whats up guys!
i just had a few questions about jack stand proper placement.
notables:
-i attached pictures for easier explanation
-i do NOT want to do the wood method
-i HAVE the jackstand rubber pads from harbor freight. these ones: 2 Piece Rubber Pads for Jack Stand

let the explanation begin.

here is the standard jackstand piece that comes into contact with the car.
i labeled certain parts for the ease of explanation


standard jackstand procedures (from what i know - possibly incorrect) tells me to have it connect this way.


here is what the pinchweld/frame/underbody looks like. once again, labeled for explanatory purposes


NOW... i CANNOT attempt picture#2 because sectionB is too DEEP and the sectionD doesnt seem to be able to withstand sectionA. (try it and poke at it... doesnt really seem stable). SectionC on the other hand is quite tough (will explain later).

As a result, this is how i currently place my stands. (its PARALLEL to the pinchweld) its actually bending the pinchweld as you can see and i need to find an alternative method.


I noticed taht when using the scissor jack... the pinchweld slides into the the proper slot and the part of the jack that pushes up the car only really comes into contact with that "slot" and sectionC. it doesnt even touch sectionD.
now, here goes a possible solution (educated guess).
im contemplating on setting i up this way... and was wondering if itll be dangerous


one of my friends called me stupid and told me to jackstand it from the frame... which i have NO idea where it is. this is my guess. would it work?


thanks for reading this long and detailed thread but i wanted to make sure my issue was clear so i dont get waste of time responses.
taht being said.. any suggestions?
once again, thanks!

 

The last picture looks about right but twist the jack stand 90 degrees to straddle the frame rail.

 

I have a similar question too

 

I agree, last pic is probably the best, if you rotate it 90 deg. The way you have balancing it on the pinch weld seems very dangerous. Imagine if the pinch weld folded, stand slipped, and caused the stand to fall. Man, I sure as **** would not get under with it jack up on the weld like that.

Your second method seems ok too, but the frame is the best best by far. Again, just rotate it so it has as much surface are contact, straddles, and you will be good.

Dont get squished! :P

 

COOL... so thats the frame rail that everyones talking about lol.
same applies if i wanted to hold the car up form the back right? but i just follow the rail towards the back

 

Jackstands are good and all but it's always better to be as safe as possible when you work under the car. I used a hydraulic jack, a spare tire with the jack stands under the rails for additional support just in case.

 

Go further in to straddle the frame rail.
Your pictures show youre on the body's pinch weld.

 

Rotate the jackstand 90 degrees and put it on the rail marked in red.

 

Side question.

Who decided to change the design of jack stands to make them this awkward and useless geometry?
If I am wrong, WHY ARE THEY DESIGNED LIKE THAT?

Every thread I see about jackstands and how they are not shaped for cars just grinds my gears. I feel that the majority of consumers of jackstands use them for cars. Why not make them for cars?

 

Ive always done it the way you have it in this pic and never ever had a prob, dont worry about the pinch weld not reaching the middle.

 

YES!

NO!



...this thread makes me laugh. Not making fun whatsoever, but growing up around cars, mechanic, etc. you kind of forget how the basics are not so basic for some who did not have the opportunities to be around this stuff.

The pinch weld and OEM jack were designed for anyone to be able to find and use in case of emergency. Nothing else. You should never consider any pinch weld a normal or regular place to lift or support a car. Frame rails, crossmembers, sometimes axles, a-arms, rear diff.

 

+1 for MSCA for getting it right first and and +1 for Ibanez540r for his proper explanation.

 

Thank you sir.

 

I grew up working on cars and around mechanics too, i never said that was the right way, i just said thats the way ive always done it and never ever had a problem once, and ive had all 4 corners in the air like that for a few days at a time changing damn near everything on the car so its not like im doing minor things.

Its not like the jack stand is holding the car up with the pinch weld, the pinch weld barely makes contact, if at all, with the jack stand, the car is supported by the sides the same place the factory jack was meant to support it. If it wasnt safe the factory jack wouldnt be meant to be placed there.

 

..I didn't mean growing up around mechanics. I meant growing up around cars and being a mechanic

Hey man, I wasn't trying to be negative at all nor do I want to start a typical forum argument. But, if you grew up working on cars, or knew that this is not a proper place to support the car, especially the entire car, then you wouldn't have started this thread. Your original post was;

"whats up guys!
i just had a few questions about jack stand proper placement."

The answer to your question, as I and another answered previously, is this is not the proper place to be using jack stands. I would also NOT have the entire car on these points. Not saying it won't hold for a certain amount of time, but it isn't the most rigid and supportive spot. I bet if you were to pay attention while it was up like that, your door gaps were probably off due to the car twisting. Again, safe for an emergency OEM jack, for changing a single tire at a time. Guarantee you take it to any mechanic and they are going to recommend NOT using any of these spots, and TO use the areas I already covered.

I could also lift and support a car by its oil pan, doesn't mean it's safe or OK. - just sayin'