Pinch Weld Lift Pads - ZL1 vs Versus

[jdezee]

I learned today that these things exist, and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around all that's going on in here.

First of all, is the FL5 (and by proxy I'm assuming DE5) now added to the short list of the Camaro that extra bullshit like this is required to not destroy the lift points for these cars? I had to go through the mental gymnastics already of trying to use ramps to jack from the center only to nearly get my car trapped on the floor jack for eternity before someone said I didn't need to fuck with the center jack point anyway. I still used a rubber pad I bought from Amazon and seemed to work fine- at least no visible evidence that my car is destroyed.

Now forum wisdom suggests you need to strap these aluminum blocks to the bottom of your car? AND LEAVE THEM ON????

Seriously, I had to watch a video to know what the hell these things even were. In the video the guy literally mentioned how useful they are at the track. What. The. Fuck?

No way. These things could literally kill someone if they came flying off, and relying on people to make sure they accurately torque down a couple screws on an aftermarket part is all that stands in the way of that becoming a reality is not a comforting thought.

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills, this thread makes no sense.

I mean, I guess these things look like an effective way to not damage your car when you need to jack it up, but the extra effort of clamping them down seems unnecessary when a rubber pad will do the trick. What am I missing here? Why won't that work?

And no, I don't apparently have the disposable income to spend nearly $2k for a quickjack so I'm talking just regular ass floor jack here. Why would these even be considered as remotely necessary?

Someone pissed on your cheerios this morning... Deep breath...they are not necessary, like most of the aftermarket. They are an option for those that find a use in it. If you don't trust anyone to install it correctly then I guess you don't go on track with anyone who has aftermarket wheels also. Who can trust they torqued them right or any other aftermarket parts if that is the argument.

Rubber puck works great and this obviously isn't a product you see value in.

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[optronix]

Someone pissed on your cheerios this morning... Deep breath...they are not necessary, like most of the aftermarket. They are an option for those that find a use in it. If you don't trust anyone to install it correctly then I guess you don't go on track with anyone who has aftermarket wheels also. Who can trust they torqued them right or any other aftermarket parts if that is the argument.

Rubber puck works great and this obviously isn't a product you see value in.

Bullshit. Case in point.

I have had something fly out on me from under a car and was fucking scary, I was lucky and dodged it but could have beem a cracked windshield or as optronix mentioned kill someone.

Having to dodge something at high speed- we're not even talking about the part actually hitting anything- is irrefutably something that can lead to a crash. A crash at high speed can lead to death.

AMIRITE.

 

[jdezee]

Its not so much about damaging welds. Well the verus ones are but the ZL1 ones are not. The point of the ZL1 ones is that you can jack the car on them and put a jackstand on the extra reinforced pinch weld next to it. Reason this is sweet is so that you don't have to put the car on ramps then use the jack in the middle point to lift car, then put the jack stands. Are these needed? absolutely not but for users of jack stands they could come in handy.

Rubber pad works fine and arguably better since its soft and wont take paint off. This just makes things easier for people that want to put car on jack stands. The verus ones basically don't do that and are just there so that you don't have to dig the rubber pad, can just put the back/jackstand and go. Again none is necessary and can be argued that both are a case of people wanting to spend money on things they don't need.


As far as track goes, as I mentioned, PLEASE TAKE THESE FUCKING THNGS OFF. I don't care if you use loctite, shit rattles off and this coming from under a car into my windshield will not be a good time. I have had something fly out on me from under a car and was fucking scary, I was lucky and dodged it but could have beem a cracked windshield or as optronix mentioned kill someone.

They sell jack pinch weld pads that just sit in the jack instead of this product, these are intended to be permanently installed.

 

[MooMoo]

They sell jack pinch weld pads that just sit in the jack instead of this product, these are intended to be permanently installed.

I know that but you should not have these on track and ill die on this hill

 

[jdezee]

I know that but you should not have these on track and ill die on this hill

I understand the safety argument but where do you draw the line then. I've seen bolts come loose on aftermarket exhaust on track and fall off. I guess you cant have aftermarket exhaust on track either.

If any race track told me I couldn't run then I would have no problem taking them off.

Agree to disagree, I still think your cool because your in the FL5 fam!!

 

[jdezee]

Bullshit. Case in point.



Having to dodge something at high speed- we're not even talking about the part actually hitting anything- is irrefutably something that can lead to a crash. A crash at high speed can lead to death.

AMIRITE.

No argument about the danger of stuff on the track or falling on the track during a session. Like I said before if a track has a concern, I would rip them right off.

 

[nttran98]

I use this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T2VFK26?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1. Has magnet to stick on to frame, onetime i forgot to remove it after putting back the wheel, it steel on after a short drive.

 

[iforgettopee]

I use this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T2VFK26?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1. Has magnet to stick on to frame, onetime i forgot to remove it after putting back the wheel, it steel on after a short drive.

Thanks for the link - these are pretty neat, just bought a few of them for me and my mechanic

 

[2fast916]

Well I certainly didn't start this thread to create a controversy but, some of the thoughts provided are the reason why I originally wanted the mag pads. I preferred the idea of having to remember to install and remove vs. the potential for them falling off while driving.

Thanks for @nattran98 for the amazon link suggestion:

I use this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T2VFK26?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1. Has magnet to stick on to frame, onetime i forgot to remove it after putting back the wheel, it steel on after a short drive.

They are certainly cheap enough so, dropped an order to give them a try. In addition to feeling out the QuickJack goodies, when received and in operation....before adding a permanently installed pad.

Other than that, I will sit back with some popcorn and watch the show

 

[optronix]

I know that but you should not have these on track and ill die on this hill

Right there with you, this is crazy talk. It's like, the first thing I thought of when I realized these things were supposed to be left on.

No argument about the danger of stuff on the track or falling on the track during a session. Like I said before if a track has a concern, I would rip them right off.

It's good to see you're reasonable about it if asked, but the line you referenced is pretty easy to see. These parts aren't necessary, they don't really do much aside from basic convenience, but the risk of having one fall off while on track is insane, even if relatively low likelihood if installed "properly" (I'm still skeptical about what looks like a couple threaded M1 bolts standing up to rigorous track use, hitting kerbs and dips at triple digit speeds etc. etc., even with loctite...). Poorly installed and/or maintained cars are part of the acceptable risk of driving on track; I don't think these are.

I see their value to some degree, especially worth it for taking it to a shop where you expect them to be idiots and hope they see them and don't ruin your jack points... but I'd only use them when I needed them and take them right back off. I hope everyone else can come to the same understanding but that's clearly optimistic.

 

[jdezee]

Right there with you, this is crazy talk. It's like, the first thing I thought of when I realized these things were supposed to be left on.



It's good to see you're reasonable about it if asked, but the line you referenced is pretty easy to see. These parts aren't necessary, they don't really do much aside from basic convenience, but the risk of having one fall off while on track is insane, even if relatively low likelihood if installed "properly" (I'm still skeptical about what looks like a couple threaded M1 bolts standing up to rigorous track use, hitting kerbs and dips at triple digit speeds etc. etc., even with loctite...). Poorly installed and/or maintained cars are part of the acceptable risk of driving on track; I don't think these are.

I see their value to some degree, especially worth it for taking it to a shop where you expect them to be idiots and hope they see them and don't ruin your jack points... but I'd only use them when I needed them and take them right back off. I hope everyone else can come to the same understanding but that's clearly optimistic.

Yea I also understand your argument that it's an unnecessary risk to take on track. I got some thinking to do on that because it is a valid point. If you were to see how solid they are mounted it might also provide more insight into why I say they appear to be safe. More cars on track with double side taped body kits are more of a concern.

In the end it is very hard to argue against a safety argument

 

[MoodySara]

Like some others, I use just the rubber pad that sits in the saddle of the jack.
It takes a couple of extra seconds to make sure everything is lined up, but I'm not trying to do sub-two-second tire changes.

 

[nttran98]

Like some others, I use just the rubber pad that sits in the saddle of the jack.
It takes a couple of extra seconds to make sure everything is lined up, but I'm not trying to do sub-two-second tire changes.

THERE IS NO WAY YOURE NOT TRYING TO BE MAX'S PIT CREW PERSON

 

[MoodySara]

THERE IS NO WAY YOURE NOT TRYING TO BE MAX'S PIT CREW PERSON

I'm getting a little old to do that again, I think.

 

[heartbeat91]

Just recently got a 5000TLX. I have a question for you guys with QJ's.

I've been using the 'tall blocks' (the one that comes with the QJ's that looks like lego bricks). My question is - when you raise the QJ, and when the front pads are about to touch the front pinch weld jack points, I go to line it up better. Then I look at the rear, and the rear pads are still like a good 1.5 inches from touching the rear pinch weld jack points.

Do you guys also run into this? and if so, what do you do? do you stack 2 blocks for the rear? use the shorter block? (trying this next time) Will that amazon mag pinch weld on top of a lego block work better? Curious. It felt slightly unstable when bringing it back down. But I shook it when it was up and it felt stable enough so I did go under it. But you know. I just don't want to die randomly

Please let me know your experience. thanks in advance.

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