I have these jackstands:



They are "cupped", so they won't hit the frame lip, but will they dent the body? I've been using ramps up until this point (fuel filter change, tranny oil change), but I'm gonna need a bit more room for the next fix (powerplant frame).

I was planning on using the factory points that are behind the front wheels and in front of the rear wheels. I'd be pissed as hell if they dented my car, so I figured I'd ask first!

Thanks,
Sonny

 

Yes they will dent the frame. You can reduce this by placing a folded towel between the car frame and the stand, but ultimately, those stands seem best suited to round axles (I have some as well). The car really doesn't slip around on the towels, and there is less denting. If you have a grinder, you could take off those tangs that point up to help distribute the load. Or use very dense wood under the frame. Just ideas..

 

Yup, my jacking rails are...well..."jacked-up" now

 

Damn...I was worried that this is the answer that I was gonna get. But...I'm glad I asked! I guess I'll grind the "tangs" off, and use a piece of a 2x4 with a slot cut in it for the frame rail.

Thanks,
Sonny

 

i have some like that and it only hits the underbody on the front side but not the rear

 

I would use some 2x4's between that and the underbody

 

Um.. most 2x4s will just get crushed..
On my stands i welded a piece of metal across thetop between those "tangs" then welded small side rails..

its just easier to buy the right stands hence forth!

 

i just put mine under the crossmembers of the car like where the suspension mounts. those would for sure dent the hell out the body

 

I had some stands like that, but I was always worried about the quality of the casting. They never failed on me-- it's just that they looked like they would crumble at any moment (look at where the tooth meets the ratchet). I finally ponied-up for some better quality stands. Now I'm only worried about the next big quake hitting LA while I'm under the car...

Getting back to your question, I used towels like spurvo. Worked okay for me.

 

I hate dents. I don't know how people avoid dents. I've aquired tiny ones over years but it pisses me off how the one time you park the car close to the building you're going into versus on the other end of the lot some sneaky piece of.. will manage to scratch or dent your paint. I don't know how people manage to avoid this kind of stuff unless their car sits in the garage all day and night and is only for show. I definately don't think most people can afford to have tiny dents pulled or have panels repainted everytime this happens. Actually I'm really curious to know how people manage to avoid this sort of thing. I've seen lots of show cars and even the glass seems like the car just rolled out of the glass shop. do people really have spotless cars in reality? im not complaining about mine by any means (knock on wood) but how do people avoid things like a lil dent on the under carriage? I know lots of people probably only show their cars but yeah, why not do both. you certainly can't take it with you if you drop dead Plus usually someone else usually is responsible for the miniscule scratches or dents on obscure places on your car. You're basically screwed when that happens.

 

Ultimate jacks and stands...
http://www.ultimategarage.com/acjacks.html

Since you've already got your stands, wrap a cotton shop towel around the top to pad the "cradle" well, and then tape it in place so that it doesn't slip off.

With the rear subframe on the car (I'm one of the few who removes his frequently) the point just in front of each rear trailing arm is an excellent spot to put the jackstands. With the subframe off the car, I have a 2x4 across the top of two stands to distribute the load, just behind the shelf in front of the bins...



In front, I use the frame rails just in front of the location of the sway bar mounts, but if you've got your belly pan (and engine, and everything else) installed, just use the engine cradle.

I would never recommend using the body seam along the side of the car for a jacking point or to support the car.

 

I second Jim's engine cradle comment, especially for the jack stands you have Sonny. I put towels (the medium bath types, shop rags are too thin for me...) around the cup on the jace, then place the cup under the backside of the large hole where the engine mounts are bolted to. Very sold, and still enough room to get the floor jack under the front of the engine cradle. I, too, HATE side rails getting messed up. Only time I want to do that is if I gotta get an engine hoist under the front... which I have only needed to do once, thankfully.

Nice pic as always Jim!

 

i have those same jack stands

 

Thanks for all of the feedback, guys. I used my angle grinder to flatten out the tops of the stands and then used an area directly inside of the factory jack points. In the front, there was a small "plate" in that area. I'll have to take a pic.

I also bought a 3 ton jack from Costco. It's a low profile jack and man, it's sooo nice! $69.99 and worth every penny. It made getting the car up onto the stands super easy.

Sonny