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Instruments of Death P2 Volvo Jack

Help, Advice, Owners' Discussion and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's stylish, distinctive P2 platform cars sold as model years 2001-2007 (North American market year designations).

2001 - 2007 V70
2001 - 2004 V70 XC (Cross Country)
2004 - 2007 XC70 (Cross Country)
2001 - 2009 S60
2003 - 2007 S60 R
2004 - 2007 V70 R

This topic is in the MVS Volvo Repair Database » Are Volvo Jacks Dangerous?
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jonesg
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Re: Instruments of Death P2 Volvo Jack

Post by jonesg »

I'm carrying the HF speedjack and 1 jackstand in the car since my scissor jack seized.
Could be dangerous but anyone rolling a volvo deserves to get hit with a jack.
I used to have neat little folding chocks from pep boys, forgot they were behind the wheel and drove them.
They got flattened.

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Post by jblackburn »

abscate wrote: 25 Jun 2017, 09:14 Is it different than the P80?

I love the P80 jack but have never used my P2
The P80 jack is absolutely terrifying unless you are on an absolute 0* slope.

Since you often can't pick when you have a flat...look out. We all know P80 parking brakes have a tendency to...not work, so tiny foot, tiny shift as the car comes off the ground = very prone to falling over once the wheels come off the ground.

I went and got a Jeep jack with a nice big foot for mine and left it in the trunk. Even fits in the little point.
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Post by abscate »

We all know P80 parking brakes have a tendency to...not work, s
They don't even put them on the cars they build in Austria...

:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Post by ZionXIX »

At some point rspi posted of video showing how his spare tire jack actually failed with out him noticing. It looked like the stationary threaded component (made of plastic) had stripped and allowed the car to come down slowly. Why would anyone manufacture a vital component out of plastic....
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Post by cmblackburn »

The P80 ones are pretty awful. I've broken 3 98 jacks unexpectedly just taking wheels off, the things just bend over and collapse. It's terrifying.
I now carry around the jack and toolkit from my sister's totaled 01 Ford Escape, as the lug wrench doesn't bend like play-doh (like the Volvo ones do) and it's actually a pretty stout jack.
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Post by chrism »

Why worry about the jack? Volvo doesn't even put spare tires in the cars any more.

enotslim
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Post by enotslim »

I need a floor jack but storage space is very limited. It would be great if the 2 ton compact trolley jack from harbor freight (#62117 for example) actually works. Anyone have experience with this jack? It's a matter of space, not price. If it leaks I can replace the o-rings as described by CN90 at Fix your floor jack. (Good jack stands seem more important than a fancy jack.)
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Post by jblackburn »

enotslim wrote: 10 Dec 2017, 02:52 I need a floor jack but storage space is very limited. It would be great if the 2 ton compact trolley jack from harbor freight (#62117 for example) actually works. Anyone have experience with this jack? It's a matter of space, not price. If it leaks I can replace the o-rings as described by CN90 at Fix your floor jack. (Good jack stands seem more important than a fancy jack.)
It works if you use it relatively infrequently. They're cheap junk and we've had each last about a year, maybe a bit more. Get a jack pad or you'll crush the metal you're using to lift the car.
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Post by vtl »

enotslim wrote: 10 Dec 2017, 02:52 I need a floor jack but storage space is very limited. It would be great if the 2 ton compact trolley jack from harbor freight (#62117 for example) actually works. Anyone have experience with this jack? It's a matter of space, not price. If it leaks I can replace the o-rings as described by CN90 at Fix your floor jack. (Good jack stands seem more important than a fancy jack.)
It was my the only jack for 6 years. Zero maintenance. Of course it is cheap and the quality can differ. Of course it is only used to raise a vehicle high enough to fit two jack stands, one 2 ton under front jack brace and another 3 ton under subframe. Wheels choked of course.

The only problem with this jack it is too low for XC, you have to use 2x4. I recently got another HF jack, higher and sturdier, plus a bottle jack, but still use this small red jack pretty much every time I need to take suspension apart.

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Post by abscate »

I found hockey pucks make great jack pads for raising lift - I got a bag of them of Amazon for cheap.

They also fit the subframe pad without screwing up the big bolt if you take a divit out of them with a wood boring bit.

They store wonderfully in the crotch of the floor jack, too.

I got the idea of pucks watching a mechanic raising a King Lear jet..
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