Absolute beginniner question - where to jack up car and place stands?

clevernickname · May 28, 2018

[ame]

Just follow this video? Jack it up anywhere along the "pinch weld"? From what it looks like, that's a super thin piece of metal at 1:50?

If anyone has better pictures much appreciated. Never jacked a car up but my uncle has 4 jack stands and a very good lift as well so we're using that and I'll have some help from an expert. He does his own suspension work but I still want to know where to place everything. Putting thousands of pounds of the car on a few small spots seems unfathomable to me.

Too cheap/lazy to install jacking rails, and don't generally do my own work. Just painting calipers.

Any other basic tips?

whalesalad · May 28, 2018

There are tiny arrows on the side skirts pointing to the jack points. You can feel them with your hands. You’ll also see a little notch in the metal that is wide enough to hold a jackstand.

I tend to jack the front of the car by the pinch welds and then place the jack stands on the subframe. On the rear I have a Torsten with a flat pad on the bottom of the diff. I use that to lift the rear and place the jack stands in the slots on the body.

morgande · May 30, 2018

Get yourself a set of Steeda Jacking Rails or the BMR Jacking Rail. I run the Steeda. The issue isn't so much where to jack the car...you can use the pinch for that no issue. The issue is where to put the actual jack stand when the car is supported by a jack in the space that should go to the stand.

The rail solves this issue by giving you a safe and easy place to jack the car up. You can put the floor jack anywhere on the rail...line your jack stand under the pinch and lower in on there easy-peasy. For extra safety, you can get a jack 'boot' that offers some additional paint protection. Just buy these:

https://www.steeda.com/steeda-s550-mustang-ultra-lite-chassis-jacking-rails-15-16-all-555-5205.html

https://www.amazon.com/Ernst-Manufa...=1527689764&sr=8-1&keywords=jack+stand+covers

Also, follow Bill video. Everywhere he says is safe is just that..safe. I used this video as a reference to where to jack my car up when I installed my AWE Exhaust.

randy_tho · May 31, 2018

Something I'm wondering on the jack rails. I have a set of Steeda and have used them several times. First thing I did to the car. The thing is it seems like the opposite side from the jack when supported by stands may tend to laterally force the stand causing it to potentially tilt? Keeping in mind it is really important for the jack to be able to roll transverse to the car. For those of you that use the rails how do you go about lifting and lowering the car? I so far have done each side a little at a time keeping the front and rear on the jack side level. Generally to get to full height it take about 2-3 rotations.

Monopoly · May 31, 2018

Used Jack stands on the spot with "arrow" labelled. regular floor Jack on space gap in plastic closest to this spot. No issues. I've swapped rims/tires and replaced my suspension.

randy_tho · Jun 1, 2018

Monopoly said:
Used Jack stands on the spot with "arrow" labelled. regular floor Jack on space gap in plastic closest to this spot. No issues. I've swapped rims/tires and replaced my suspension.

So are you doing one side at a time or all wheels lifted on four stands?

melwff · Jun 1, 2018

In Stages

randy_tho said:
Something I'm wondering on the jack rails. I have a set of Steeda and have used them several times. First thing I did to the car. The thing is it seems like the opposite side from the jack when supported by stands may tend to laterally force the stand causing it to potentially tilt? Keeping in mind it is really important for the jack to be able to roll transverse to the car. For those of you that use the rails how do you go about lifting and lowering the car? I so far have done each side a little at a time keeping the front and rear on the jack side level. Generally to get to full height it take about 2-3 rotations.

What you are doing is the safest way, jack stands start at lowest height and then raise one side at a time in stages until you reach the full desired height.

clevernickname · Jun 1, 2018

whalesalad said:
There are tiny arrows on the side skirts pointing to the jack points. You can feel them with your hands. You’ll also see a little notch in the metal that is wide enough to hold a jackstand.

I tend to jack the front of the car by the pinch welds and then place the jack stands on the subframe. On the rear I have a Torsten with a flat pad on the bottom of the diff. I use that to lift the rear and place the jack stands in the slots on the body.

Thanks I looked under the car and see the arrows. I only have a notch in the metal for the rear of the car though, not the front?

Also, how on earth am I holding up an entire car with jackstands placed on a section of metal about 1cm wide???

You mentioned you are putting it on the subframe, is that the same as in the video I linked? Or do you have a pic of where to put that?

randy_tho · Jun 2, 2018

I'm not a big fan of the subframe kmember. I lift from the middle slightly forward with Jack rails. I put stands as far forward and rear on the pinch welds. It's crazy but they are strong. I do it in stages with 3 ton stands and when high enough swap front with 4 ton. Lowering is fun but my Jack is really accurate when lowering slowly so that helps. On the s197 I'd lift from front and then put stands on front pinch welds. (Chock one rear wheel front and back.)

MaxQ · Jun 2, 2018

Jacking points and jack stand positions

diagram

melwff · Jun 2, 2018

Jack Stands

clevernickname said:
Thanks I looked under the car and see the arrows. I only have a notch in the metal for the rear of the car though, not the front?

Also, how on earth am I holding up an entire car with jackstands placed on a section of metal about 1cm wide???

You mentioned you are putting it on the subframe, is that the same as in the video I linked? Or do you have a pic of where to put that?

If your jack stands are perfectly flat on the top they are not made for unibody type vehicles. You need jack stands with a deep "V" in the center so that the pinchweld rests at the bottom of the "V" and the two arms touch the underbody sheet metal.

Thundersteel · Jun 2, 2018

You'd learn a lot by reading the owner's manual!

randy_tho · Jun 2, 2018

S197. They are different. I don't like the looks of the front subframe for lifting on the S550 compared to the S197.

MaxQ said:
diagram

randy_tho · Jun 2, 2018

I don't think it specifies very well when it comes to the stand/lift locations. I could be wrong and can't find it in here:

Thundersteel said:
You'd learn a lot by reading the owner's manual!

Thundersteel · Jun 2, 2018

randy_tho said:
I don't think it specifies very well when it comes to the stand/lift locations. I could be wrong and can't find it in here:

Look under "Wheels and Tires--Changing a Road Wheel."

Absolute beginniner question - where to jack up car and place stands?

clevernickname

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whalesalad

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morgande

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randy_tho

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Monopoly

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randy_tho

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melwff

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clevernickname

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randy_tho

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MaxQ

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melwff

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Thundersteel

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randy_tho

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randy_tho

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Thundersteel

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