8 replies to this topic

[Neon trifle]

Hi
So I have been messing under the car, only had it a few weeks. Today jacked up front end using transmission then put anxle stands under the front sub frames. I thought this was the correct way but later reading the Haynes book it suggests that one should NEVER lift the front end of the car with the gearbox, but another book I have says you can. Any answers or tips on this one? could I have damamged something. simply I would like to know the 4 safe points for axle stands and where do I jack from to get these in (one end at a time as I only have 2 stands
Does it really matter where I put the anxle stands front and rear, as long as I am not trapping pipes and stuff, because I have never seem a decent drawing that shows where to put anxle stands. I see a small area on booth ends that maybe look reinforced but if I jack on those points how can I get my anxle stands in. How viable are subfrmaes if I jack in the wrong place?

I am sure my questions are getting dafter.....Neon :grin:

[Guess-Works.com]

If your getting either the front or rear up on axles stands it's normal to require as much room as possible. I always jack the car up on the subframe front or rear and put axle stands under the floor pad with a substantial plank of wood ( 1/2 scafolding plank is ideal )

As for jacking up under the gearbox, it's not recommended as you're stressing the engine mounts ( in the opposite direction to which they are designed to ), but on the odd occcasion it will not do too much harm, just not leave it jacked up on the box, plus unless you use a block to spread the lift you could damage the box casing.

[miniman5]

if you worrid about damaging the subframes

1) put some wood on teh park of the jack that is going to be pushing against the car

2) just put it in the middle of the subframe and the bit that looks the strongest

[Jordie]

theres jacking places designed on subframe. I always jack up there, even if it means its abit harder to get axle stands in.

Little ramps can be usefull i have found for smaller jobs.

[Jammy]

There are designated jacking points along the sills, but they usually rust out, and don't seem to be very good for jacking a car on!! And on my mini I can't even get my jack under it anyway!!

[Guess-Works.com]

Mine too.... that really anoys them of at MOT time :grin:

[Bungle]

or when you get new tyres

dont let them jack the car up on the tie bar mounts

[Dan]

I generally lift the car by the gearbox with a thick plywood pad I have made to the right size which locates into the trolley jack shoe. And I normally put the stands under the frame at the front, on the triangular sections under the bottom arms again using a shaped wooden pad to spread the load which fits the axle stand shoe.
Or as Guessworks says, if you need more access to the frame you put the stands under the body with as much load spreading as possible and close to strengthened areas.

On the sills the only jacking points are for the factory jack. The spacered rectangular plates at each end of the sills ARE NOT FOR LIFTING THE VEHICLE. You will do damage of you use them for lifting. These plates are called slinging shoes and are for carrying empty, bare bodyshells around the factory, down the welding line and into the paintshop. They aren't designed to hold up a built up body shell and they do bend easily.

[Jammy]

Ahhhh, I see, No wonder my jack went through the slightly rusted slinging shoe!!!