Does anybody else hate jacking up a car :(

[Legacywr]

As per title, I hate, and get apprehensive about jacking a car, and suspending it on axle stands

Even the guy in the tyre shop says he still struggles with it.

As an example, I want to swap the lowering blocks on the rear suspension on my Mk1 Escort, I have no issue with the spanner work involved, but where to jack it, where to put the axle stands etc. Yes, there will be guides and YT videos, but I’ll still be as nervous as heck!

[danb79]

No problems at all; this is my 635d currently:




Front end jacked up using the front subframe jack-pad; rear end jacked up using the diff, axle stands placed under each side jacking point, and x2 old trolley jacks supporting the front & rear for extra measure

Take your time; get the stands set up under the car and lower it down onto them slowly to ensure they’re where they need to be - after that it’s not going anywhere

[Jazoli]

I used to until I bought a decent jack, the one on that 6 series gives me the fear.

[Baldchap]

Since my lift went through the bottom of a couple of rotten banger rally cars I certainly pause more than I used to.

[Faust66]

So glad it's not just me!

I always get the fear when jacking a car up. Don't know why: in the 30 years I've been working on cars I've never had an issue, but there's always the "what if?" thought that goes through your head.

[renmure]

Yup. I can so much associate myself with the trepidation in having any part of jacking or raising a car.

[worldwidewebs]

I always hated it and could never work out how to get all 4 corners on stands safely. Then I bought a scissor lift and it all became trivial. If I didn't have the space for a scissor lift I'd get one of those Quickjack things rather than use axle stands

[LittleBobbyTables]

Not here.

Most of it comes from having confidence in the tools (good quality ones!) and experience.

[LightweightLouisDanvers]

No, no issues at all. Decent tools and common sense.

[griffsomething]

More axle stands than you actually need and also put the wheel you’ve taken off (if you have) under on its side, if they fail, it likely won’t be able to crush a wheel too.

[sixor8]

Way back in the early 90s, I tried to jack a Mk 5 Cortina and it just crushed the jacking points into the sills,they were rotten. Ever since, I've preferred a trailing arm or sub frame if possible. The easiest are cars with a rear beam like little Fiats, Renault etc.

I had a 2008 GT Alfa with front jack damage. They'd helpfully marked the sill covers but the actual jacking point is about 10cm inboard of the sill. Lots of them have crush damage there.

[_Rodders_]

Doesn't bother me per se. Having a decent low profile jack with a decent pump to height increase ratio makes it a doddle.

I do find it annoying that the pinnacle of automotive engineering seems to be jack it up on the pinch weld.

I use a hockey puck with a slit in to try and protect them paint and then give it a quick spray with Bilt Hamber Dynax when I'm done just incase I did take any paint off.

[Joe M]

Used to find it a bit awkward, especially due to slope on the drive. Not anymore.

[SS427 Camaro]

Joe M said:

Used to find it a bit awkward, especially due to slope on the drive. Not anymore.

Are the cars sills resting on those platforms ?

[SS427 Camaro]

Anyone who struggles to jack their car up, hasnt had the pleasure of ( Correctly ) jacking a TVR Griffith up.....

[Legacywr]

SS427 Camaro said:

Anyone who struggles to jack their car up, hasnt had the pleasure of ( Correctly ) jacking a TVR Griffith up.....

I jacked up a Sagaris, I seem to remember that’s was reasonably easy as there was plenty of metal underneath suitable for jacking on.

Having to jack the car up to change the battery, though…

[remedy]

I've worked under 70s beetles, so am well comfortable under an axle stand.
Jacks less so. They give me the geebies until I've got a stand under there.

Of course, when we all had balloon tyres it was easy to slide a wheel under the car too as extra protection.

[keo]

I put Jack pads under my A3 that made it a doddle. Sure my brothers e46 m3 had some type of built in Jack pad so that was easy.

Lotus Elise platform cars are strange to jack up. Flat underneath. Stickers tell you where to jack but they can go missing. Funny centre of gravity on them as well.

[danb79]

Joe M said:

Used to find it a bit awkward, especially due to slope on the drive. Not anymore.

I think a set of these might be my Christmas treat to me this year… It does get tiresome with trolley jacks and axle stands at times; much easier to store too on their wall-mounts

[danb79]

Jazoli said:

I used to until I bought a decent jack, the one on that 6 series gives me the fear.

As stated; they’re old ones I rarely use any more, and just under the front/rear points for extra support/peace of mind

I used my Draper Pro low-rise trolley jack for the proper lifting; superb buy too. Lifts the car with ease and only a few pumps too