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Trolley jack points

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RW1, perfect as usual.

Just one step back, where would you suggest teh trolley jack goes to raise the car in teh first place, again for each of front, back and side lifting?

Thanks.

 

STOP STOP STOP

 

Nice idea, just missing one thing. You lads have obviously never seen a car slide and slam. METAL on METAL is NOT a good idea. Please do use wood, or if you dont have any, you must have a dished/cup head to the jack/tripod-stand. Use belts & braces - ie double up on safety.

 

There are loads of ideas here. I like the idea of driving onto shallow ramps. I've used the trolley jack on the jacking point with a solid piece of wood, no big problem but found that the clearance was not enough to get my stands under. I tried jacking up on the plate where the front axle meets the frame; this was too near to the middle of the car and was prone to toppling, so another jack was needed on the other side. Be careful - use common sense, and metal on metal can slide, so dont go underneath.

Ideally we would own or know someone with a car lift or pit.

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prompted by another post today and using a nicked photo :)

 

red arrows = marks in sill for spare wheel jack locating on seam

green arrows = strengthened jacking points, trolley jack/lift

blue arrows = subframe mounting points where an additional axle stand can be placed

 

if there's anything to add or wrong say and I'll update the pic

 

c_under.JPG[/attachment:18cloqny]

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In response to your question on should you use axle stands if you are only cleaning wheels arches.

 

Yes, you should always use axle stands for any work you wouldn't want the car the crash down on you while doing. And I certainly wouldn't want the weight of the car coming down on my arms while they are up in the deep recesses of the wheel arches. Seems like an awful drag at the time but God forbid how life would be without the use of my right arm (might be worse for you guys but then again, maybe not!!)

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Just been reading though this thread but it doesn't have the answer I'm looking for.

 

Is it possible to jack the car up in the middle of the sub frame, so lifting either the front or rear of the car level ready for axel stands.

 

I've currently got the back end of my car up on stands and would like to do the front but don't want the car rocking excessivly on the stands or falling off.

 

I'm thinking of jacking it dead center on the sub frame just in front of the ARB, will it be ok do that until I get the axel stands under?

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tbh, i would use a long and thick piece of wood under the oil sump and jack from there, the cross member is not too strong. the length of the wood will help to spread the load.

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Having looked through the forum, I found this old thread, but the photos no longer work.

 

So, can someone either signpost me to another thread (with photos) or confirm the following (ideally with photos):

 

1. Not wanting to damage the seam, where is the best place to lift with a trolley jack, front and rear?

 

Is the subframe as per the photo the best option for front?

 

2. Where are safest places for axle stands?

 

Various suggestions, including putting them under the subframe at the rear wishbone bolt - again is that the best place?

 

3. Any suggestions on what works best on trolley jack head - solid rubber or wood?

 

For obvious reasons, I'd like to remove guesswork. Thank you.

Edited by vr6monkey

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This pic shows the jacking points on a corrado, although I'm not convinced the blue arrows are too safe!

I tend to use a trolley jack on the red arrows, where there's an indent marked on the sill.

 

I also use a rubber hockey puck thing with a groove but into it, to prevent damage to the jacking point.

There's a few on ebay, like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Universal-DIY-Car-SUV-Slotted-Frame-Rail-Hydraulic-Floor-Jack-Disk-Rubber-Pad-/201921311510?fits=Car+Make%3AVW&epid=869731199&hash=item2f0372b316:g:38gAAOSw4CFY2ITF

(Double check the depth of the cut-out, as this particular one may not be right!)

 

For the front, I'd put jack stands (with a piece of rubber on them) inboard of the blue arrows, where you can see the chassis box section.

On the rear, try to position it around the green arrow.

 

Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk :-)

I've never had a car fall on me, but you can never be too safe. Slide a wheel under there too, for more piece of mind!

Edited by joebloggsVR69

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This pic shows the jacking points on a corrado, although I'm not convinced the blue arrows are too safe!

I tend to use a trolley jack on the red arrows, where there's an indent marked on the sill.

 

I also use a rubber hockey puck thing with a groove but into it, to prevent damage to the jacking point.

There's a few on ebay, like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Universal-DIY-Car-SUV-Slotted-Frame-Rail-Hydraulic-Floor-Jack-Disk-Rubber-Pad-/201921311510?fits=Car+Make%3AVW&epid=869731199&hash=item2f0372b316:g:38gAAOSw4CFY2ITF

(Double check the depth of the cut-out, as this particular one may not be right!)

 

For the front, I'd put jack stands (with a piece of rubber on them) inboard of the blue arrows, where you can see the chassis box section.

On the rear, try to position it around the green arrow.

 

Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk :-)

I've never had a car fall on me, but you can never be too safe. Slide a wheel under there too, for more piece of mind!

 

Thank you for photo - helpful.

 

I was looking at the rubber pucks with grooves, but read reviews that some just snap after a couple of uses, which is why I was thinking of sticking with solid wood. I'll have a look for one with the right size groove and good reviews.

 

If anyone else has any top tips - I'd be very grateful.

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Thank you for photo - helpful.

 

I was looking at the rubber pucks with grooves, but read reviews that some just snap after a couple of uses, which is why I was thinking of sticking with solid wood. I'll have a look for one with the right size groove and good reviews.

 

If anyone else has any top tips - I'd be very grateful.

 

I've had my hockey puck thing for about 4 years, still feels solid after many uses :-)

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I have an old Corrado top mount I use on mine - has been pretty good and still in perfect shape!

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So to lift where the indent is on the sill. I don't lift on the seam joins (where the sill joins) I lift in front of that?

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

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So to lift where the indent is on the sill. I don't lift on the seam joins (where the sill joins) I lift in front of that?

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

Jim, good shout ref using an old top mount - thanks.

 

Jon_vr6, when you say in front of that - what do you mean? Do you mean just inside the pinch weld? I assume you don't mean in front as in outside edge - surely that risks slipping off?

 

What I was thinking was using something akin to JoeBloggs suggestion, a rubber puck that sits either side of the pinch weld - see photo

 

What I'd really like to avoid is a disaster like the other photo!!!

Edited by vr6monkey

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I'd like to know whether I should be jacking the car up at the blue arrow or the purple arrow? This is with a trolley jack, I've usually used the seams but obviously they are likely to bend over time.519fc2b2f8fb415856b6c21b11688d84.jpg

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

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Lots of advice on the forum and internet, but its not 100% clear.

 

So I've done lots of reading and spoken to 2 VW specialist garages - they both independently gave me the same advice - STAY AWAY from the sill/pinch weld and any body work when lifting with a trolley jack. This appears to be at odds with the Bentley manual and similar guides, but fits with several comments I have read about bodywork being bent out of shape.

 

They explained, if you are using a full size lift and big rubber pads you can lift on the lifting points, but a standard £50 trolley jack is likely to crush the bodywork in these areas on old cars like Corrados.

 

If lifting the front, the garages suggested I jack on the sub-frame where it meets the body, this being a strong area. Before I give this a go, I have some questions and would be very grateful for your views:

 

There is a long thin plate with ARB passing over it. This plate has two bolts (red and green - see photo):

 

** Are the green and red bolts equally strong points to jack?

 

** Will jacking on the red bolt distort the bush above it or is that bolt 100% fixed to the body?

 

** If I jack up on one bolt (probably red), is an axle stand under the other bolt a good idea? If not, any suggestions?

 

 

Please note I'm not a trained mechanic, I'm not providing anyone with any instruction or guidance, and jacking up a car is done entirely at your own risk. I'm just relaying what 2 mechanics suggested to me and looking for your thoughts based on good/bad experience.

Edited by vr6monkey

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I've always gone where the green arrow is or just either side of it.

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Ditto above, where the green bolt is or just around it if i want to put an axle stand under the bolt.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Me too...

 

Thank you.

 

Once up, where have you put axle stands? Do I try and get jack and axle stand around green arrow area?

 

Any reason to not put axle stand under the red arrow, or is that likely to bend something?

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Sorry, another question.

 

On the way up, the trolley jack head stays relatively parallel to the ground (presumably so weight goes downwards through jack, and not pushing jack backwards).

 

Therefore, it seems less and less of the jack head is in contact with whatever part of the car you are lifting, if lifting one side.

 

Is there anything I can/should do - I was thinking of using a solid rubber puck or solid wood which has a little give, as opposed to metal on metal.

 

Or am I over thinking it?

 

Very proud of my recent purchase, and don't want to ~?!* it being a numpty.

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You're over thinking it mate. As long as it's properly seated before you start lift g the car you won't have any issues

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You're over thinking it mate. As long as it's properly seated before you start lift g the car you won't have any issues

 

Thought so - thanks.

 

There are some real horror stories out there and don't want to numpty it...

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You'll be fine mate. Just take your time and just double check each time

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