FAQ?: How to properly raise and support your E28
Posted: Nov 27, 2008 12:33 AM
*This is not an FAQ about how to teach your E28 life lessons or putting money away to secure it's future.*
Problem: You don't have access to a lift and you need to work under your car.
Solution: Use a floor jack and jack stands!
Secondary Problem Arising from that Solution: You don't know where to properly place said jack and jack stands so as to properly support the car while working beneath it.
To lift the vehicle:
*On the pad of your floor jack, I suggest using either a proper jack pad or a piece of wood, to protect your car.*
Front:
If your vehicle is at stock ride height or not considerably lowered, you can place the jack beneath the frame rail, just behind where it bends down under the car. Ensure that the jack does not interfere with jack stand placement.
If your car is lowered to the point where you cannot get the jack under the rail, use a 2x4 under each front tire. To do this, place the wood on the ground in line with the tire, then push the car onto the wood. You should now be able to slide the jack under the car.
Rear:
Some say it's alright to lift the car by the differential, but in this writer's experience, it places a strange load on the differential mount. Because of that, I lift the car under the subframe bushing on each side. Do not lift by the subframe itself. That puts a lot of stress on the bushings and the subframe (or rear-axle carrier as described in the Bentley Manual) is not designed for that type of load. The bolt going through the bushing holds the subframe rigidly to the car, which makes this the most-suitable lifting point.
*Remember to always chock the wheel(s) opposite of the one being raised.*
To place jack stands:
The ideal placement for jack stands is at the lifting points in the rocker panels. In areas where the rocker panels do not last long (such as the rust belt), You can jack the front from the subframe, placing the stands beneath the frame rails. In order to ensure the car is planted solidly and the load distributed effectively on the stand, I like to place the stand on a 1/2" piece of plywood, then place a 2x4 across the stand's saddle. (Pictures to come shortly).
Once the car has been lifted and placed on jack stands:
Before venturing underneath the car, check to ensure the car is solidly supported. To do this, visually inspect that the stands are properly placed and the load is distributed properly. Then gently try to shake the car. There should be no movement. If there is movement, you need to double check your placement.
Problem: You don't have access to a lift and you need to work under your car.
Solution: Use a floor jack and jack stands!
Secondary Problem Arising from that Solution: You don't know where to properly place said jack and jack stands so as to properly support the car while working beneath it.
To lift the vehicle:
*On the pad of your floor jack, I suggest using either a proper jack pad or a piece of wood, to protect your car.*
Front:
If your vehicle is at stock ride height or not considerably lowered, you can place the jack beneath the frame rail, just behind where it bends down under the car. Ensure that the jack does not interfere with jack stand placement.
If your car is lowered to the point where you cannot get the jack under the rail, use a 2x4 under each front tire. To do this, place the wood on the ground in line with the tire, then push the car onto the wood. You should now be able to slide the jack under the car.
Rear:
Some say it's alright to lift the car by the differential, but in this writer's experience, it places a strange load on the differential mount. Because of that, I lift the car under the subframe bushing on each side. Do not lift by the subframe itself. That puts a lot of stress on the bushings and the subframe (or rear-axle carrier as described in the Bentley Manual) is not designed for that type of load. The bolt going through the bushing holds the subframe rigidly to the car, which makes this the most-suitable lifting point.
*Remember to always chock the wheel(s) opposite of the one being raised.*
To place jack stands:
The ideal placement for jack stands is at the lifting points in the rocker panels. In areas where the rocker panels do not last long (such as the rust belt), You can jack the front from the subframe, placing the stands beneath the frame rails. In order to ensure the car is planted solidly and the load distributed effectively on the stand, I like to place the stand on a 1/2" piece of plywood, then place a 2x4 across the stand's saddle. (Pictures to come shortly).
Once the car has been lifted and placed on jack stands:
Before venturing underneath the car, check to ensure the car is solidly supported. To do this, visually inspect that the stands are properly placed and the load is distributed properly. Then gently try to shake the car. There should be no movement. If there is movement, you need to double check your placement.
