Is it wrong to put jackstands at same point as if changing a tire?

[StageLeft]

I swear that at least one of the cars I've owned showed the jack points as the same behind-front-wheel infront-of-rear points on the outside of the car that a person uses when changing a tire but these are pretty thin bits of metal and seem, over time, to have "frayed".

In this vid the guy finds an arbitrary piece of the frame to hold the car up. Is his approach definitely the best one?

 

[kalrith]

I'd like to know the answer to this one too. I've always used a different spot than the jack spot if for no other reason than not being able to have the jack and the stand in the same spot at the same time. I've pretty much done the same as the guy in the video and chosen a piece of the frame that seems jack-stand worty.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I've always used relatively arbitrary points myself. It depends on what I'm doing and where I'm working. I try to place them close, but out of the way. If I'm working on the transmission, I'll place them towards the front of the suspension and in back of the axle, if I'm working on the suspension, I'll place them behind the front wheels. It'll vary car to car. But mine is a full frame so I can get away with a lot more than a unibody.

 

[iamwiz82]

My car has jack points and jackstand points. The jack points are very large , reinforced pads, whereas the jackstand points are just small reinforcements in the pinch seam.

 

[Shawn]

I always put the jackstands where the jack goes.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Shawn
I always put the jackstands where the jack goes.

So how do you jack it up?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Shawn
I always put the jackstands where the jack goes.

So how do you jack it up?

I just use a creeper and a porno mag myself.

 

[SJP0tato]

Wherever it seems the jackstand will be less likely to squirm out from underneath the car should there be some kind of movement of the vehicle.

Really the best answer would be: have another set of jackstands on hand, and put them under both. Something quick changing a tire I use at least one jackstand to hold up the side I'm working on, a 2nd jackstand as backup, and the jack itself slightly lower than the holding jackstand as 3rd backup.

Something more involved (transmission/engine removal, etc) I'll setup at least 4 jackstands for the front of the car, with a couple backups. Can't really be too careful afterall.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: SJP0tato
Wherever it seems the jackstand will be less likely to squirm out from underneath the car should there be some kind of movement of the vehicle.

Really the best answer would be: have another set of jackstands on hand, and put them under both. Something quick changing a tire I use at least one jackstand to hold up the side I'm working on, a 2nd jackstand as backup, and the jack itself slightly lower than the holding jackstand as 3rd backup.

Something more involved (transmission/engine removal, etc) I'll setup at least 4 jackstands for the front of the car, with a couple backups. Can't really be too careful afterall.

If I'm under it for involved, to date I'd use jackstands and also my floor jack with its retainer pin (which can easily hold the car but isn't recommended to) so that the jackstands are primary, but that's there as well. I can do that because it can be tweaked incrementally, which one cannot do with jackstands (they go in larger chunks)--how are you able to get, say, two on each side of the car and they are actually all in contact with their various points?

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Shawn
I always put the jackstands where the jack goes.

So how do you jack it up?

engine and differential

 

[T2urtle]

pending on what needs to be done i use diffrent spots. for the rears, rear beam/ diff and the fronts... so far i haven't found a nice spot. But i've done oil pan or motor mounts. a couple of times if the pinch welds are completely junk.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Shawn
I always put the jackstands where the jack goes.

So how do you jack it up?

engine and differential

Oil pan?

 

[Maximus96]

the crossmember is a good spot to jack for the front.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Shawn
I always put the jackstands where the jack goes.

So how do you jack it up?

engine and differential

Oil pan?

Most cars have a cast aluminum oil pan these days. I still don't like that idea one bit though. I haven't seen a car yet that didn't have a crossmember in the front. I jack from there. Although ...... a lot of front cradles/crossmembers are aluminum too.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Shawn
I always put the jackstands where the jack goes.

So how do you jack it up?

engine and differential

Many cars have strong warnings against that. My car has warnings about lifting from both, plus there is that pesky plastic cover that hides pretty much everything.

On my 4wd vehicles I always used the diffs to jack them, then stuck the jackstands under the axle housings. None had aluminum differentials, though.

 

[AMCRambler]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Shawn
I always put the jackstands where the jack goes.

So how do you jack it up?

engine and differential

Many cars have strong warnings against that. My car has warnings about lifting from both, plus there is that pesky plastic cover that hides pretty much everything.

On my 4wd vehicles I always used the diffs to jack them, then stuck the jackstands under the axle housings. None had aluminum differentials, though.

I would never jack the car up using any part of the engine. I hope you meant the cross member or engine cradle. The diff if it's rear wheel drive is a good point. I use the jack points for my Ford, but those things aren't really optimal either. The pinched seam there has become somewhat crushed over the years with that car. Not sure if it's from me or from the lifts at the shops but seems like the jack points should be a little sturdier than that.

 

[boomerang]

It can difficult to find a good place with modern cars. A lot of times what looks to a substantial part of the under-body is just a thin stamping. I've started using the pinch weld flanges where the roadside jack goes too.

Jacking the rear can be a problem too. FWD cars with independent rear suspension oftentimes run the exhaust pipe or pipes right under the only rear jacking point available - the crossmember that the suspension members fasten to.

 

[mooseracing]

Engine cross members, and frames is a good place to jack and place jack stands.

But to make things safer and allow cars to compact when crashing we decided to get rid of strong frames.

 

[jtvang125]

I dont use jacks or jackstand. I just use the curb.

On a serious note, if I need the whole front or rear up I use the frame or a crossmember. If I just need one wheel up I use the jack points.

 

[thomsbrain]

My jack points are just long enough to fit my jack and stands, so i can lift it up and squeeze the stand in right next to the jack before lowering it onto the stand.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: jtvang125


On a serious note, if I need the whole front or rear up I use the frame or a crossmember.

I think you can count on one hand how many cars have frames under them that were produced this year.

Honestly the 2 for me that come to my mind instantly our the Crown Vic and Town Car.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: mooseracing

Originally posted by: jtvang125


On a serious note, if I need the whole front or rear up I use the frame or a crossmember.

I think you can count on one hand how many cars have frames under them that were produced this year.

Honestly the 2 for me that come to my mind instantly our the Crown Vic and Town Car.

Subframes are still common however.