Wow, this is why I dont do my own work
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 646
Likes: 8
From: Lombard, IL
Originally Posted by Orjinal' timestamp='1357864590' post='22259396
[quote name='34witt' timestamp='1357841149' post='22258386']
Not everyone is a mechanic or cares enough to learn. How many people driving know where to jack a car up? I would guess 5/10. So they all need to buy bikes too?
Not everyone is a mechanic or cares enough to learn. How many people driving know where to jack a car up? I would guess 5/10. So they all need to buy bikes too?
Its easy to do, and easy to do wrong if you're not careful. People need to realize they are leveraging hundreds if not thousands of pounds on a single point, and if that point is not reinforced, you will bend or break something.
There are specific points to jack a car at, and there are other hard points that can support the weight. I believe knowing and using both are fine, but beyond knowing where the points are, you need to know how to interact with them, and how the jacking equipment will interact with them.
I jack my car at the jack points, and rest the car on jack stands that fit up with the frame rails. I don't jack from a rail because there is nothing to hold the shoe in place. I place my stands on the rails where there are no soft points that will crush with weight. etc...
OP, it could always be worse...
[/quote]
poor lotus
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,643
Likes: 103
From: Irvine
On the subject of the front/side jack points, it's very easy to tell, you don't even need to look at any manual...here's how it goes---
1. look at the front, 2 areas that look like they are for jacking up? which one is it? let's inspect the rear first then...
2. look at the rear/side jack point/pinch weld (there is only 1)--remember what it looks like,
3. look back at the front and say "oohhh, i should probably choose the one that looks like the rearward jack point"
As for ramps, if you are competent enough to do ANY work on your car, including an oil change, you can go to home depot or Lowes and make your own ramp for $15-20 a pair. Buy a long plank, do the math and have Home Depot or Lowes cut each step of the ramp to size. all you need to do is take the pieces home and use wood screws or wood glue to attach them to each other. Save yourself some money, have fun making something useful and you can customize it to however low your car is (super low? make a more gradual incline with longer planks).
I will take a picture of mine when i get home.
1. look at the front, 2 areas that look like they are for jacking up? which one is it? let's inspect the rear first then...
2. look at the rear/side jack point/pinch weld (there is only 1)--remember what it looks like,
3. look back at the front and say "oohhh, i should probably choose the one that looks like the rearward jack point"
As for ramps, if you are competent enough to do ANY work on your car, including an oil change, you can go to home depot or Lowes and make your own ramp for $15-20 a pair. Buy a long plank, do the math and have Home Depot or Lowes cut each step of the ramp to size. all you need to do is take the pieces home and use wood screws or wood glue to attach them to each other. Save yourself some money, have fun making something useful and you can customize it to however low your car is (super low? make a more gradual incline with longer planks).
I will take a picture of mine when i get home.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,643
Likes: 103
From: Irvine
Here are my DIY ramps, low enough to fit underneath my bumper and sides, also gets my car high enough for a low profile jack to reach the front/center jack point. They stack nicely together too, something no other $70+ set of ramps do.
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 181
From: Long Island, NY