When jacking up an R56, where do you put the jack stands?

If you put the jack on the jack points, where does the jack stand go? Or, where do you put the jack, if you want to put the jack stand on the jack point?

 

I normally put jack stands under the lower control arms near the spring mount points (in struts the lower shock mount).

 

Can someone be kind enough to post some pics? I am thinking about rotating my wheels soon and would like to use a jack stand for extra safety. I would like to know where exactly to place the jack stand after I jack up the car using the front jack point.

 

I'm having the mudflaps put on by a friend who restores cars and stuff and was wondering the same as he hasn't workedo on a MINI. Mines a Clubman and I hate to think of the back wheels being removed to put on the guards.
Any advice would be welcome. I just couldn't stand to pay $150 to the dealer to put on $100 guards.

 

You can either jack it up via the front jack point high enough to put the rear jack stand in place, or you can jack it up in the middle on the subframe and put both jack stands in. If you do it via the subframe, you should spread the load out using a 2x4 that is a couple of feet long running along the subframe.

 

That's how I do it when I need the whole car in the air.

 

I hear what you are saying, but have some serious concern as to the asftey of what you propose. If I understand correctly, the following is the suggested procedure. Use the jack point in the front and ge the whol car high enough to put a jackstand in the middle of the car to keep both the front and rear wheels off the ground at the same time. That sounds scary to me. Is there a way to jack up one side at a time and then put jack stands under the front and rear of the car to prevent it from falling. If so, where do you place the jack stand for the rear?

 

You jack up the front far enough to put the jack stand on the rear jack point. It's a lot easier than it sounds. The car is stiff and the rear is light, so it goes up easily.

If I need front and back up, or just the front, I use the subframe method.

 

Jeff--

No, what he said was use a 2 foot 2x4 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUBFRAME as the jackpoint; this will allow you to put the jackstands in the front and back, without putting the jack on either jackpoint. This is the fastest way to do it, and as long as you use the two by four to spread the weight, its probably the safest way to get jackstands at both the front and back.

 

Also, if you rotate the tires yourself, ensure that a torque wrench is used to retighten the lug nuts. I did not use one last time, undertightened the nuts and lost two lug nuts on one wheel. It could have had a nasty outcome. Correct torque spec is 105 pounds. Also, it can be a little difficult to remount the wheel because the wheel does not hang from a stud. The lug nut physically screwes into the suspension assembly, so that you have to hold the tire up or put something undeerneath to elevate it and than screw the nut in. As far as jacking was concerned, I raised the vehicle and put a jackstand on the front jack point which elevated all side wheels. The jack that comes with the mini is ultra clumsy to use. Recommend a scissor jack or hydraulic jack. good luck

 

+A1

 

thats what i do and it works very well and it is VERY fast.

ive seen another thread where someone gets a 5X4 that spans both jacking points then places the jack in the middle, jacks the car up, then puts the jack stands under the jacking points. Of course with this method you would need 2 pieces of the 5X4 wood.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=119784

 

I have a related question: I noticed that the top of the jack stand I purchased does not really fit into the jacking points of the R56. There is a square-shaped hard plastic piece around the jacking point. Can I set up the jack stand to directly support this plastic piece? I have seen some pictures where others seem to have done this, but I wanted to double check.

 

I had some 1/4 plate steel welded onto the tops of my jackstands to give me a flat surface. If I were to purchase new stands they have them available with flat tops.
Steve

 

I use a Lift. at 6 dollars an hour its a bargin.