jacking up a car [Archive] (2024)

rat123

24th October 2009, 11:21

Palmettosunshine

24th October 2009, 11:57

miataingws

24th October 2009, 11:59

rat123

24th October 2009, 12:17

Hi
I'm putting the car in the corner of my garage so I still have room to put our suv and mini van in the garage also. So thats why I'm using dollies
thanks for your import
Ron

I generally put the floor jack on the pinch seam just a little in front the the rear view mirrors. I have not had any problem with this denting the seam, even though it is not the reinforced area. You can fashion a block of wood, or hard rubber, to spread out the pressure a bit. This will lift the entire side of the car. Put the dollies under those two wheels and move onto the other side.
Alternatives- use the factory indicated jacking points and lift one wheel at a time, or if your floor jack is a long body you can put is under the diff in the rear, and a cross member in the front. This does not work for me with the compact race type jack as there is not enough room to swing the jack handle.
Are you needing the slide your car around in the garage?

satking

24th October 2009, 12:37

Myah's Daddy

24th October 2009, 12:49

You could do both fronts first by jacking up the whole front using the cross member as your jacking point with the floor jack and then the rear using the differential housing as your jacking point.

That is what I would do

TMetzinger

24th October 2009, 13:12

I always use the cross member and the diff when jacking the car. Just seems to work better for me. The Harbor Freight aluminum racing jack will get under the front easily, and will get under the rear even when the front is up in the air.

I went and sprayed the cross member and the true jacking surface inboard of the pinch welds in white so they're easy to spot. The only reason I'd jack on one of the sides was if I was removing a single tire.

rat123

24th October 2009, 15:08

Hi
I just checked under car and there is a plastic skid guard under motor. So where is cross member. Can someone take a picture for me
thanks
Ron
I always use the cross member and the diff when jacking the car. Just seems to work better for me. The Harbor Freight aluminum racing jack will get under the front easily, and will get under the rear even when the front is up in the air.

I went and sprayed the cross member and the true jacking surface inboard of the pinch welds in white so they're easy to spot. The only reason I'd jack on one of the sides was if I was removing a single tire.

Jakester

24th October 2009, 17:54

On my 94, the front crossmember is just aft of the end of the plastic undertray. With a little careful manuevering, I can get the floor jack under the crossmember without the jack pad hitting the plastic undertray.

When I need to get the whole car on jackstands, I jack the front up first, then use the differential to lift the rear.

As someone mentioned, make sure you chock the rear wheels when lifting the front and then the dollies before lifting the rear (or vice versa).

rat123

24th October 2009, 17:59

Hi
Thanks for you help. What is the best thing to use to chock the wheels and wheel dollies
thanks
Ron
On my 94, the front crossmember is just aft of the end of the plastic undertray. With a little careful manuevering, I can get the floor jack under the crossmember without the jack pad hitting the plastic undertray.

When I need to get the whole car on jackstands, I jack the front up first, then use the differential to lift the rear.

As someone mentioned, make sure you chock the rear wheels when lifting the front and then the dollies before lifting the rear (or vice versa).

Mike Gerber

24th October 2009, 19:56

I do this with my 90 every year using my floor jack. Years ago I found a special rubber pad jack saddle to replace the metal one that came with the jack. In the garage I use the jack on the side sills to raise the car enough on each side to put the wheel dollies under each front wheel. Then I go to the back and use the differential point to jack the entire rear of the car and then insert both rear wheel dollies. I have never had to chock the wheels and have never had a problem. The only way I would see not chocking the wheels being a problem is if the floor of your garage is on an incline.

As a side note, the rubber on my jack saddle is starting to come apart after many years of usage and the place I bought it from no longer sells them. The internet has not been much help in replacing it, although I did find one like it in the Harbor Freight catalog. It's not available in their stores; only a catalog item. Here's teh one from Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96306

Mike

smustang1234

24th October 2009, 20:05

rat123

24th October 2009, 20:22

Hi
Thanks for the help. I think I will do it this way also. My jack has rubber on it. Came that way
thanks
Ron
I do this with my 90 every year using my floor jack. Years ago I found a special rubber pad jack saddle to replace the metal one that came with the jack. In the garage I use the jack on the side sills to raise the car enough on each side to put the wheel dollies under each front wheel. Then I go to the back and use the differential point to jack the entire rear of the car and then insert both rear wheel dollies. I have never had to chock the wheels and have never had a problem. The only way I would see not chocking the wheels being a problem is if the floor of your garage is on an incline.

As a side note, the rubber on my jack saddle is starting to come apart after many years of usage and the place I bought it from no longer sells them. The internet has not been much help in replacing it, although I did find one like it in the Harbor Freight catalog. It's not available in their stores; only a catalog item. Here's teh one from Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96306

Mike

rat123

24th October 2009, 20:24

Hi
I thought you where coming up to help me. I do wish there was no winter. If you do come up. Bring a shovel. LOL. We do need them in Canada
Ron

Rat, what is winter? Here that would be top down season. Good luck with the car.

smustang1234

24th October 2009, 21:16