Jacking From Pinch Points

[JOESMITHF1]

Hi All,

Planning to do the very first 1000 miles oil change this weekend. I know there is a main jacking point under the car, but if i have two 3 tons jacks, is it safe to jack from each front side's pinch points simultaneously? I don't have a ramp, so wanted to see my options are.

thanks.

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[MooMoo]

Don't ever go under a car with just a jack holding it, 2 makes it a little less stupid but still stupid. if you don't want to get ramps, which are cheap, or jackstands then get a AGM Jack Rod which costs more than ramps or some jackstands.

Id get some jackstands, use your jack to jack up the car properly through the middle point (you do need some small ramps or just use 2x4s), then jack car up and use the jackstands on the pinch welds.

 

[JOESMITHF1]

Don't ever go under a car with just a jack holding it, 2 makes it a little less stupid but still stupid. if you don't want to get ramps, which are cheap, or jackstands then get a AGM Jack Rod which costs more than ramps or some jackstands.

Id get some jackstands, use your jack to jack up the car properly through the middle point (you do need some small ramps or just use 2x4s), then jack car up and use the jackstands on the pinch welds.

got it! thanks! will purchase a ramps.

 

[MooMoo]

got it! thanks! will purchase a ramps.

yeah man, they are super convenient. I also set the jack up as well as a second fail method just in case.

 

[MoodySara]

I use two jacks, one on each side, to jack up the front of the car by the outer front pinch-welds..
Then I place a 2' length of a 6"x6" beam under each front tire and lower the car to just touch the beams.
That's not going anywhere while I'm under the car.

 

[Stanleywinthrop]

got it! thanks! will purchase a ramps.

You can find some pretty cheap low profile ramps on Amazon that do the job just fine.

 

[Mawfuqqa]

since you have 2 jacks you can lift one side and then get the other one onto the central front jacking point

 

[optronix]

You can find some pretty cheap low profile ramps on Amazon that do the job just fine.

I beg to differ. I bought one of the low-profile ramp options off Amazon, and it doesn't raise the car enough for me to get the jack under the center point on my car with Eibach Pro-kit springs.

What I had to do was lift the rear as high as the jack will go, place jack stands, then lift the front and place jack stands... but the ramps helped with that. Not sure they're entirely necessary with this approach though.

The center point is a pain in the ass.

That said, when doing tires I lift at the pinch points.

 

[MooMoo]

I beg to differ. I bought one of the low-profile ramp options off Amazon, and it doesn't raise the car enough for me to get the jack under the center point on my car with Eibach Pro-kit springs.

What I had to do was lift the rear as high as the jack will go, place jack stands, then lift the front and place jack stands... but the ramps helped with that. Not sure they're entirely necessary with this approach though.

The center point is a pain in the ass.

That said, when doing tires I lift at the pinch points.

This also depends on the jack you have. I have a jack that not only is shorter but the actuation point is much lower so with 2.5in ramps is no problem, the other is not the case.

I agree, a pain in the ass, the jack point is pretty far in

 

[Stanleywinthrop]

I beg to differ. I bought one of the low-profile ramp options off Amazon, and it doesn't raise the car enough for me to get the jack under the center point on my car with Eibach Pro-kit springs.

That's your fault for having a lowered car.

 

[MooMoo]

Throw money at the problem best solution… get some quickjacks lol

 

[Nothing]

I've been jacking the front pinch welds and putting a low wood block cribbing under the front wheels so I can jack the center and place jack stands on the fronts. I like that I don't have to move around the wood when I rotate my tires and change oil. If I had ramps I would need to move it out of the way or buy the ones that can disconnect. There's some nice solutions but it's another thing to buy and worse, another thing to store.

Low car problems. Worse if lowered OR you have a flat. At least the chassis is stiff enough you can jack one pinch point and rotate tires on that side. That's pretty handy if you happen to not need to get under the car...

 

[optronix]

That's your fault for having a lowered car.

Did I say it wasn't?

 

[Spart]

I have multiple jacks but it's a PITA. You can get two jack stands under the front pinch welds without resorting to using the inconveniently placed center jacking point behind the engine.

ONLY DO THIS ON FLAT, LEVEL CONCRETE WITH THE CAR IN 1ST/REVERSE AND PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED.

• Jack one of the rear pinch welds, pretty high.
• The whole rear of the car will tend to lift up, both rear wheels off the ground and both front wheels on the ground.
• Walk around to the other side of the car from your jack and open the rear door.
• If necessary, place some weight on that side of the rear seat/floorboard, like dumbbells or kettlebells. About 70lbs worked for me with a full-ish tank of gas.
• Pull down on the open door on your side. The car will pivot on the front wheel on the side you're standing on and the jack, lifting the front wheel opposite from you. Let the car settle (particularly let the gas tank stop sloshing.) The rear wheel by you should now be on the ground and the front wheel on the opposite corner will be off the ground.
• Place a jackstand under the now-elevated front pinch weld.
• Lower the jack and reposition it on the rear pinch weld on the opposite side and raise.
• Place a jackstand under the other front pinch weld and lower the jack.
• If you need all four corners on jackstands, jack the rear jacking point near the exhaust and then place jackstands under the rear pinch welds. This one is easy to access with most any jack.

I use pads on my jackstands for the pinch welds that look exactly like this:

 

[ThunderPigeon]

I have ramps and still need a pair of 2 x 12 to get onto the ramps with to avoid damage to the front bumper and I'm not lowered. Even have larger than OEM diameter tires.

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