Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

Low Profile jacks?

Thread Tools
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 10:14 PM
  #1  
danielk015's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: Aliso Viejo, ca
Low Profile jacks?

I bought a set of jacks at pep boys last year, and that was pretty much a waste of money as it couldnt even get under the car... where is the best place to get a good low profile one for a good price to jack up the front and back of the car easily? also, any recommendations would be great. Thanks!
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 10:22 PM
  #2  
kersh4w's Avatar
Hit & Run Magnet
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,690
Likes: 3
From: DC Area
drive the car up onto some 2x4s.
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 10:28 PM
  #3  
EdwardsB's Avatar
Registered RX-8 User
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: PA/MD
^could be dangers working under the car due to being unstable. Get a good set of metal ramps you can drive the front tires up on. its safer, i feel more comfortable under a 3000lb car that way.

and did you mean jack stands or a jack to initially lift the car up, bc I use a hydraulic jack to raise the car then stands to hold it there permanently (the jack stands do not fit under the car themselves)?
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 10:29 PM
  #4  
nycgps's Avatar
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 36
From: Planet Earth
I got mine at pepboys, garage grade low profile jack. it works for me. and I have coilover AND my car is lower than stock.
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 10:44 PM
  #5  
Silver_Surfer's Avatar
I4NI
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 833
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
I just bought the craftsman racing jack. Fits nicely even with my Tein-s
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 10:44 PM
  #6  
cjkim's Avatar
^noob
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 1
From: socal
Originally Posted by EdwardsB
^could be dangers working under the car due to being unstable. Get a good set of metal ramps you can drive the front tires up on. its safer, i feel more comfortable under a 3000lb car that way.

and did you mean jack stands or a jack to initially lift the car up, bc I use a hydraulic jack to raise the car then stands to hold it there permanently (the jack stands do not fit under the car themselves)?
he probably means drive the car up 2x4s and then use your jack
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 10:47 PM
  #7  
NgoRX8's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,239
Likes: 4
From: CA, Rowland Hts.
i use to drive up on 2x4s to jack the car up. now i just use the stock jack to lift it up and then stuff a jackstand under it. for the rear though i use the stock jack to start and then put a floor jack under the differential. my floor jack is huge too.
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 10:50 PM
  #8  
lilring's Avatar
Finally a MT
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
i would also would like to know.. i bought a small jack last year and it isnt powerful enough to keep the car in the air
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 11:02 PM
  #9  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,606
Likes: 3,474
From: The Dark Side
costco FTW!!! Let me see if I can find the one I have
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 11:03 PM
  #10  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,606
Likes: 3,474
From: The Dark Side
here's a racing jack at Costco: http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...se=&lang=en-US

don't think this is what I have, I don't remember spending that much
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 11:07 PM
  #11  
Jedi54's Avatar
Administrator
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 22,606
Likes: 3,474
From: The Dark Side
search button is our friend.
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...highlight=jack
Reply
Old Sep 9, 2008 | 11:08 PM
  #12  
Nubo's Avatar
Lubricious
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,425
Likes: 4
From: SF Bay Area, California
harbor freight
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 06:56 AM
  #13  
EdwardsB's Avatar
Registered RX-8 User
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: PA/MD
Originally Posted by cjkim
he probably means drive the car up 2x4s and then use your jack
ah yes the obvious. didn't pick up on that one.
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 07:37 AM
  #14  
Huey52's Avatar
Registered Zoom Zoomer
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,089
Likes: 6
From: New England
I got my aluminum racing jack at California Car Cover simply because I was ordering a cover at the same time. Any of the good racing jacks will easily slide under the '8.
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 12:06 AM
  #15  
swoope's Avatar
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14,603
Likes: 36
From: orlando, fl
Originally Posted by Nubo
harbor freight
good info.

beers
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 01:15 AM
  #16  
TeamRX8's Avatar
Registered
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,936
Likes: 2,141
Originally Posted by Nubo
harbor freight
if you need to haul it around such as autox events for changing tires etc. get the small one, if it's just for the garage get the large one


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91039

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47246


looks like they offer an extra large one now too

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92782

Last edited by TeamRX8; Sep 11, 2008 at 01:20 AM.
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 04:44 PM
  #17  
danielk015's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: Aliso Viejo, ca
thanks all.. and to jedi for the search suggestion =)...

I am looking at these pics of some of the jacks, and it seems it might be hard to get to the front jack point with the bumper pretty low to the ground and then have enough room to jack it up... Are these jacks pretty easy to have limited movement and still jack the front of the car up? The back would probably be pretty easy.
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2008 | 03:46 PM
  #18  
troutfisher73's Avatar
Registered
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
I'm using an Omega 29023 low-profile, long-reach jack. It's long and low enough to reach the front jack point from the front of the car. It's a nice piece, but very, very heavy.

A Corvette guy reviewed this jack in the following link:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1814892
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2008 | 05:00 PM
  #19  
RK's Avatar
RK
It's Not Easy Being Green
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,846
Likes: 0
From: Akron, OH
Originally Posted by TeamRX8
looks like they offer an extra large one now too

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92782
I have that last one. On a level surface and an unlowered RX-8 it is able to get the front jack point just barely from the front (it touches the under cover). It's able to get the rest of the car easily. I would recommend a lower profile if you want to be able to get to the front jack point on a lowered 8 but this should be able to get to that from the sides on a h-tech/s-tech lowering. However the side makes it difficult to get stands under there. I plan on using 2x4s to get my car up a bit in order to jack up my car once I lower it. Just easier.

It's light enough that I can carry it around in my truck easily for events.

It takes more pumps than you would expect to raise the car but I'm not in a hurry so it doesn't bother me. And the price at the store in Ohio was significantly less than on their site. IIRC it was <170 after tax out the door.

And remember to ALWAYS use jack stands when you get under your car. Especially with Harbor Freight stuff. It works but it's cheaply made so don't expect it to keep you alive.
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2008 | 05:55 PM
  #20  
imput1234's Avatar
I ♥ Drifting!!!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,069
Likes: 5
From: Lexington, KY
^I've the blue jack from Harbor too, but the cheaper one, I got it for about $75, not bad for a low profile aluminum jack
Reply
Old Sep 16, 2008 | 06:13 PM
  #21  
chickenwafer's Avatar
Nope
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,312
Likes: 0
From: Denver
I've got the bigger blue one from Harbor Freight, it's super low profile, but I can't jack the front sides of my car with it due to my side skirts. I have to jack the rear up first, put it on jack stands, then I have access to the side jacking locations.

But my car is pretty low; Koni shocks, Sprint springs, and Mazdaspeed front/sides= no room.
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2008 | 12:33 AM
  #22  
Ever Hernandez's Avatar
Rx8_4eVeR
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, Cali
I have 2 of the 2 ton jacks and they work great, got them on sale too $130. I also have to MS kit, so I position the jack first then set a small wood block out of a 2x4 on top of the jack and presto!
Reply
Old Sep 20, 2008 | 09:34 PM
  #23  
jones75254's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by chickenwafer
.....I have to jack the rear up first, put it on jack stands, then I have access to the side jacking location.
LOL, same here. Gets to be a pain in the ***, doesnt help my garage is narrow as hell too....oh well, do with what u have
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cliffkemp
Series I Trouble Shooting
8
Dec 24, 2024 10:48 AM
Shankapotamus3
Series I Trouble Shooting
28
Mar 14, 2021 03:53 PM
Michael Bryant
Series I Wheels, Tires, Brakes & Suspension
5
Oct 12, 2015 03:07 PM
MolecularConcept
RX-8 Discussion
11
Sep 29, 2015 09:21 PM
xAgyex
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
0
Sep 28, 2015 08:54 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:22 PM.