Lifting an FD (jacks and jack stands)
 

What's the best way for an average Joe to get underneath one of these things? I have the included Mazda jack, but I haven't bothered with it yet. Are there any preferred brands or specific tools?

I would recommend buying a good quality jack and stands, and not using the factory jack for anything other than a stranded wheel change. Your life depends on the jack and stands when you're under the car so don't cheap out. The jacking points are listed in the service manual which is easy to find online.

Thank you for the response, but this doesn't help a whole lot. Who would you consider to be the "good" brands? What do you personally use?

I mainly us an automotive lift in the shop, but I also use a Craftsman 3 ton jack and Craftsman jack stands. Even the harbor freight jacks seem to be pretty good though.

I'll check those out. Thanks!

Actually the jacking points are in the owner's manual...

Attachment 606322

I have a lift and use those same points on the pinch-weld. But I'll also occasionally use a floor jack under the rear differential being careful not to damage the aluminum cover with a rubber pad on the jack. If I need to raise the front of the car without the lift, I use ramps. Even at stock ride height it's hard to get a floor jack underneath and easy to miss the crossmember. Doing that you risk messing up the oil pan.

I couldn't remember if that information was in the owners manual. I guess it is lol

^lol, yeah...had a guy once argue with me that using the pinch welds would damage the "unibody". Now I just post the picture. And if the op or anyone else is regularly NOT using jack stands, well... those gene pools will get eliminated soon enough. :)

When using a floor jack, I don't like using the jacking points. I like using the engine cross member in front and the rear pumpkin for the back.

I use a floor jack and a little block of Douglas Fir. The wood is soft so it kinda forms around the pinch weld and doesn't bend anything when I jack the car up. Works great and I've been doing it for years with no problems.

First, Rhino ramps to get the car up enough to get the jack underneath it, then the little block trick.

hockey puck on the floor jack pad will save the pinch welds

^^^ those work great. You can also use a $2 rubber hockey puck from your local sporting goods store

TWO BUCKS for a PUCK?...

I remember when we used a Rock..and a stick..hahhaha!:scratch:Where's my Socks?