jacking up the car

[cslsuperfan]

quick question relating to brett's thread on racing jacks

I usually put the car on stands during the winter months and find it a bit of a game getting the car safely up on the 4 axles.

Where's the best place for placing the trolley jack for safe lifting assuming you want to use the jacking points to site the axle stands?

I usually use the trailing arm box section for raising the rear but the front is not so obvious.

[mattCSLnut]

quick question relating to brett's thread on racing jacks

I usually put the car on stands during the winter months and find it a bit of a game getting the car safely up on the 4 axles.

Where's the best place for placing the trolley jack for safe lifting assuming you want to use the jacking points to site the axle stands?

I usually use the trailing arm box section for raising the rear but the front is not so obvious.

Just out of interest Ben, why do you do that every winter ? It seems a little OTT ;)

[shimmy]

whilst i can see the benefit of having tyres not under load on one spot, tbh id rather the shocks werent extended all winter

[mattCSLnut]

whilst i can see the benefit of having tyres not under load on one spot, tbh id rather the shocks werent extended all winter
Very true ;) one way to keep the tyres round and free from flat spots is to over inflate them to 40 psi cold and push the car back a bit, then forward every few weeks :thumbs:

[J2LTB]

I'm pretty sure there's a jacking point in the center of the reinforcement plate under the engine. Link to a pic

http://www.zpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95663

[NZ_M3]

Front - rubber jacking pad just in front of the Aluminium brace plate - black hockey puck thing
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/6912539402_feaa559f19_o.jpg
Rear - subframe carrier U box section just before the differential.
http://invertedgonzo.com/lj/e46/partsexplained1.jpg

Those two are the official safe jacking points front and rear.

If you can't get to the front one - use a small ramp to lift the front ... or as I would do sometimes - use two jack - one on the passenger side front jacking pad to slightly tilt the car up (without lifting off the wheels) then get that front jack in to the front jacking pad point.

And NEVER use the rear side jacking point to jack up one side of the car - those are very very weak and will bend into the chassis frame.
http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu293/Mryan1989/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0397.jpg

[GregorFuk]

If you can't get to the front one - use a small ramp to lift the front ... or as I would do sometimes - use two jack - one on the passenger side front jacking pad to slightly tilt the car up (without lifting off the wheels) then get that front jack in to the front jacking pad point.



Easier still. Use the front sill jacking points in turn to jack each side high enough to get a house brick under the front wheel. Once up on bricks you should have enough height to get you jack under the front of the car and reach the front central jacking point.

[cslsuperfan]

Thanks to all for advice and images.

Very helpful indeed

I f***ing love this site.:smt055