Lifting up my car

[Howard]

Let's say my car has 4 jack points, each of which is longitudinally inboard of each wheel. How am I supposed to use a hydraulic jack and then insert a stand without mangling the frame somehow? Do I need to buy ramps?

 

[SparkyJJO]

Aren't the jack points large enough to jack up and then put the stand next to it?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Aren't the jack points large enough to jack up and then put the stand next to it?

No.

 

[TitanDiddly]

What vehicle?

 

[Howard]

99 Civic

 

[Throckmorton]

I have no idea. If you had a truck you could probably use the axles.

 

[Howard]

I once used the lower A-arms to keep the car up but I'm afraid they'll slide off. Maybe I can build some ramps out of wood.

 

[T2urtle]

when i'm jacking up a car knowing that i'll be leaving them up on jack stands alone... i simply place the jack behind my pinch weld and jack up the car and placing the stand at the weld.

i've done a lot of diffrent points on diffrent cars. you just need a spot to lift the car and slide a stand under there.

 

[RedArmy]

Why not just use the cross member?

 

[radioouman]

Just be careful if you decide to use the subframe. I bent the subframe beneath the driver's door and passenger's door on 2 S-series Saturns by jacking on them. Oops.

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Howard
I once used the lower A-arms to keep the car up but I'm afraid they'll slide off. Maybe I can build some ramps out of wood.

Ramps won't work if you need to use jackstands and let the wheels hang. If you just need access to the underside.. Well I wouldn't build ramps out of wood. You can buy some for not too much money I think.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Most cars have multiple points, usually ones for stands and one for each end. Look for a crossmember.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: RedArmy
Why not just use the cross member?

Most newer cars I jack them up from the crossmember, whether engine or the some other structural piece crossing between there.

Then throw the stands under the front "frame".