Using the "frame" is bad for the same reasons that using the front-most tab is bad. Its too thin to safely hold up a car on the tiny surface area of a jack stand. You can put the stand where the rail doubles up...but you'll probably still dent it at some point.

The lifting tabs are also meant to safely distribute the weight of the car, while being out of the way for service. Think of how much closer to the centerline of the car the "frame rails" are. Makes it easier to tip over. The tabs keep the stands at a wider distance.

Also...the "frame rails" put the jack stand in the way if you're trying to get an oil drain pan down there.

The lifting tabs are where you want to put the stands. When using the term "frame rail", realize that we aren't talking about a heavy structure like on a truck. Its a raised portion of the unibody. Its very thin steel thats bonded and tack welded to the equally thin, big, flat floor pan area.

If I only have ONE floor jack available...my method is to:
-Jack one REAR corner using the tab. Both wheels will lift up on that side.
-Once the front lifts high enough, sneak a jackstand under that front corner lifting tab.
-Put the jack down. Let the car rest on the front corner that is jack standed.
-Move the jack to the front center jacking point.
-Jack it up as high as you want.
-Set jackstands under BOTH front lifting tabs.
-Move the jack to the rear diff lifting point. Jack the rear up as high as you need it.
-Put two jack stands under the rear lifting tabs.

Way easier.

With 2 floor jacks, its even easier-er. Jack up one of the front tabs high enough to get the 2nd jack under the front central lifting point.

Another trick would be to drive the front wheels up onto two old, trash worthy brake rotors. That should get you high enough to get a jack under the front center point.


I'll be working on my car to track prep it sometime this week. I can take pics of the above process if anyone's interested.

This would be nice. Thanks!

Agreed. I do ALL of my own service, and have had my car up on stands in the "wrong" position several dozen times for sure over my 10 years of ownership - two clutch jobs, numerous brake jobs, s/c install, numerous fluid changes, etc. My tabs aren't bent 10% as bad as his pics show.

When I purchased my car I noticed that on the passenger side someone had used s Jack under the front closest set of tabs. It bent one of the tabs and it's noticeable but no where near as bad as the pictures above. As someone else said it looks almost like a speed bump incident or possibly the previous owner went up onto a curb or something of that nature.

I'll will update with some pics of crushed fenders next time they stop in.

Thanks for the comments guys, I have removed the video to update it with the correct information.

To be honest I was wondering which of the two sections in the front is the 'correct' postion. Both sections have extra material and on my car there is signs of wear on both sections.

This is what the manual has:

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...age&img=146867

Video has been edited and re-posted.

y wouldn't you just put the jack stands on the sub frame front and rear? I find this to be the most stable and not damage anything. also lift the back from the sub frame and not crush the diff bushings. also a good Idea to always double check the jack stands to insure that all four corners are making full contact with the floor after its up on all four. when lifting any car jack it up and lower it down slow ensure the wheel don't get caught on crack or small rock and the jack slips. also I keep a fifth jack stand next to me when working and I prefer 6 ton stands due to the wider base. only a few bucks more when buying. just an idea use your head do what you feel is safe. lmk if there's something unsafe about this always good to hear suggestions

just an fyi if using jack stands on black top be careful the stands don't sink into the hot asphalt