Where can you place a floorjack?

[SVTCJ]

I have a CSVT and I want to lift the rear of the car so I can level it when changing the transmission fluid. The front will be on ramps.

In the manual, the only listed jacking points are the spots on the side.

I have a floor jack and need to know if there is a place sturdy enough to use it instead of the pitiful scissor jack. I'd like to lift it from the center rear and then place the jackstands instead of one side at a time.

Can it be placed in the center of the rear suspension bracket? Or is that bracket too weak?

Where are any good points for a floorjack?

Thanks!

 

[Desiato]

Ramps on the front and jack stands on the rear sounds risky to me. Better to put it on four jack stands, I would think.

I have thought about this a lot recently. I searched the old forums @ http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat= and found these threads to be helpful:

http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=general&Number=1280116
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=general&Number=602441
http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=general&Number=379008

There are contradicting opinions, but it's a good place to start.

I'm a total newb, and not 100% sure on the safe places to jack up and support the car, even after reading those threads. I've jacked up my 95, but I'm less willing to make jacking errors with my SVT.

 

[rkneeshaw]

in case it was mentioned before, I tried using the "hooks" behind the rear bumper to jack up the rear but they just ended up bending in.

I use a floorjack now at the documented jackpoint and use a 2x4 on top of the jack seat to allow the jack to get around the height of the sideskirt.

 

[IRingTwyce]

I tried using the "hooks" behind the rear bumper to jack up the rear but they just ended up bending in.

The tow hook eyes definitely have no lateral strength to them at all. I experienced bending using them to secure the car to a trailer when moving it. Only use them for straight-on pulling, nothing off to the side.

 

[EuroTour]

I always lift the rear with the hooks. Jacking up high enough allows for both rear wheels to come off the ground. I've never had them even flinch under the weight. I am using a jack that i can take the plate off of and set the hook in the hole. :shrug:

 

[Berkel]

You guys talking about the skinny pieces of metal next to the tailpipe? Would have never thought about that :shocked:

I always jack the front up by the subframe, then do both rears with the crank jack :nonono:

Never heard of sticking a 2x4 in between the jack covers. Worth a try

 

[SVTJON87]

the frame rails you guys i use lifts and floor jacks, yes you can also use the pinch welds in the jack covers

 

[rkneeshaw]

Never heard of sticking a 2x4 in between the jack covers. Worth a try

not in between them. I place a small 1' long peice of 2x4 parallel to the side skirt, along the edge on the underside. Its right where you would place a jack, but use the 2x4 for the extra height needed for the jack to make contact around the backside of the sideskirt

 

[richs]

I also use a 2X4 for jacking. I cut a square so it fits in the pad of the floor jack. Then I cut a groove down the middle wide enough for the frame to fit into. For the SVT, I cut the groove to one side so not to interfer with the side skirt. I cut the groove across the grain so the block of wood does not crack.

Rich S

 

[SVTJON87]

they do make pinch weld adapers but thats a very good idea

 

[RCSchulz]

...I have a floor jack and need to know if there is a place sturdy enough to use it instead of the pitiful scissor jack. I'd like to lift it from the center rear and then place the jackstands instead of one side at a time.

Can it be placed in the center of the rear suspension bracket? Or is that bracket too weak?
...
On my 2000 Mystique, which likely has the same unibody, there is a horizontal plate in the center that ties together the front & rear links for the rear wheels. An exhaust hanger is welded to that plate towrds the driver's side, which prevents centering a jack pad at that point. However, a ~3.75 inch piece of 2x4 fits in the open area, flat across the plate, with one end under the front vertical member that the rear wheel link ties into, the other under the rear, and only slightly off-center from side to side. With another piece of 2x4 to provide clearance between the jack pad and the exhaust pipe etc, and the handle of the floor jack at the rear passenger corner, that works fine for lifting the entire rear of the car. As for that point being slightly off-center, there's not much effect: The passenger side wheel is about 1 inch off the floor when the driver's side wheel comes off the floor.

I don't see any damage to the vehicle from the above. On my vehicle, there's a ridge of welding slag on the bottom edge of that plate, which makes a dent into the wood, but that's one of the reasons to use wood.

 

[Smalls]

are you serious? you brought up a thread thats 2 years old

 

[D.Acker]

are you serious? you brought up a thread thats 2 years old

At least we know they did some searching before asking!:laugh:

 

[Ray]

are you serious? you brought up a thread thats 2 years old

Uh.. obviously he's serious... ??

I'm rather IMPRESSED that a member SEARCHED and browsed and replied to an already existing thread rather than make a useless post like most members.

I applaud him, fwiw.

 

[blu_fuz]

I like to see some searching results like this....

Oh yah, don't jack the car like this:

 

[elraido]

Better to put it on four jack stands, I would think.

:help: My craftsman stands say you should never do that.

 

[Dyoel182]

Never put it up on 4 stands you mean?

 

[elraido]

Never put it up on 4 stands you mean?

yup. the weight rating on the stands is per pair with the other half of the car resting on the ground. They aren't designed to support the weight of a whole car being on them.

 

[Dyoel182]

I'd be more concerned with the car rocking. Thats what scares me.

 

[Rara]

yup. the weight rating on the stands is per pair with the other half of the car resting on the ground. They aren't designed to support the weight of a whole car being on them.

Why would it matter what the other part of the car is resting on? All that matters is that the load rating of the stand is not exceeded and that you have a stable 4-point rest when the car is set.

I typically jack the car from the side on the pinch flange with a ~18" long piece of wood to spread the load and prevent damage to the flange. Then I use two stands per side, one under the front subframe at the rear bolt, and the rear stand goes on the pinch flange at the "official" rear jack point. Always make sure the car is stable before crawling under or anything. I will usually give the car a pretty decent shove to unsure it is set well. If there is any indication of movement, I'll reset everything.