spare out and become familiar with it, in case you ever need to use it.

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[ampegboy1]

[quote name='rxter' timestamp='1257789868' post='83021']

Looks like the integrity of the stand is in the pin. I know that pins work OK as I trailered lots of boats all over the place, but if the pin broke at least the trailer was, well, trailing me. Anyone else feel a bit uncomfortable having your head dependent on that little pin?

[/quote]





I always leave the jack nipped up under the car (just enough to meet it without lifting it) and leave the wheels under it as a backup in case the axle stand fails. Might not stop the car from falling, but it might give me enough time to get clear.



Michael

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