How To support the Car on Axle Stands
 

I'm not offering advice, I'm just wondering if such advice has been set down in a HowTo type way? I've scanned the files, but didn't spot anything related to axle stands.

We all know how inadequate the OEM jack is for anything but emergency use in case of a wheel swap. However, I'm pretty sure lots of owners will use this jack when doing various jobs that need under body access, servicing the brakes for example. The standard advice in these circumstances is to use axle stands, which provide much safer support for the lifted vehicle. The problem is, where do you place them? Where do you locate the stand/stands when the primary hard spot is already taken by the jack? There seems to be little informed advice as to the optimal places to locate stands when the jacking point is occupied. To improve safety, I've invested in a 3 tonne trolley jack and fabricated a special lifting plate to replace the standard cup. The plate locates into the default lifting pad socket. If anybody's interested, I'll post some images.

Remember that a jacked up car is inclined at a steep angle, so the axle stands must be placed where the body can't shimmy or slide. I believe the best locations are on the front subframe, but I don't think there are any specific location points on it. And what about the rear end? Some photos or diagrams of axle stands located at recommended points would be very helpful.

Does anybody have any suggestions on this important question?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...ldHagSneer.gif




Disclaimer:
You are responsible for any work or modifications carried out on your car and you undertake any such work at your own risk. Neither the 75 and ZT Owners Club nor the original authors in this thread can be held liable for anything that may happen as a result of you following this thread's posts.
Any modifications should be reported to your insurance company.

A question I have pondered also:shrug:

The last time I did it was by jacking up one side of the car placing some 2 inch thick blocks of wood under the wheel then goung around to the other side and doing the same. This I repeated 4 times until I had about 8 inches of blocks under the wheel. I then used the trolley jack with block under the front cross member jacking point raised the car and quickly placed the Axle stands under the sill jacking points.

This enabled me to then do the work safely and I also had the car on a level on both sides.

Very cumbersome and time consuming - there must be a better way.

this is what i do on my V8

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...g/CIMG1199.jpg

Peter..

Great picture of the support points for the rear axle stands but have you got a picture of the support points for the front end..

Dave T

I believe this is the lower wishbone suspension point. although ideally you would use the jacking points its not always possible as you are jacking the car up. the only problem with using this point it that you have to raise the car high on the jack. Not so much of a problem using a trolley jack.

Any where on the subframe is a good place for axle stands as its a very substantial piece of the car. although the undertray does cover most of the points.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...MG1213-1-1.jpg

here's a good pic

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...ing/Tech13.jpg

This looks a good spot, but placing the stands in this position looks dodgy in itself. I think you really have to watch out when reaching under the body supported only by a single jack. I'll never use the front towing point to jack up the front in one go. It's much too dangerous. I think the safest way is to do it in halves. Jack up one side using a trolley jack designed to fit the front jacking point. Fit the axle stand at the chosen location. Then repeat the lift on the other side. If necessary, this routine must be repeated to gain the desired height. This seems the best way, but it's not ideal and I've yet to find what is. Frankly I doubt there is a 100% safe method for DIYers to use. The car is just too heavy to be lifted by anything other than garage scale gear.

TC

Here you go, for a non V8..

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l4...hanics15-1.jpg

Dave T

I must braver/or dafter than you TC :D i also use my little home mad trolly raiser to help me get as high as i would need to use the 3 holes in the axle stands it is also useful to pull the dog about on :D Arctic

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...1&d=1363659855

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...2&d=1363659881

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...3&d=1363659897

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...4&d=1363659913

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...5&d=1363659931

Live thread here

None of this central point lifting is my cuppatee. The contact points aren't designed for it in spite of what they say.

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...3&d=1363659897

I'm a freak for safety, so I hope those casters are stronger than they look!

For trolley jacking under the sills, I made an adapter plate to fit the locking pip in the pads.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...ackBits012.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...ackBits003.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...ackBits013.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...ackBits009.jpg


TC