Where is the best place to put jackstands on the front of the car (98 Z24)?
The lower control arms?
The pinch weld?
The frame?
the reason im asking this is because the last time i lifted the car from the frame, when i lowered it down, i noticed the jack left a slight imprint. Nothing major, but im just looking for a stronger point on the car where i know ill feel safe jacking it from.
Thanks for any suggestions.
2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd
I prefer the lower control arms. This lifts the wheel and body together and avoids having to jack the body way up in order to get the tire off the ground.
rad support works. pinch welds sucks. they bend and fold after a few uses.
Swaybars.
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1992 Chevrolet Camaro RS 3.1L V6 A4- Metallic Green
1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 M6- Patriot Red
1995 Chevrolet Cavalier A4- Winter beater/purple
thanks for the replys guys, really appreciate it.
2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd
For safety purpose, there is only one place that jackstands should be placed....
Under the frame.
The pinch weld/seam, just under the rocker panel area, and should have a tab on it,
that area is for the jack. You will see these areas just behind the front wheels, and
just forward of the rear wheels. The factory jack is meant to be placed there, but obviously
any jack will work.
Moving towards the center of the car, inline from those jacking points, is what passes for
frame rails on our cars (unibody = not an actual frame). That is where you want to put
jackstands. One stand in each of the four corners will put the whole car in the air and hold
it safely and securely.
Any other spot where a jack or jackstand is used is potentially dangerous to both you and
your car. Control arms can bend, and have flex in them by design, so do not provide stable
lifting points. A radiator support, or oil pan, or anything else, really, was not designed to
hold what can be over a thousand puinds. If a component fatigues and fails, you will most
likely damage your car, and possibly your body, as well.
Live to be an old mechanic like me...take safety seriously, never crawl under a car,
even for "just a second", without proper jackstand placement.
-Ferrite
thanks for the tips ferrite. Should be alrite next time i jack the car.
2003 Cavalier 2dr. 5spd
Ferrite wrote:. Control arms can bend, and have flex in them by design, so do not provide stable lifting points.
Factory recommends control arms near the wheel.
joe4 wrote:Factory recommends control arms near the wheel.
Exactly! I have raised cars using the ends of the control arms quite successfully for more than 30 years. If that point can't support the wheel and chassis, then you better get rid of the car because the front suspension is going to fall apart when you hit a bump.
unvc92camarors wrote:Swaybars.
only by the part that has the bracket and the bushing on the frame, rearend etc.
-Borsty
Borsty wrote:unvc92camarors wrote:Swaybars.
only by the part that has the bracket and the bushing on the frame, rearend etc.
Right. I just figured it might be self explanatory. Thanks for the clarification.
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1992 Chevrolet Camaro RS 3.1L V6 A4- Metallic Green
1995 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 M6- Patriot Red
1995 Chevrolet Cavalier A4- Winter beater/purple
