Jacking Rails vs Lift Pads

[Trolly1]

I am wrestling with whether to install Jacking Rails or a set of the ZL-1 Lift pads. My concern is taking the car to get new tires, brakes or whatever and incurring damage from the car not being lifted correctly. When a shop uses a 4 point lift, should they ideally lift from the designated arrow markers that Ford recommends? I have a 2020 convertible and it doesn’t look like jacking rails cover the arrow markers on where to jack the car.

Sponsored

 

[cerbomark]

IMO lifting pads still only give you four locations to lift or add stands. ( I understand you can use stands in other areas but sometimes inconvenient ). Rails give way more area to jack and then put stands . Once you put rails you need not worry about the pinch weld area as your only points. One floor jack can lift one whole side when placed in the correct spot FYI. I would never lift the whole car that way but one side for sure.

 

[Trolly1]

Thanks cerbomark for your reply. So if you were getting new tires, would the shops 4 point lift be only on your jacking rails?

 

[stannypack]

I've had the zl1 addons jack pads a little over a year and they work great. With the jackpads you don't jack from the pads themself, you jack along the other parts of the pinch welds that are reinforced and place the jackstands on the jackpads. When my car goes to the shop they just place their lift arms on the jackpads.

 

[cerbomark]

Thanks cerbomark for your reply. So if you were getting new tires, would the shops 4 point lift be only on your jacking rails?

I can't say what they would do but I imagine they d put the arms on the rails. I can get the rail and the pinch weld if I want. They could also hit the rear pinch weld and front jacking rails if your doesn t go far enough. I d have to see to say for sure. If you never work on your car and jack it up I wouldn't t worry about anything. Save the money. Let them do it the OEM way , they jack of thousands of cars at a busy shop.

 

[Nightmonkey]

Jacking rails will also protect you, if you scrape somewhere due to bad road conditions or improveable driving skills.

 

[NightmareMoon]

Lifts have rubber pads, and they're also quite slow, no jarring or sideways forces, so you don't have to worry about it.

After 100+ wheel and tire swaps on my car and many times up on lifts and jacked up on a single jack for other reasons over the years.... my rails are still arrow straight. I do use rubber pads on my floor jack, but jackstand are bare metal.

Doesn't seem like much of a weak spot on this car. Save your money.

 

[Trolly1]

I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and comments - Thank you

 

[Kenbike]

Jack rails on the convertible also reinforce the car structure to improving handling!

 

[jpjr501]

I've been using pinch weld pucks but I'm going to buy BMR jacking rails (the extended ones). For some reason I feel I'm under this car a lot and it just makes sense to protect it.

 

[Trolly1]

Jack rails on the convertible also reinforce the car structure to improving handling!

I‘ve also read that rails help the structural integrity and I’ve seen many comment just the opposite. I’m left wondering

 

[Nightmonkey]

The opposite is impossible.

 

[MiamiGT350]

I have a QuickJack XL. I use the QuickJack rubber blocks and in the rear I top the block with this magnetic pad on the pinch weld.

 

[MAGS1]

Not sure how much additional rigidity jacking rails provide, but they are very convenient. I swap wheels/tires out a few times a year based on the season (winter/summer) and having rails allows me to lift one side of the car at a time very easily.

Word of advice/caution: if you go with BMR, you can only use their IRS bracing and same goes with Steeda. Their IRS braces are not cross compatible with their jacking rails. I have Steeda jacking rails and Steeda IRS braces, the Steeda braces would not work with the BMR rails. Just want to make sure to point that out in the event you’re in the market for IRS braces at some point

 

[Trolly1]

I got the J&M full length for convertibles but have held off putting them on. I only want something in place for when I have to take the car somewhere for service which has me leaning towards the ZL1 Lift Pads. The only time I get under the car is to change the oil which I use ramps for.

Sponsored