Jacking/Support Questions

[vjaneczko]

OK, this may seem like a noobie question, but I just want to be safe and I’m too old to be embarrassed by asking questions!

I’ll be working on my shocks and struts this weekend (my first time with suspension work) so I want to make sure I’m supporting the car properly. Is there a suggested/recommended method of jacking up the car and getting it on stands?

I’ve got a 2.5 ton floor jack and four 3 ton jack stands. My first thought was if I were to use the single jack point in the middle of the side of the car (for use with the factory jack) it would raise the first side without problem, but jacking up the second side of the car would seem a little dangerous. Should I jack each corner and position one stand at a time or is there a single point where I can jack up the front (and then the rear) so I can position two stands at a time?

Another question: once the first half of the car is on the stands, is a 2.5 ton floor jack strong enough to jack up the other half of the car safely?

And yet another: These are the stands I have:
http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive ... 38846.html
With that notch at the top, is there a specific location where I should (or should NOT) place them under the car?

[jblackburn]

No need to do it like that. Jack up the car from the middle on a part of the sub-frame, and then slip a jack stand under each side and let it down.

Here you go:
http://volvospeed.com/~volvo/Repair/jackingpoints.php

I roll mine up under it and jack right before the cat converter there.

Slide your jack stands under the rails on each side under the doors towards the front of the car.

[bigdaddylee82]

Changing the oil, brakes, struts, etc. I use my floor jack and lift the front of the car by the front engine cross-member (engine cradle/K-member/whatever it's called) behind the radiator. Floor jack in the center of the cross-member where the front engine mount is. Using the same Harbor Freight jack-stands you have pictured, I place them just in front of the lower control arm mounts on either side of the engine cradle.

2.5 Tons is 5000 Lbs. Yes it will safely lift more than half of your car, but I'd just lift the whole front at once. Put the parking brake on, and chock a tire with a board or something.

- Lee

[writer100]

FYI, the manual for my jack does not recommend supporting the car entirely on jack stands, that is, all wheels removed and supported on 4 jackstands. Just passing that on.

I recommend going to pep boys and purchasing 4 wheel chocks to use on the rear tires.

In this category especially, better safe than sorry applies.


Alex

[bigdaddylee82]

There are some things you just can't do with out lifting the entire car, and that's what jack stands are designed for.

Best I could find on the work computer. HF Jack Stands and Pressure Treated 6x6s. Had to get the car high enough to drop the engine/trans/cradle assembly from underneath:



- Lee

[cn90]

1. The Volvospeed link above is good.

2. My rules of thumbs for ANY car:
- Follow the control arms where they meet the subframe: that spot is always a good spot for lifting: jackstand under the subframe (not under the control arm).
- I use the jackstands at its lowest setting (if possible): basically you cannot lower the jackstand any lower. This way it rests all the way down. I feel uncomfortable when the jack stand is all the way up at its high setting.

Anyway this is what I use (from a BMW forum):

jack2.jpg (74.42 KiB) Viewed 19547 times

- Last line of defense (yes, although rare, jackstand can fail!), I place a tire with a piece of 2x4 wood on top of the tire under the chassis near where I work as the "last line of defense"!

- Have a cell phone nearby in case of emergency.

And read and read and read before doing any major work.

-------------------------
BTW, I wrote Front and Rear Strut/Shock DIYs here:

FRONT Suspension:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=28455

REAR Suspension:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=28318

[writer100]

Read the manual that came with your jackstands.

I'm no expert on jackstand safety, but the manufacturer/designer of your jackstands is. Not only do they know a thing or two about their correct usage, but if you have a Bad Day, in the ensuing investigation/lawsuit, that little piece of paper manual, the instructions contained therein, and your compliance or noncompliance to them will be of enormous interest to you/your survivors and all the parties to the lawsuit.

Read the manual.

[cn90]

1+.

However, if you are dead from a failure of jackstand (or improperly placed jackstand), you cannot sue from your grave.

Anyway, I always have a "last line of defence" tire/wood combo laying near where I work.

[vjaneczko]

-------------------------
BTW, I wrote Front and Rear Strut/Shock DIYs here:

FRONT Suspension:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=28455

REAR Suspension:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=28318

Those posts, which I’ve read a million times, are what gave me the confidence that I can tackle the suspension on my own! I especially like how the shock write-up features a wagon!

Read the manual that came with your jackstands.

LOL, you got that right. I’m of the (apparent) minority that if you don’t R.T.F.M. then you deserve what happens!

[terraczy]

No need to do it like that. Jack up the car from the middle on a part of the sub-frame, and then slip a jack stand under each side and let it down.

Here you go:
http://volvospeed.com/~Volvo/Repair/jackingpoints.php

I roll mine up under it and jack right before the cat converter there.

Slide your jack stands under the rails on each side under the doors towards the front of the car.

That link isn't working for me for some reason.