Jacking up, Why is it such a palaver? Options

[jjbunn]

I must be doing something wrong, because I find jacking up the 914 safely and easily to be very challenging.

I have a floor jack and four 2.5 ton jack stands. My goal is to get the car raised up so that I can place it on the four jackstands.

Here's what I do:

1) Insert a jack plate in the provided jacking hole on the long on one side of the car.
2) Place chocks on both sides of the opposite rear wheel
3) Position the floor jack under the plate, and start carefully jacking
4) As the car starts to come up, it wants to move rearwards, and so I have the floor jack positioned so that it rolls a little in the required direction
5) Raise the car higher and higher, carefully checking that all four rollers of the jack are still touching the ground - often one starts to lift and I have to lower the jack and reposition everything
6) Get the side high enough that I can put a jack stand under the front jack point (just behind the front wheel) and another under the suspension strut at the rear (not sure which piece this is, but it's a round beam that is anchored at a point just in front of the rear wheel).
7) Gingerly lower the floor jack so that the jack stands take the weight
8) Go to the other side and follow the same procedure, except now the car doesn't shift backwards as it goes up!

Step 4) is where I have most problems ... I'm terrified that the floor jack will become off-vertical and slip or break from the jacking plate, so I have to keep tweaking its position, raising, lowering, etc.. The whole process takes me at least half an hour!

Am I doing something wrong? Is there a better way?

Sorry for the long winded description (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[underthetire]

I don't use the jack holes, just the jack plate under the car. I thought about that problem using the jack plates like you are talking about. Are yours "boxed" in so the jack head can't slip out or the plain plate style ? If they are the plain plates you could box them in. That would take some of the scaryness out of it.

[jaxdream]

How strong are your jack post mounts ?? Try jacking it up by the round doughnut shaped pads on the front and rear where the body frame just about ends , your 914 should have them - maybe a little bent . Jack up one end , then the other. First end place jackstands under it with the post extentions all the way down, go to the other end jack it up , place stands under it with them extended to where you want , go back to the other end , jack up to the desired hieght , extend the jackstand posts to where you want them. Hopefully the height at all four corners is equal for stability , give the car a little shake to check for stability , not much , just enough to see if there is any big movements and how steady it is, you don't want it coming down on you with you under it , make sure the jackstand posts are locked in the position you want, fellow member had some of his stands fail and squished him some (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) . Look under your floor pan to the front and rear , you should see these round thingys.

Good luck , be safe....

Jaxdream

[dangrouche]

i have owned a single floor jack for many years. I own a pair of jack plates. my longitudinals are solid. I have many jackstands. I have at least two solid chock blocks or pieces of 4x4 scrap wood that have been cut to form a chock block. once i got a second jack from Harbor freight, the jacking process has become not so problematic and quicker. I just dismounted the four wheels last nite and it took me about 20 minutes to suspend the car in the air. you can jack under the engine bar to raise and support the car. you can also jack under the front suspension end caps. i use pieces of scrap 1/4" plywood on top of the jack stand so that the four jackstands rest beneath the donuts jacking points. once you get a second jackstand you will see the benefit to do a balanced jacking process, especially when dropping the engine or doing a clutch. granted these procedures are few and far between, but you will see the benefit. see if you could borrow a buddies jackstand just for one operation; you will see the benefit right off.

[jjbunn]

I don't use the jack holes, just the jack plate under the car. I thought about that problem using the jack plates like you are talking about. Are yours "boxed" in so the jack head can't slip out or the plain plate style ? If they are the plain plates you could box them in. That would take some of the scaryness out of it.

Thanks ... no, they aren't boxed. Even if they were I'd be nervous about any lateral force that was tending to make the head of the floor jack move sideways. Most of my fiddling is to try to get it so that all the forces are up/down and none laterally (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(The car looks awfully precarious when it's raised using those holes in the long.)

[jjbunn]

How strong are your jack post mounts ?? Try jacking it up by the round doughnut shaped pads on the front and rear where the body frame just about ends , your 914 should have them - maybe a little bent . Jack up one end , then the other. First end place jackstands under it with the post extentions all the way down, go to the other end jack it up , place stands under it with them extended to where you want , go back to the other end , jack up to the desired hieght , extend the jackstand posts to where you want them. Hopefully the height at all four corners is equal for stability , give the car a little shake to check for stability , not much , just enough to see if there is any big movements and how steady it is, you don't want it coming down on you with you under it , make sure the jackstand posts are locked in the position you want, fellow member had some of his stands fail and squished him some (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) . Look under your floor pan to the front and rear , you should see these round thingys.

Good luck , be safe....

Jaxdream

Thanks jaxdream - yes, those round thingies are my targets. What I don't yet understand in your method is: if you jack up on one of the doughnuts with the floor jack, then how can you place a jack stand under the same doughnut, since the floor jack is in the way?!

[jjbunn]

i have owned a single floor jack for many years. I own a pair of jack plates. my longitudinals are solid. I have many jackstands. I have at least two solid chock blocks or pieces of 4x4 scrap wood that have been cut to form a chock block. once i got a second jack from Harbor freight, the jacking process has become not so problematic and quicker. I just dismounted the four wheels last nite and it took me about 20 minutes to suspend the car in the air. you can jack under the engine bar to raise and support the car. you can also jack under the front suspension end caps. i use pieces of scrap 1/4" plywood on top of the jack stand so that the four jackstands rest beneath the donuts jacking points. once you get a second jackstand you will see the benefit to do a balanced jacking process, especially when dropping the engine or doing a clutch. granted these procedures are few and far between, but you will see the benefit. see if you could borrow a buddies jackstand just for one operation; you will see the benefit right off.

Interesting - thanks. Jacking on the engine is how I raise my 964 (with a hockey puck as a cushion), and I wondered if it was safe on the 914 too. Is there a particular location that is safest?

Getting a second jack is a good idea. Perhaps I'll go for something a bit more meaty than the cheaper one I currently have (from Sears).

[TravisNeff]

hmm. I set the ebrake, jack at the rear jack point, put jackstands at the front donut and on at the rear control arm pivot. Move to the other side and repeat.

[SirAndy]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I put the car in gear, add the jack plate to the stock jack hole and up she goes. As long as the floor jack is on 3 wheels, you'll be fine.
Put jackstands under the front and back, go to the other side, repeat.

If you need extra height, turn the jacking plate sideways (as seen in the 3rd pic). I always throw the wheels under there too, just in case ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) Andy

PS: Those "donuts" are *NOT* for jacking up the car! The front donut is a good 5" away from any structural metal. You will buckle your floorpan!

[flat4]

Interesting - thanks. Jacking on the engine is how I raise my 964 (with a hockey puck as a cushion), and I wondered if it was safe on the 914 too. Is there a particular location that is safest?

Getting a second jack is a good idea. Perhaps I'll go for something a bit more meaty than the cheaper one I currently have (from Sears).

Don't jack the engine, just the engine support bar. This is the bar running across the width of the car in front of the engine. You need a decent floor jack to do this as you do not want to be under the car while it is jacking. The jack handle exits at the back of the car when you do this. The car will roll backwards as you jack, which is OK.

Then jack the front from which ever side seems easiest.

You could park the rear wheels on some wood before you start to give more jack clearance.

Lastly, assuming your jack is on solid ground don't worry if it leans a bit. I will usually not fall, and if it does you should not have anything under the car or in the way of the jack handle. If it starts to go lower the jack - this is much faster with a proper floor jack than one where you need to take the handle out of the jacking position and move it to the valve. If it really goes, stand back until it has finished.

If you are very nervous you could always get an air jack. I can pump mine up from a 12v compressor fairly well, but it works better off a shop compressor. Something like this: http://www.bushranger.com.au/xjack.php. Not all have a compressor valve so you may need the engine to be running to use them. Shop carefully.

The air jacks are not perfect, but the large area means that you are not likely to damage anything. They are also designed to roll and flex as the car raises up.

But remember, jacking a car by any method is a dangerous operation. Don't completely ignore your nerves! Remember the old joke: What do you call a man with a car on his head? Jack.

Cheers, Steve

[VaccaRabite]

Echoing what others have said, I have done a lot of jacking on my car.

I put jackstands on the welded seam that runs along the bottom of the long. It is the backbone of the car and plenty strong. For jacking up the front, lay a 2x4 under the front trunk and put the jack under that. The 2x4 disperses the weight along the entire trunk so you don't crumple the metal from the jack head.

Get a GOOD floor jack. Not one of the removable handle type. They are a total PITA.

Zach

[URY914]

I agree with others that you should not be jacking on the bottom of the engine. But I will place my jack under the tranny. I'll also place the jack at the front at the front of the A-arm and lift the entire front end.

[rick 918-S]

This works for me.

[jaxdream]

Ok , I probably wasn't real clear (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) , the doughnuts are the jacking point target , I usually place the jackstands under the rear trailing arms pivots and the front a arm pivots on the front end. At present I have my 73 up on stands ( soon be a year ), in the driveway, with the stands up against the doughnuts -not under the doughnuts as the stands do not have a resting pad in circular shape , just standard rectangle.I placed them at these points under the body / longs to do a suspension upgrade- 5 lug. I have never used the jack posts in the longs , I have always used the more structurely sound doughnut area , sometimes with a piece of 2 x 6 or similar piece of wood . The idea I'm trying to express is to use a more structurely sound area for raising the car , and it depends on your intent of the work you want to do to it , engine drop , suspension swap / repair , floor pan replacement , etc. this will dictate the placement of the jackstands . I have in my collection 6 6ton lever / ratchet type , 4 4 ton lever / ratchet type , couple of stray smallers around 4 tons , 2 sears 2 1/2 ton flooor jacks , one smaller 2 1/4 ton floor jack , several of the cheapo trolley hand come out types , several 8 x 6 x 12 concrete blocks - yes these can be used if you use them the way they are used in building structures with them especially if you place 2 x6 or 2 x 4 on them . Everyone has thier own method of raising a vehicle for placement on jackstands , there are a few better ways than the jack posts on the longs.

Be safe under there !!

Jaxdream

[mskala]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
...
PS: Those "donuts" are *NOT* for jacking up the car! The front donut is a good 5" away from any structural metal. You will buckle your floorpan!

This is very good advice, it it true the front donuts are in a very weak area.

When I first stripped the interior paint for POR-15, it was noticably bent. Rubber
mallet took care of it.

Besides, the rear donut will get both tires off the ground anyway.

[jjbunn]

Many thanks for all the advice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

Is this a correct summary:

1) Don't jack on the doughnuts
2) But jackstands can be used on the doughnuts
3) The jack hole in the long or the seam on the long is good for jacking up
4) As is the engine bar (if you can get a floor jack underneath)
5) Other places for jackstands or jacking include
a] the front of the A arm
b] under the front trunk (with load distributing plank)
c] rear control arm pivot
6) Be careful!


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

[PanelBilly]

I invited a bunch of 914 nuts over, fed them and offered them brew. They picked up the car and gently placed it on the jacks. Several times I heard the comment about how they had scratched something, but that was just to get me worked up. \

So there's my method of jacking

Pizza+beer+guys who are as nuts as me= car setting on stands.

by the way there it was just a shell, might take a few more guys if the cars has running gear

[FourBlades]

So once you get it up there put something else besides 4 jackstands
under it, just in case. I use some mobile home screw jacks. They
can't suddenly collapse because you have to turn them a lot
of turns to raise or lower them. They have wide feet and are very
stable. I could see 4 jackstands tipping over if you lean very
hard on one side of the car. This is really important if all the wheels
are off. You don't want to have to bench press your 2000 lb
car off your chest.

John

[elsargento]

Does anyone have a picture or drawing of a jack plate? I would love one for my floor jack.
thanks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

[CliffBraun]

I'm curious as to why people say not to jack from the engine(well, tranny is the accessible bit, really), everyone I know does this with no problems. On certain VW's apparently it's a problem because it puts the rubber mounts in tension.

I trust a car on jack stands pretty well, but I tend to shake it back and forth pretty good before I even think about getting under it.

As far as jack plate, it's just some square tube of the appropriate size welded to a circle the size of your jack pad.