Jack Points

[DaleNixon]

Can someone tell me where the jack points are in our cars for using a floor jack to get the car on 2 jack stands? I know the manual mentions jack points, but my floor jack is in the way once I've jacked the car up and want to put the stands at those points.

Flame away if this is a stupid question! Thanks!

[MikeHTally]

I just put my floor jack slightly behind the places shown in the manual, then put the jack stands on the points. I prefer ramps when possible, though.

[DaleNixon]

Well yea ramps it is for oil changes and whatnot. When I rotate my tires and change my transmission fluid I'll need to use jackstands though.

[jon619]

Flame away if this is a stupid question! Thanks!

This is actually a good question. When I installed my MM, I was looking for the center jack point near the front, but nothing really stood out. The whole bottom front is wrapped in plastic.

[Kain]

For the front and rear? For the rear, there is a weight ballast that sits aft of the rear sway bar. Use that to lift both ends of the rear simultaneously. I haven't had a need yet to jack the front since everything in the front I've done so far (oil change, motor mount) was done on ramps. If you're rotating tires, I would just jack up one side towards the front wheel by the pinch welds on the frame (look underneath the side of your car and you'll see), put a stand on that side, then do the other side. I believe the manual tells you where to jack.

[DaleNixon]

Can anyone provide pics with huge arrows and balloons showing where the safe points to use are?

I saw a friend put a jack right through the side skirt of his Z06. I want to be absolutely sure I'm using safe jack points. All I could find in the manual were the four points to use the scissor jack for changing a flat. My jack is too wide to get a jack stand on that point after jacking it up from those points. Thanks!

[Kain]

http://www.geekosophical.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/halp-cat.jpeg


Can anyone provide pics with huge arrows and balloons showing where the safe points to use are?

I saw a friend put a jack right through the side skirt of his Z06. I want to be absolutely sure I'm using safe jack points. All I could find in the manual were the four points to use the scissor jack for changing a flat. My jack is too wide to get a jack stand on that point after jacking it up from those points. Thanks!

Get a new jack. As for your friend, lawl.

[DaleNixon]

Well my jack is just a standard floor jack. It's the ghetto Duralast kind. I don't think a new jack would solve my problem.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y154/DaleNixon/HALP.jpg

[hilmar2k]

I have the ghetto-est floor jack around, and I have no issues jacking up the MS3 with it. Let me see if I can find the pics I arrowed up so I can post them for you.

[bacarl]

I have a standard ol' floor jack as well and I have the same problem Dale. I try to put the jack as close as possible to the jack point while still leaving room for the jack point to actually rest on the stand. But regardless, my jack is too far from the jack point and I've bent up my unibody seams a bit.

As for using the mass damper (aka weight ballast per Kain) on the rear subframe, I don't know how securely that's bolted on? I want to say it's just got a couple fasteners and wouldn't be happy supporting the whole ass end. I'd put the jack under the center of the subframe itself in the rear.

[MikeHTally]

Well yea ramps it is for oil changes and whatnot. When I rotate my tires and change my transmission fluid I'll need to use jackstands though.
Not that I plan to, but why are jack stands needed for tranny fluid changes? I only use jack stands when swappin' shoes.

[hilmar2k]

Not that I plan to, but why are jack stands needed for tranny fluid changes? I only use jack stands when swappin' shoes.

It's easier to get to the drain plug if you remove the driver's side wheel.

[TropicalDelight]

just put your jack on the pinch wells, its not hard to find them.

[DaleNixon]

Can you elaborate on that? Thanks!

[Zimmer]

not gonna lie ... i was stumped on this too first time i squeezed both in the same location left some bent metal. seocnd time i jacked it at the jack points then rested them on the ramps ... obv u can't do this for ur task

[TropicalDelight]

Can you elaborate on that? Thanks!

look right under the side skirt of the car about 8 inches in and you will see a rail that runs from the front to the rear of the car, that is the pinch rail, that is where the car is lifted up from.

[Snyeed]

I get a piece of 2x4, put it on jack to even out the weight. I have gone through a few jacks as my car gets lower.

[DaleNixon]

Thanks dudes. I'll try to locate this point. I don't need to jack the car up yet, but I will soon (second)

[jjjxlr8]

You can purchase pinch weld adapters for your hydraulic floor jacks so that you don't bend up the thin metal. They are cheap and work quite nicely.

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/pc-12467-506-1505-pinchweld-jack-adapter.aspx

There isn't a good, safe, central point on this car (front or rear) to place a floor jack. :(

You should ALWAYS use jackstands when working underneath the car. Hydraulic jacks fail and you don't want to be under the car when it happens.

[DaleNixon]

Thanks! I wonder if that adapter would work with my Duralast jack. I'll have to check it when I get home.

[jjjxlr8]

Thanks! I wonder if that adapter would work with my Duralast jack.


It fits the two common standard hole sizes by using a removable bushing.

[Champloo]

When I need to put the front on jack stands I jack up the rear. Once the rear is high enough you can slide the jack stand under the front jack point. To put the rear on stands I do the same thing by jacking up the front of the car.
I've never used anywhere but the 4 jack points and never tried to squeeze the jack and a stand onto the same point. I haven't tried putting all 4 points on stands yet. I doubt it's very safe to jack up one of the rear points while the front is on stands because you would be putting a lot of uncentered weight on the opposite front jack stand.

[nhluhr]

the jack point for the front is aft of the oil pan. It will require a low profile jack and also probably some low-ramps such as a double-stack of 2x8 boards that you first drive up on.

It's just a bigass metal plate with some welds facing down.

[dandydaniel]

this is my first time using jack stands and I'm getting a bit stressed out right now.

where should I initially place my hydraulic jack in order to raise the car? am I supposed to do the driver side first (lift the driver side, place jack stand) and then lift the passenger side? that seems to be the only way since there is no centered place where I could squeeze the hydraulic jack into in order to lift the entire front at once. PLease help i want to get my mm in!

[DaleNixon]

I gave up and used ramps to install my MM inserts. It was much easier in the long run. I still don't know how the hell to get the front of the car on jack stands.

[dandydaniel]

I gave up and used ramps to install my MM inserts. It was much easier in the long run. I still don't know how the hell to get the front of the car on jack stands.

damn lol. I couldn't help but just laugh when I read the last line of your post... people on other forums have led me to like 3 different topics and I still don't know either. I mean, I know where to put the jack stands, I just don't know how to get the damn car up to get them in aka where the hell do I initially put the floor jack in order to get the car up?!!(homework)

[Champloo]

When I need to put the front on jack stands I jack up the rear. Once the rear is high enough you can slide the jack stand under the front jack point. To put the rear on stands I do the same thing by jacking up the front of the car.

It really does work.

[DaleNixon]

You do it one side at a time?

[lestat13]

You should ALWAYS use jackstands when working underneath the car. Hydraulic jacks fail and you don't want to be under the car when it happens.

I saw a hydraulic jack fail while my friend and I were under his truck!! Thankfully it was only a driveshaft and not something like the whole truck, but it did almost rip his leg off as it dropped.

It is really nice working on that truck though, combined (body + suspension) he has 8 inches of lift plus big ass tires :D I can squat underneath his truck with no issues.

[Champloo]

You do it one side at a time?

I do the front and then the back if necessary. Here are the steps:
1. jack up driver side rear so there's just enough room to put a jack stand under the front jack point
2. place jack stand under the driver side front jack point
3. ease the jack down so the driver side rests on the jack stand
4. jack up passenger side rear so there's just enough room to put a jack stand under the front jack point
5. place jack stand under the passenger side front jack point
6. ease the jack stand down so the passenger side rests on the jack stand
... do your stuff
-2. jack up rear passenger side, remove jack stand and lower passenger side
-1. jack up rear driver side, remove jack stand and lower driver side

To get the rear up on stands, do the same thing except jack up the front.

The car will be at maybe a 30 degree angle when you jack it up but don't worry, it won't tip over.

[def_one]

I took a square piece of 2x4 (3.5x3.5 I guess), and sawed about a cm wide groove in it across the grain. I use this on the pinch plate around the middle of the car, jack it up and put a jack stand front and rear.

[SingleFin1969]

I took a square piece of 2x4 (3.5x3.5 I guess), and sawed about a cm wide groove in it across the grain. I use this on the pinch plate around the middle of the car, jack it up and put a jack stand front and rear.

You have a good DIY item. I will use it!!!

[Snyeed]

I feel that is going to make the wood split even faster then it already does, I go through a few 2x4 pieces. Best method so far though.

[Zimmer]

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94229