Guys,

Probably a newbie question, but I am replacing the exhaust and I want to get the car up on 4 jack stands, cuz I am a big guy. I jack up the car in the front and put it on jack stands, but then I'm stuck. I can't go from the back of the car to jack at the diff (too low), and I don't know if it is safe to slide the jack from the frontside to get to the diff (don't want the car to fall on me)? How do you guys do it?

Thanks for the help in advance

 

One side at a time. You can even jack it up just enough to set it on the lowest point on the stands each side at a time, then when all 4 are in place go back and raise them one by one.

 

First I jack up the front, then I go in from the drivers side and under as strait as possible to the diff, youll be fine just go slow.

 

I had the same problem, with the front end up very high at all on jackstands it was difficult to get my jack's handle in to pump it up once I had it under the differential. Ended up using a big-*** screwdriver to pump it up a bit until I could get it up high enough to clear the regular jack handle.

It is things like this that make me long for having a pit to work in under the car. I had an uncle that had a cool-*** garage, it was actually an old gas station at one time. It had a pit AND a lift on the other side, so you could do anything you wanted....sweet!

 

Gamezilla and MakoRacing thanks for the responses but quick question for both of you.
Gamezilla where do you jack it on the sides, is it the same place as the jack stands go?
MakoRacing when you say under, do you mean you go under from the side of the car or from the front of the car?

 

I put the jack as far to the edge of the jack point as possible (within reason of course) and put the jack stand right next to where I jacked it up. Usually that means wherever the jack makes contact with the jack point is about 6 inches away from where the jack stand will make contact.

 

i drive the front on to ramps and then jack on the rear diff to get the rear up on jack stands.

 

Lobo, you can use the stock jack on the rear just to get the diff up high enough for a floor jack. It will be fine (as I have to do that as well).

 

in all seriousness, if you own an fd and want to keep it, you'll probably be jacking it up as described many times. one of my best investments was an aluminum floor jack that had an ultra-low stance. even with the front in the air, i can get it under the diff. just a suggestion. i think i spent about $200 on mine. if not this route than why not jack the rear up first, put it on stands and then slide the jack under the front from behind the front tires? that was my previous m.o.

 

go under from the drivers side, but try to keep the jack somewhat in line with the direction of the car so it wont get in the way of the jackstands

 

I've used a few methods:
1) use the jack to lift the front corner and get one jackstand under it, then I have clearance to raise the whole front by the crossmember, and finally lift the whole rear by the diff.
2) use the spare jack to lift the front corner a few inches, and make clearance for lifting the front by the crossmember, then rear by the diff
3) use a pair of 2x10s as ramps for the front only, and sneak the jack under the crossmember to lift the whole front. then lift rear by the diff. Sometimes my 2x10s aren't quite enough to make clearance, so I just lift the front a couple inches by hand and the dampers hold it higher.

I used to lift one side, then the other, but the deflection of the car made me nervous and the rails would slowly crush. Now that the ramp trick works, I won't use anything else and I don't beat up the rails on the sides.

Dave

 

I've got an ultra low jack, but I usually use this method to put her up on 4 stands:

Jack the rear form the diff, and place both rear jack stands

Jack the driver side and place a stand,

Jack the passenger side and place a stand.

Always works well for me.

 

???????
Ah.......what's so hard about jacking it up at the body points that are used for the stock sissor jack?

You only need to place the jack once, on each side, & slide the jack stands under the fwd & aft body jack points.

When you jack it from the Diff your supporting the weight of the car on the Diff bushings.

Not a big deal, but it's a bitch to get a full stoke out of the jack handle when the car is on the ground.

 

Hey. What I do is raise the whole car up on my 4 post lift and bring it down on the 4 Jack Stands! Sorry, couldn't resist. Did my first rebuild/ engine removal on my back in the gravel while the car sat on stands. It was truly awful.

 

drive fronts on ramp, jack all the way put on stands, then jack the diff from under the door. easiest way with a lowered car with body kit.

 

How are you guys getting the car on ramps without destroying the front bumper?

 

I put a couple of lengths of 2x4 in front of the ramp. Gets it just high enuf.

 

My car's really low so I built I made my own ramp.

Used two 10' x 9" boards and then I cut up 6 small pieces of wood and screwed them into the position where the front tires are because with the low stance and also the R1 lip, it makes it impossible for even my low profile jack to get under the front frame.

Once I drive the car over the boards, I have enough clearance to put the jack under and then support it. With the low profile jack you can place it under the diff even if you have the front on jacks.

BTW, harborfreight.com has some aluminum low-profile jacks for about $80 I believe.

 

I also have an R1 lip, and normal ramps wouldn't work. I use a single 2x12 under each front wheel. I'm going to add another 1/2" to each one and then it should be perfect.

Dave

 

Guys thanks for the replies, eventually used the stock jack to just get the rear up enough so I could get at the diff. Worked like a charm.