Jacking up and axle stands
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 11:22 pm
(slightly) embarrassingly, begin a novice, I have never jacked up and supported a car on axle stands. I own a low profile jack and some ratchet stands which I bought a few years back, and are obviously in good condition, having never been used.
I've done some work underneath my Mk1 and Mk2 years back, but the car was on ramps that I borrowed from a friend, who is unfortunately no longer a friend.
I'm looking to do an oil change. Have all the kit ready to go. But I want to make doubly sure about jacking up and placing on stands in a correct and safe manner and not be one of "those guys" who does it slapdash, like so many stories I hear about (a mate of mine told me earlier that the first time he ever jacked and standed a car, it was a Land Rover and he did it on grass! fFor God's sake!).
I have a level driveway (concrete). And I understand the safety stuff - leave the jack underneath somewhere, chock the wheels, rock the car to check etc. - belt and braces.
Yesterday a mobile tyre fitter turned up and attempted to jack up my rocco by the pinch welds. He gave up, stating they were bent and would not accept his jack. I was quite grateful actually that he was professional didn't go ahead. Gonna have to have it four point lifted in the centre instead.
So I'm not happy about the pinch welds. The are all bent up, however, don't seem rusty at all.
I understand I can put my axle stands on the "Control Arm mounting point"? This is the bushing where the control arm bolts on to the body, right? The place on the control arm furthest away from the wheel? And orientate the curve of the stand around the bushing? The control arm being that kind of right angled unit that goes from the body to the wheel. Forgive me, I only really know about engines, but am trying to learn more about the underside. Everyone's gotta start somewhere, right?
Where to jack from? Should I use the lifting "donuts" that are slightly further in from the pinch welds? With a block of wood? I understand these are more for the four point lift but can be used with a trolley jack in conjunction with a spreader, such as wood.
Can I still use the pinch welds even though they are bent? I could try and post a picture if you like.
All the diagrams I see seem a little vague and I can't work out exactly where to put everything. Can someone post a really exact picture with the places I need to use?
Also, is it ok to use these techniques to jack up the whole front one corner at a time? I understand that one needs to monitor the first axle stand while one is jacking up the second corner to check for slippage. Correct?
Thanks for bearing with me, am just learning and want to make sure I do things safely.
I've done some work underneath my Mk1 and Mk2 years back, but the car was on ramps that I borrowed from a friend, who is unfortunately no longer a friend.
I'm looking to do an oil change. Have all the kit ready to go. But I want to make doubly sure about jacking up and placing on stands in a correct and safe manner and not be one of "those guys" who does it slapdash, like so many stories I hear about (a mate of mine told me earlier that the first time he ever jacked and standed a car, it was a Land Rover and he did it on grass! fFor God's sake!).
I have a level driveway (concrete). And I understand the safety stuff - leave the jack underneath somewhere, chock the wheels, rock the car to check etc. - belt and braces.
Yesterday a mobile tyre fitter turned up and attempted to jack up my rocco by the pinch welds. He gave up, stating they were bent and would not accept his jack. I was quite grateful actually that he was professional didn't go ahead. Gonna have to have it four point lifted in the centre instead.
So I'm not happy about the pinch welds. The are all bent up, however, don't seem rusty at all.
I understand I can put my axle stands on the "Control Arm mounting point"? This is the bushing where the control arm bolts on to the body, right? The place on the control arm furthest away from the wheel? And orientate the curve of the stand around the bushing? The control arm being that kind of right angled unit that goes from the body to the wheel. Forgive me, I only really know about engines, but am trying to learn more about the underside. Everyone's gotta start somewhere, right?
Where to jack from? Should I use the lifting "donuts" that are slightly further in from the pinch welds? With a block of wood? I understand these are more for the four point lift but can be used with a trolley jack in conjunction with a spreader, such as wood.
Can I still use the pinch welds even though they are bent? I could try and post a picture if you like.
All the diagrams I see seem a little vague and I can't work out exactly where to put everything. Can someone post a really exact picture with the places I need to use?
Also, is it ok to use these techniques to jack up the whole front one corner at a time? I understand that one needs to monitor the first axle stand while one is jacking up the second corner to check for slippage. Correct?
Thanks for bearing with me, am just learning and want to make sure I do things safely.