Rookie Question - Jack Stands, Where Should They Be Placed On My 32?

[pdot]

Hi Guys,

A bit of a rookie question but thought I would ask here before I do anything I regret. I'm just wondering where the best place to put my jack stands would be as I need to get under the car to do a bit of work and don't want to rely on a jack alone. I've taken a look around and I can't seem to find any definitive answer so just asking here instead.

This is currently where I'm jacking the car up from:

http://imgur.com/J8MgZWu

And am now unsure where to place the jack stands, I was thinking in this area here:

http://imgur.com/YwbQOz6

And to zoom in a bit more I was then thinking about placing them on this little ledge (just to the left of the red line), would this be ok? It's at the start of two beams which run down the length of the car but I don't think those beams themselves are strong enough to hold any weight as they do seem a bit soft.

http://imgur.com/0LE7OwN

Cheers for any help in advance

Edited November 3, 2013 by pdot

[scotty nm35]

Those beams are not strong enough to jack or put stands under, they will crush and make your car unroadworthy.

Always use the sill jack points or the crossmember under the engine.

[jiffo]

Here's the recommended lift points, but take care.

These are designed for an even lift, something like a 4-point hoist.

If you intend jacking up from a cross member and then transferring to these jack points via stands, you won't achieve the even loading that a hoist can.

You'll find one stand will take a lot of weight before the other touches.

[pdot]

Thanks for the responses guys.

It sounds like the only real option for my jack stands are the sills on the side of the car so will proceed with that.

Cheers!

[Kane_R32]

I use the front tow hook and rear diff as jacking points. Haven't had any issues and it's on stands regularly.

I too have put the stands where the lower control arm mounts (as per 2nd pic) with no issues.

This is by no means the correct way, but works fine for me.

Edited November 6, 2013 by Kane_R32

[eightsixboy]

Don't use the rails as there really soft, even the sill which they recommend are to soft for stands.

My old 32 had completely demo'd sills and rails from previous owners jacking the car up incorrectly.

[jiffo]

I think it also depends on the experience of the bloke using the jack.

At some time I've jacked all my cars from the chassis rails and haven't put a mark on them.

I use about 300mm of 100x10mm plate to spread the jack's point load plus timber between the plate and the chassis rail.

But whacking a jack straight onto a chassis rail will guarantee a dinted rail, they're simply not designed for that.

I had a Rustia so bad I couldn't open/shut doors once she was jacked, it didn't matter where you lifted that heap.

Calling them a chassis rail is even a stretch, one side stop halfway down the car FFS.