thawk97

Jack Stand question:

So I searched the forum and can't find a place where this is laid out so I thought I'd ask and then possibly post it once a consensus has been reached.

What are the best places for jack stands under the car? There is a lot of discussion about how/where to jack the car up, but I couldn't find a good reference on where to place jacks stands on all 4 corners. I have done it myself but am not supremely confident in my placement and I was curious if people knew, and possibly had pics of the best, most stable, places to get jack stands under the car.

rx8cited

RX-8 Front And Rear Jack Points

thawk97

Appreciate the input, but again, not looking for where to jack the car up - I am looking for where to place jack stands once the car is already jacked up and those points are in the middle of the car- not good for jack stands...

rx8cited

My bad ........ here you go : Help Needed, Where to place Car Stands and Hydraulic Jack BTW, I found that thread by searching

thawk97

Awesome - nice work on the search - I bet I spent 30-40 minutes just using search to try and find it with no luck - so thanks for that

DubbsLuvs8s

iTrader: (1)

I've been searching for a couple minutes and started to wonder why people don't put jack stands under the control arms. They're already suspended members that are meant to hold the weight of the car. I used this method a few weeks ago installing my CAI and exhaust and it worked great.

Jasonvaldez

cant you just put them on the A frame?

xun4gvn4everx

iTrader: (2)

As long as the jack stands are placed under the frame, you are good to go. If you miss the frame, then you are f-ed. If you have trouble finding the frame, then ask, or check pix of the layout of the car. It is better to ask and feel like an idiot, versus placing the jack in the wrong place and putting a hole through your floor boards.

rx8alexander

Does anyone have a picture of where to place the jack stands on a 2004 rx8. Confused :/ Bought four jackstands and a carjack. Use the metal frame between the tires to jack the car up. And put the jackstands where? Can't find any picture from beneath.

Want the car on four jackstands The "center of front crossmember and center of the differential" that's two pints under the car.. right? that you use to jack the car up?

Pizza Man

I put my car on two jackstands each positioned in about the same place on either side of the car, closer to the front underneath the skinny, frail-looking metal rib. (Pic Attatched)

It doesn't seem like a good idea, but if it's the only way you have at the moment, then it'll probably be O.K. I had it on the stands for about 3 hrs.

I've seen some crafty posts that involve creating buffers between the stand and the frame. I can see the benifit, but I wasn't willing to put in that extra effort.

Always practice proper safety when working under your car. Using jackstands and possibly bending your frame a LITTLE BIT is better than being crushed. Safety goggles are also a good idea when you find yourself on your back looking straight up.

Pendleton

iTrader: (1)

Second this, as I got a big ol' drop of liquid wrench in my eye yesterday while pulling my muffler off the hangers. Things looked a little fuzzy for a while.

As far as jack stands go, in the front I usually use the A-arms and in the rear I use the brackets for the rear control arms (you see them between the muffler and the diff). My stands are just the right size to cradle those brackets perfectly. It's very solid, but I always keep something else (an extra wheel, a ramp, or anything that's thicker than I am) under the car in case the stands fail so that the car falls on it instead of me.

I had a friend in high school who's dad got crushed to death while working under a car, so it's been burned into my brain that you don't go under a car without a safety net.

Junirol

iTrader: (24)

I use the pinch points to jack up my car all the time, I can see in time it may fatigue but it is pretty safe to use. The frame is the best place imo, Lower control arm i'd be weary you can mess up alignment settings.

dmedz8

iTrader: (5)

User manual? anyone read this anymore?

bse50

We have a diy on how to change plugs as wll so I think nobody does anymore.

PeteInLongBeach

For jack stands, I always use the factory specified jacking points on the rocker panel seams. You just need to make sure you are positioning the stands at those specific reinforced points. The owners manual shows them very clearly. And, if you look at these points closely, you'll see there is an extra layer of metal in the seam for the added support needed. You won't damage these reinforced areas with the car jack or jack stands.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

the video generation can't be bothered with anything requiring focus and concentration such as reading ...

I have a better place than the jacking points, but the design of the jack stand head plays into it, will try to get some pics

shr3da

I attemeped to jack my car up this weekend to put jacks underneath to change my starter. I adjusted my suspension so it was on it's softest setting, more sag=more when contact on the ground right?

Jacked up one side and placed a stand in the pic above added by pizza man, at this stage both front wheels were on the ground, as I began to lower the car the rear wheel on the same side as the jack lifted so three wheels were off the ground!

It was like a see saw, this freaked me out! I thought that was too dangerous.

I also have under chassis bracing when may have contributed?

I will need two hydrologic jacks to do it safely.

Can anyone manage it with one hydrologic jack and stiff suspension?

I agree we need more pics, or this will get confusing

Crazy.8

would it be sketchy to jack the whole car up using those two places, high enough for me to be able to install a midpipe, and then just use 2 jack stands or would it work safely?

seems a little bit sketchy that it would only be jacked in 2 places in the center of the car but i could put the stands on the side i guess. but i do only have one jack that came with my car and the other one will be a different jack.

dmedz8

iTrader: (5)

I have replaced My full exhaust many times this way. Make sure your hand brake is engaged, the car is in gear, and on level ground. You will probably need to block the front wheels and jack up the back on both sides if your doing the muffler.


Oh and ALWAYS USE JACK STANDS!

Crazy.8

im just doing the midpipe, but yah i found a friend that has 4 jack stands so im going to borrow those.

rickeo

iTrader: (1)

Anyone else find it kinda funny something like this warrants a thread?

Cohort

iTrader: (4)

Whats so funny about people wanting to check and double check these locations, so they don't screw up their car?

Would rather ask a stupid question, instead of screwing up my car.

btw thanks for the info, as I now know I picked the right spots.

bse50

Standard jack points are pictured in your user's manual...

Cohort

iTrader: (4)

yeah I know that, nothing wrong with still saying thanks is there? People deserve to be thanked when they help people out yeesh.

either way sorry to derail the thread.

jamesf

iTrader: (1)

I'd rather ask instead of dying.

Maybe people thinking "Does this really need a thread?", or "Does any one read the manual?" should be thinking "Hey, I may have just saved that guy's life".