Damaged jack points

Technical Area Body, Interior & Styling
2

Hello[:)]

 

I’ve jacked my car up incorrectly using the notches on the sills rather than the diff and centre sub frame, the metal has ben slightly and the paint has flaked away, i’m just wondering what sort of advice people would give on repairing the damage?

 

At least now i know how NOT to jack a car up!!!

 

Thanks,

 

Ben.

3

 If you are using the jack that came with the car you should be using the 100mm space between the two drain holes. The part of the jack that fits this space is specially shaped to fit the rib so that it shouldn’t slip when the car is jacked up. If you have a copy of Rod Graingers Manual check page 9:16 first left hand column, first picture to see how to use the jack. 

4

Hi Pollyana,

 

I was using a trolley jack which seems to have damaged the metal between the notches a little as this has now bent slightly and some of the paint has flaked away. I have contacted the bodyshop who replaced my sills when i bought the car and the guy has said it is repairabe so not to worry but i was just wondering if anyone has any experience of this type of thing?

 

Thanks,

 

Ben.

5

I wsa led to believe that using the saddle of a trolley jack on the jacking points that are designed to take the ‘factory’ jack wasn’t a good thing … but if one was to knock up some sort of wooden block affair that was shaped on top to fit against the jacking point on the sill which you could place between the jack saddle and the sill, would that be OK? Or is it still a no-no?

 

6

The scissor jack that comes with the car actually loads the two pads either side of the ridge, not the ridge itself.

I have seen tyre fitters using a trolley jack on my car to lift it up on the ridge, which didn’t seem to leave any damage, but I don’t like doing it myself because it looks like it will bend. 

I use the cross-member / diff method to jack it up, then support on the proper jacking points with axle stands positioned to contact inside the ridge, on the pad. 

When using axle stands or a trolley jack, a block of soft wood always helps to spread the load and will reduce the risk of damaging anything.

7

 Hi Ben, I have used a trolley jack on the odd occasion but I made a piece of oak to fit the trolley jack lifting point and shaped to also fit around the sill at the lifting point