Best way to jack the car?
#1
I'm Tantalizing
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Best way to jack the car?
What is the best way to jack the car so that you get all 4 wheels are off the ground? Ramps are great but not for doing things like rotating tires. So what is the best way to jack up the front and rear? I've heard pro's and con's about using the diff to jack the rear of the car and not sure about the front.
And what is the best way to tell if the car is jacked up level to do things like change tranny fluilds and diff fluids?
And what is the best way to tell if the car is jacked up level to do things like change tranny fluilds and diff fluids?
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: St. Leonard, Maryland
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was going to give it my first try to jack the car today - found a thread that talked about using jack points along the "rail" (frame) that runs between the front/rear wheel wells. Also some other points that some members preferred instead. If using jack stands and a floor jack however, I would need four points to get two wheels off the ground on the same side.
Jack Point Thread
Jack Point Thread
#3
I'm Tantalizing
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ya saw that thread but still wonder if there is something in the center because if you use those jackpoints you have to lift one side but how do you get the jack under the side your lifting.
#4
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
I haven't seen it done with an RX8 yet, but Miata guys would often fit their floor jacks with a grooved 2x4 that fit the frame rail lip and offered enough weight distribution to lift the side up in the center using one jack point.
Personally, I never wanted to risk it (collapsing the frame rail lip and possibly bending the rail), so I bought a cheap set of jack stands and a small floor jack ($20 or $30 for all of it), and use all four jackpoints with jackstands. The floor jack will lift the side in just a few pumps, so I can have the car up in the air within 2 minutes or so. This is great for rotating tires, changing oil/fluids, or just looking at how Mazda put the thing together.
Personally, I never wanted to risk it (collapsing the frame rail lip and possibly bending the rail), so I bought a cheap set of jack stands and a small floor jack ($20 or $30 for all of it), and use all four jackpoints with jackstands. The floor jack will lift the side in just a few pumps, so I can have the car up in the air within 2 minutes or so. This is great for rotating tires, changing oil/fluids, or just looking at how Mazda put the thing together.
#5
When in doubt XcelR8!!!!!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Michigan
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I did the caliper painting over a weekend I lifted the car by each of the jack points. I did the rear first and it lifted enough to put a jack stand under the front A arm also. I put a stand under the back supension arm. Then lifted the front to adjust the jack stand higher to get the tire off. My concern was too much lean angle on one stand. It was solid when in the air. Not sure where I will put the jack stand when I install my springs, thats going to be a bitch.
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: St. Leonard, Maryland
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Used my small floor jack to jack the rear - one at a time. Wanted to put some treatment on the surface rust on the wheel hubs (only seemed to be on the rear wheels) - looking forward to painting the hubs and calipers but that's another thread. I used the "knuckle" just inside the rails on each side. My floor jack point isn't deep enough to use the rails - it would crush them first (of course the jack would have worked just fine). Actually was pretty painless although I like the idea about a slotted 2X4 - would minimize any paint scratching that may turn into corrosion later.
#8
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you have a hydraulic floor jack of the kind where the saddle is held in by a cotter pin, Eastwood Co. sells an adapter that fits your frame rail. It's a simple U-shaped piece of steel with a shaft welded on the bottom.
I've been using one for a number of years and it lets you jack the car via the frame rails but the floor jack is much faster than the jack supplied with the car. Can also use the floor jack and Mazda scissors jack together to lift up one whole side of the car to rotate tires.
Eastwood Co.
I've been using one for a number of years and it lets you jack the car via the frame rails but the floor jack is much faster than the jack supplied with the car. Can also use the floor jack and Mazda scissors jack together to lift up one whole side of the car to rotate tires.
Eastwood Co.
Last edited by Ned M; 03-21-2004 at 10:50 PM.
#9
I'm Tantalizing
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#10
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally posted by Ned M
If you have a hydraulic floor jack of the kind where the saddle is held in by a cotter pin, Eastwood Co. sells an adapter that fits your frame rail. It's a simple U-shaped piece of steel with a shaft welded on the bottom.
I've been using one for a number of years and it lets you jack the car via the frame rails but the floor jack is much faster than the jack supplied with the car. Can also use the floor jack and Mazda scissors jack together to lift up one whole side of the car to rotate tires.
Eastwood Co.
If you have a hydraulic floor jack of the kind where the saddle is held in by a cotter pin, Eastwood Co. sells an adapter that fits your frame rail. It's a simple U-shaped piece of steel with a shaft welded on the bottom.
I've been using one for a number of years and it lets you jack the car via the frame rails but the floor jack is much faster than the jack supplied with the car. Can also use the floor jack and Mazda scissors jack together to lift up one whole side of the car to rotate tires.
Eastwood Co.
#11
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally posted by flatso
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40105
this jack any good?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40105
this jack any good?
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by flatso
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40105 this jack any good?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40105 this jack any good?
They have great prices but really cheap quality goods. You do not want to skimp on quality when your life could depend on it. I've found these "racer-style" jacks leak hydraulic fluid under pressure and have poor release control. They can serve a specific use (say at a track when changing one tire at a time) but otherwise I'd avoid them.
One thing that complicates the situation is I've seen similar jacks advertised that look almost identical but have different hydraulic mechanisms. Quality varies immensely but it's hard to tell just looking at it.
________
PISSING LADY
Last edited by PUR NRG; 05-01-2011 at 03:05 AM.
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know of any mail-order lightweight jacks that I can recommend. The true racing jacks are $600 or so. I do have a similar lightweight jack (of better quality) that I only use to rotate tires. If I get under the car I use different equipment.
The jack I use at home and highly recommend is the AC Hydraulik. The DK20Q ($290) is a low profile jack and the DK12HLQ ($430)the extended reach version. You can get both of them here.
Jacks and jack stands are two critical pieces where an equipment failure can result in life-threatening injuries. It's not worth the risk to use low quality stuff.
________
Vision Insurance Dicussion
The jack I use at home and highly recommend is the AC Hydraulik. The DK20Q ($290) is a low profile jack and the DK12HLQ ($430)the extended reach version. You can get both of them here.
Jacks and jack stands are two critical pieces where an equipment failure can result in life-threatening injuries. It's not worth the risk to use low quality stuff.
________
Vision Insurance Dicussion
Last edited by PUR NRG; 05-01-2011 at 03:06 AM.
#15
Originally posted by PUR NRG
I don't know of any mail-order lightweight jacks that I can recommend.
Jacks and jack stands are two critical pieces where an equipment failure can result in life-threatening injuries. It's not worth the risk to use low quality stuff.
I don't know of any mail-order lightweight jacks that I can recommend.
Jacks and jack stands are two critical pieces where an equipment failure can result in life-threatening injuries. It's not worth the risk to use low quality stuff.
Basically just making the point that following suggested practices, 99.99999999% of people get by with the $40 craftsman floor jack/jack stand set for years without incident, and for a lot of those people, spending hundreds of dollars isn't very feasible. Of course, the choice of whether or not 0.00000001% of a chance * life and/or limb is worth spending those couple hundred dollars is something everyone has to make on their own.
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Price != quality. I would trust (and own) a $40 craftsman jack over a Harbor Freight knockoff. If nothing else craftsman is more aware and easily tracked down if/when a problem occurs.
Everyone makes trade-offs when it comes to safety, performance and price. Cars themselves are a great example of that. I just don't want anyone to operate under the mistaken belief that these are high quality race jacks. They are not. They are great for certian applications but don't rely on them if your life/limb is on the line should they fail.
________
Ebony Webcams
Everyone makes trade-offs when it comes to safety, performance and price. Cars themselves are a great example of that. I just don't want anyone to operate under the mistaken belief that these are high quality race jacks. They are not. They are great for certian applications but don't rely on them if your life/limb is on the line should they fail.
________
Ebony Webcams
Last edited by PUR NRG; 05-01-2011 at 03:06 AM.
#17
Cones need lovin' too!
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Beavercreek, Ohio
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you have a good low-profile floor jack that will fit, the workshop manual says you can single-point jack the front at the center of the front crossmember, or the rear at the center of the diff. This would make it easier to get the jackstands in the proper places on the side sills. (and quicker!)
#19
I'm Tantalizing
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by ranger4277
If you have a good low-profile floor jack that will fit, the workshop manual says you can single-point jack the front at the center of the front crossmember, or the rear at the center of the diff. This would make it easier to get the jackstands in the proper places on the side sills. (and quicker!)
If you have a good low-profile floor jack that will fit, the workshop manual says you can single-point jack the front at the center of the front crossmember, or the rear at the center of the diff. This would make it easier to get the jackstands in the proper places on the side sills. (and quicker!)
anyone have a pic of this location?
#20
Goh Mifune
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Green Oaks, IL
Posts: 850
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bought a Floor Jack at Pep Boys this weekend... $40 -- as cheap as they come. I've not changed my own wheels before, so I'm very concerned about getting the right jack points. Can someone describe the most conservative points with enough detail for those of us with no experience?
#21
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally posted by MEGAREDS
Bought a Floor Jack at Pep Boys this weekend... $40 -- as cheap as they come. I've not changed my own wheels before, so I'm very concerned about getting the right jack points. Can someone describe the most conservative points with enough detail for those of us with no experience?
Bought a Floor Jack at Pep Boys this weekend... $40 -- as cheap as they come. I've not changed my own wheels before, so I'm very concerned about getting the right jack points. Can someone describe the most conservative points with enough detail for those of us with no experience?
#23
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by ranger4277
If you have a good low-profile floor jack that will fit, the workshop manual says you can single-point jack the front at the center of the front crossmember, or the rear at the center of the diff. This would make it easier to get the jackstands in the proper places on the side sills. (and quicker!)
If you have a good low-profile floor jack that will fit, the workshop manual says you can single-point jack the front at the center of the front crossmember, or the rear at the center of the diff. This would make it easier to get the jackstands in the proper places on the side sills. (and quicker!)
#24
M0D Squad -charter member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sears has a nice 3-1/2 ton floor jack with stands on sale for $99 this week
#25
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by rxeightr
Thanks for the heads up. I just ordered mine at sears.com, and will pick up later today at the store.
Thanks for the heads up. I just ordered mine at sears.com, and will pick up later today at the store.