Jacking the car (Updated!)
 

This is a common need for people doing brake or suspension work. This one is pretty easy, but requires having the right tools, which is just a simple jack, and a set of stands.

https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil...8/Jacking1.JPG

First, and MOST importantly, SET THE PARKING BRAKE! You might even consider blocking the wheels. Here's the front first.

Jack the car directly from the front using the powertrain cradle frame. There is even a notch on the left side of the frame if you want, but with a decent jack, you can go right from the center.

https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil...8/Jacking2.JPG

Jack it as high as you like, but at least enough to get the stands under. If you plan to remove your wheels, remember to loosen the lug nuts before lifting the wheels off the ground.

Now set your stands. Use the same powertrain frame, except put one on each side as close to the front axle line as you can get.

https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil...8/Jacking3.JPG

That picture shows the jack already removed. When removing the jack, let it down slowly until the stands seat properly.

Now the rear is actually a bit more tricky. Remember that placing your stands depends on what you plan on doing under the car. This location allows you do anything to your rear axle except for actually removing the axle. Here is the jack point I use, with the location of the stand.

https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil.../Jackpoint.JPG

While not shown in that picture, you should use a small block of wood between the jack and the frame to help spread out the load. The unibody steel at that location is really not strong enough for a jack point by itself. The stand however placed right over the axle mount is perfect.

Here is the total rear axle.

https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil.../Rearpoint.JPG

Don't jack or support the car from the axle itself.

Look ma! No wheels!

https://www.cobaltss.net/gallery/fil...8/Onstands.JPG

Nice write up, I see people asking all the time how/ where to jack up there car.

later

very nice writeup. someone should sticky that as a how-to or something along those lines.

What about the rear of the car? I know I have probably been doing something wrong :lol:

I usually put mine more toward the front of the car, one on either side of the jackpoint

i just get 2 big friends, have each one grab onto a wheel and give a 6 pack to whoever can lift their side the fastest...

works well.

so you dont jack it up on the oil pan?????? ;)

Naw, I dont wanna make the crack in it any bigger ;)

lol isn't that how you get the oil out to change it?

Yeah, i put in a quart of oil a week, and the road takes my old oil!

I'll see about making a side and rear jacking how to for you later.

just givin it back to mother earth :lol:

Thanks!

Ya, so those bastards in the middle east can pick it up and charge us 25x more for it

yup thats what i did when i did my brake lines...looked kinda funny to see it like that....lol

Do you use the jack stand positions because you have sideskirts? I put my jack stands under the lip on the side where you jack the car up with the scissor jack. I also use the rear axle beam thingy to jack up the rear.

You should not use the unibody weld for stands. The metal can fold over. The scissor jack has a slot specifically to prevent the metal from folding, while a stand is just flat. The engine cradle is the strongest part of the structure.

Do not use the rear beam axle to jack unless you are using the trailing link portion right near each wheels hub. The axle beam itself is designed to bend and twist while driving. It will do the same thing if you jack from it. I still wouldn't do it, because you are now jacking the suspension under the cars weight. Meaning, the rear spring is still holding up the car. You should always jack a non-movable part of the frame, not a part of the suspension.

dude the first time i saw this i thought you meant like "how to steal a car" in the title lol.

But as far as putting it up on a jack, i just learned something new with the E-brake. I wouldn't have thought of that before you said something. But now i feel stupid that i didn't, that's pretty dangerous.

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I'll take pictures of our Rotary hoist at work and where we put the jack points on my car. Makes work much easier having tools right there. We put the rear jack points right where you have it on the rear of the vehicle, but on the front we put it right on that little bump behind the wheel (or close to it.. you can't miss it).

Um.. I did this once, when I was installing my springs. I jacked it up from there and just threw jack stands on the pinch welds, which isn't a problem at all, but what would be the consequences of jacking it up from the rear axle directly?

If you jacked it at the individual spring buckets or the hubs, thats fine. I am refering to jacking the entire rear at one time from the center of the axle. It is a twist beam axle, and it flexes. So besides for it not being a safe surface to jack from, it can possible bend the axle. But it would not be likely.

No, I quickly jacked up the entire rear at once from the center of the axle, then threw jack stands under the car, so it's not like I left it sitting on the jack on the rear axle. I should be good though, because I'm sure I would notice if something was messed up.

Yeah, that actually is bad. Don't do that anymore.

Wow I deff haven't been putting front stands in the right place then...