Jacking up the car

[whistler]

So I was using my hydraulic jack to jack up my car. I put it under the frame (which was probably not a good idea), and while jacking the car, I hear a crunch, immediately take a peek under the car and the piece of the frame bent inwards (where the jack meets the frame, not the whole frame!)

It doesn't look like it made any severe damage or anything, but I was wondering if there was a way to get that piece back out. There are several holes at alternate distances, anyone have made this mistake anytime?

[jumpncrash]

if you mean the pinch welds, then yeah it tends to do that...don't know how to get it back, but to stop it from happening, I started using a 4-5" 2x4 on the jack, to spread it out a bit. I can say I haven't bent it since.

[whistler]

no, not the pinch welds, but this area marked in red.

[almighty4wd]

meh. I wouldn't worry. the last rock I hit crunched that rail, thankfully missed the fuel and brake lines. There's not much you can do about it, it's bent. pulling it back out will just weaken it more.

Best bet, use a 2x4 next time to spread the weight.

[MATT91GT]

next time move the jack alittle more forward to that plate. thats what i use to jack the car up with.

[therieldeal]

i always jack on the pinch welds... never flattened one.

[Mazda_Powered]

i always lift my car up on the LCA/bolts (front) and infront of the trailing arm (rear) never had an issue!

JACK.

[whistler]

I normally use the pinch welds, but since I'm using the floor jack, wasn't sure how the pinch weld would sit on the round surface of the jack!

[therieldeal]

i just make sure the round part is turned so the pinch weld falls betweet two of those ermmm things that stick up? my jack has a large 6-7" lifting surface though. i was thinking of buying a small (cheap) jack and welding the top part of a stock crank jack to the top of it. this way itd fit the pinch weld and never slip off

[323driver]

meh, I wouldn't worry about it, just some floor reinforcement. I was missing a 1 foot chunk of that rail under the back part of the floor before I welded a new one in and no one knew about it so just leave it alone and use a piece of wood like jump said.

[sube]

meh, I wouldn't worry about it, just some floor reinforcement. I was missing a 1 foot chunk of that rail under the back part of the floor before I welded a new one in and no one knew about it so just leave it alone and use a piece of wood like jump said.

Actually since our cars are frameless, if any part of that reinforcing as you call it is damaged, or rusted,it seriously weakens the car underbody. I see cars running around all the time with the rocker panels rusted right off the car.

When the rocker panels are rusted out, even a relatively minor accident can cause the car to break in the middle with devastating consequences.

Pat.

[Syntax]

I jack up my car on the outer most part of the shell. Uhhh, where the jack stands go just under the doors. Never bent anything, never had a mishap at all.

[gascanexplode]

Actually since our cars are frameless, if any part of that reinforcing as you call it is damaged, or rusted,it seriously weakens the car underbody. I see cars running around all the time with the rocker panels rusted right off the car.

When the rocker panels are rusted out, even a relatively minor accident can cause the car to break in the middle with devastating consequences.

Pat.

damn maybe i should be looking for a new BG!!! ive got rust EVERYWHERE oh and big holes where rust used to be.... lol

[jumpncrash]

lol, thats why I got rid of my last one actually.

but therieldeal, that sounds like a great idea, never thought of that.

[Kent1566]

I have a collection of boards, that vary in length to support my jacking needs..my wood collection helps the jack stands if the ground is wet & spreads the load over an even area solidly...used with a sizzors jack or floor jack a piece of wood or a section of an old tire can increase the load lifting area ...this way you are not crumpling weld seams or under the car stuff that is now supporting a colossal load .