Hi all,

As a newbie to this kind of thing, I need very specific instructions on how to jack my 2010 R55 up for tire rotation. I'm having a hard time finding a full set of very specific instructions on how to lift the entire car up using a jack and jack stands; I've never done it before.

I would love to see step-by-step precise instructions somewhere that detail everything from the initial jacking up of the car to placing the jack stands under it, including exactly where to place the jack and all of the jack stands.

Thanks!

 

i assume you could do it like the r56... 2x4 that fits between the jack points.... stick that up under the rocker panel between them.

Then use a hydralic jack just biased towards the front of the car....lift

place stands at the jack points...and rotate.

heres a crappy paint section i made a while back:

blue is the plastic sideskirt, red is the 2x4, green is just the panels under an aero-kit equipped car..

 

If you have a rolling floor jack on a good floor surface, place the jack under the front jacking 'puck', and lift the car until both wheels on one side are off the ground. Swap wheels and do the other side. Be sure that the jack is moving as you raise the car or else the car will roll off the puck and f up your rocker.

 

except if your needing to X rotate them....

and does that work on a Clubman (rears come up), being longer?

 

I use the 2x4 method on my 2007 MCS. That way I can put a jack stand under each of the MINI's jack points. The floor jack goes about 6" behind the front jack point to raise one side fairly evenly. So, I don't think the 2x4 needs to span the full space between the jack points. A three ft. 2x4 would probably be enough.

I find that using wheel hanger studs makes wheel rotation much easier. They hold the wheel in place while you put two of the lug bolts in.

The lug bolts should be torqued to 103 ft-lbs.

 

Try this: http://www.blimeycabrio.com/?p=76

 

Thank you, everyone!

 

Call me a worrywart, but I don't think it is a good idea to jack the car up in the middle with a 2x4. The wood has so much flex compared to the rocker that it doesn't distribute the load much at all - its about like sticking a small block of wood at the single jacking point. And I don't think the rocker is designed to be jacked in the middle.

Now lots of folks do i and the rocker seems to be handling it Okay for those that do, but I wouldn't be surprised if under the trim, there are some bows and dents in the rocker. I don't do it - I jack at the jacking points.

- Mark

 

so how do you get it on 4 jack stands, Mark?

I'd love to find another way. I should also mention there are no other spots underneath, as these damned gigantic Aero panels cover the undercarriage, at least on mine.

 

Hmmm, interesting point. Now I'm worried!

How would you do it without using 2 x 4s, then?

 

I use a floor jack at the front jacking point and the factory jack at the rear just to be safe. Seems to work....

 

I want to cross-rotate, though, as I have asymmetrical non-runflat tires that are not uni-directional. So I need all four wheels off of the ground.

 

Please don't be offended.

That's not a very good place to jack your car up at. Potential for damage to rocker cover and sub-structure is too great.

Here's what you do.

1. Place your length of 2x4 on your jack.

2. Position your jack about 4-6 inches to the right of the front jack point.

3. As you roll your jack under your car you will see a "frame" rail. This will be a bit further under the car beyond where the jack points are located.

4. Slowly raise your jack until the 2x4 is firmly against the "frame" rail.

5. Raise jack and car to desired height. You will be able to get both wheels on that side off the ground. Make sure jack is rolling towards car as you jack it up.

6. Place jack stands under jack points. Lower jack and car.

7. Do other side if you wish.

There's been spirited discussion on jack "toppers" here and on other sites. Some folks use hockey pucks in their U shaped jack stands, I made custom adapters for mine which fit directly into the jack points. I can get all 4 wheels off the ground and do whatever it is that needed all 4 wheels off the ground for. Whether it be scrubbing the wheel well liners, touching up the paint on the calipers, routine maint on the brakes or just getting the car up to a comfortable level for a spit shine.

Summary is, make sure you place that jack on a point that you know that you know is solid and will not crush or bend anything on your pride and joy.


.....Les

 

The OP should definately do that. Still wonder if jacking that far up front on a Clubman works however.

Personally id also love to do it that way BUT like mentioned before my little pic, the green is a huge plastic underbody panel which really prohibits the latter method IIRC

 

You could also just go to America's Tire Center/Discount Tire, they'll do it for free!

 

So yesterday I did it. Took about 40 minutes to jack it up and rotate the tires, and as far as I know no damage was done to the Clubman. The only weird sound I heard was a slight creaking during one of the pumps of the jack on the left side, but I checked underneath the car afterwards and everything looked straight and in place -- it was probably the plastic itself, as it was a very high-pitched creak.

I don't think that I lifted directly on the frame rail -- I lifted the 2 x 4 until it was almost touching the black plastic side skirt part, then pushed it back until it stopped, at which point I started raising the car. The outer edge of the 2 x 4 was completely under the edge, not sticking out. Like I said, there was no damage to the rocker panel...and I believe there was no damage to the sub frame, though now I'm concerned about this method because of the possibility of that. Next time I'll make sure to use the rail.