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I'm no auto mechanic, but can handle most things on a motorcycle or lawnmower. I'd like to be able to do simple things on my car like tire rotations and brake pads. So I'm looking to be set straight on any misconceptions I may have about putting the car on 4 jack stands.
I have a floor jack and plenty of 2x4s so tried lifting the car like this way this morning. Thanks chrunck. Works great to lift one side of the car at a time.
2x4 under boxed steel section of the unibody
I don't have stands yet and I think I would like some combination of jack stand and hockey puck type pinch weld adapter to support the car at the 4 recommended pinch weld jack points.
or, why couldn't I use RV jacks like below with a home-made synthetic or wood block with a slot to accept the pinch weld. (just had a new Trex deck installed and have some extra lying around).
RV Jacks
Maybe I'm over-thinking this. What do I need to safely get the car on 4 stands without breaking the bank? After all, the jacks won't see all that much use. I just like being able to do some things myself.
We have had our up quite a few times. It really is simple.
A jack with a 3' section of 2X4. Put the jack just behind the mirror and the 2X4 just rear of the standard lift point. This will jack the entire side of the car up. Slide jack stands under the standard lift points (no need for a hockey puck...)
I get lifting with the 2x4 and I'm good with it. I just want to get the right stands. Most images I'm finding look like below, with a "Y" shaped stand straddling the pinch weld, which is the recommended lift point on my car. Maybe I'm worried over nothing and should just do it. I just want to make sure this is right, that I don't buy the wrong stands, or worse, damage the car.
We had some people convert to the jack pads so they dont rub the pinch weld. I dont know why MINI made factory holes for the jack pads then to just plug them up and use a pinch weld lift.
So maybe this was a little overkill but better safe that sorry. The only casualty was I broke off a small piece of plastic from the rear plastic skid pan on both sides at the rear jack points, shown in the last picture. The jack stand adapters I made worked like a charm and I'm glad I went through the hassle of making them.
or, why couldn't I use RV jacks like below with a home-made synthetic or wood block with a slot to accept the pinch weld. (just had a new Trex deck installed and have some extra lying around).
RV Jacks
Maybe I'm over-thinking this. What do I need to safely get the car on 4 stands without breaking the bank? After all, the jacks won't see all that much use. I just like being able to do some things myself.
OMG! I wouldn't trust 4 of these holding up the entire car! It doesn't look like there is enough support to prevent forward backward movement and the stands tipping. RV'ers usually leave the wheels on the ground and block them right?
OMG! I wouldn't trust 4 of these holding up the entire car! It doesn't look like there is enough support to prevent forward backward movement and the stands tipping. RV'ers usually leave the wheels on the ground and block them right?
This is what I imagine could happen...
Yeah, I nixed that idea early on in my thinking. The plywood blocks worked well, though. And they cost me nothing but the time to build them.
The jack stand adapters I made worked like a charm and I'm glad I went through the hassle of making them.
