Jacking points & Axle stands

[Sast]

Ok so there are like 400000 posts about this, however I'm still unsure.

I have come across this pic on a different thread:

Which is fine and makes perfect sense, however. Where do I put the axle stands? If I put them in the same spots as shown above, where do I jack the car up from?

I've heard of people using the subframe bolt to jack the car up with, where is that located on the above pic?

I've also seen this photo on a different thread (hope he doesn't mind me using the photo)

But again where do I jack up the car on there if the axle stands are in the points I would normally use?

 

[Deleted member 74601]

I too, would be eternally grateful, if someone would show, by way of picture, where to put the axle stands and trolley jack.

If someone wouldn't mind pointing out the normal jacking points as well, because I'm unsure on that too.

It would be much appreciated

 

[jc_boc]

Axle stands would go under the wishbones when the car is jacked up. At least that is how I did mine.

 

[Slimy]

Axle stands would go under the wishbones when the car is jacked up. At least that is how I did mine.

NOOOOO!!!!!! If you hold a car up on the wishbones chances are you're going to bend the wishbones. They're not load bearing.

You should be able to jack it up where the wishbones meet the car, or under the ball joint at the other end, but don't jack up on the wishbone itself.

Of course, if that's what you meant then all's good...

 

[HotHatchSteve]

I've used my trolley jack on the sill jacking point, just make a v in a piece of wood to fit the lip on the sill then put your stands under the sub frame.

Like said don't use the wishbones.

Have a look at this thread on vwvortex.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4063908

 

[Adman77]

That stuff about the jack is scary!! I used my scissor jack on my Astra loads of times, sometimes uneven ground and never even slipped a mm! Of cours I never went under but still!

That's really bad...

 

[Deleted member 74601]

Does the manual mention anything about where to jack the car up btw? I couldn't find it in there.

 

[Slimy]

Does the manual mention anything about where to jack the car up btw? I couldn't find it in there.

I don't believe so, unless it explains the tyre swap process in which case it'll just be the widow maker in the slot in the sill. It assumes that 99% of people who only have the manual will not be jacking the car up, if you want to work on your car you'd get a Haynes manual or similar.

 

[jc_boc]

NOOOOO!!!!!! If you hold a car up on the wishbones chances are you're going to bend the wishbones. They're not load bearing.

You should be able to jack it up where the wishbones meet the car, or under the ball joint at the other end, but don't jack up on the wishbone itself.

Of course, if that's what you meant then all's good...

Sorry that was what I meant mate lol. I never have been too good at explaining things hahahaha

 

[Sast]

Ok so I'm still unsure about where to lift the car...I'm not very familiar with the underside of a car or terms used.

I'm attempting to paint my brake calipers and the most challenging part appears to be getting the wheels off the ground...

I don't want to cause any damage so could somebody use this image and point out where the points for lifting/jack stands are (red arrow or something). As mentioned earlier, I see the points on the image but if I lift from there I can't put axle stands there.

That link to VW vortex, is that the same principle for Leons? Does the underside look the same etc?

 

[jc_boc]

Hopefully this will help. Had to try and fish out the best pictue I had of the car from underneath.

 

[Sast]

Ah nice one, I'll get on the floor later and have a look under the car and see if I can make any sense of it.

Sorry for sounding stupid but it's the first time using axle stands and i wanna make sure I do it right...

Thanks again.

 

[AdamRoutley]

Ah nice one, I'll get on the floor later and have a look under the car and see if I can make any sense of it.

Sorry for sounding stupid but it's the first time using axle stands and i wanna make sure I do it right...

Thanks again.

I've never used them. Although i would like to. Ive been considering getting ramps, although i dont know if its worth it just to change my recirc valve (its an FR)

When ive painted my calipers in the past ive just used my trolley jack with a chunk of wood with a slot cut in it, and jacked up at the jacking points on the sill. I always lay my wheel underneath just in case but the wheel is only ever off for a max of 15 minutes.

 

[jc_boc]

No worries mate. You will see on the side of the sill there should be small arrows if you have no side skirts, these indicate where the jack will go. Looking underneath then you will see a ridge almost like where the metal has been bent for the body and the chassis. the "cup" of the jack should fit over the ridge and then you just wind that bad boy up as high as she will go, slide in the axle stands and lower onto them. Keep an eye on the axle stand when lowering as sometimes they tend to shift and lift of the legs = danger of collapsing = FATALITY.....

 

[Cupra R]

Ah nice one, I'll get on the floor later and have a look under the car and see if I can make any sense of it.

Sorry for sounding stupid but it's the first time using axle stands and i wanna make sure I do it right...

Thanks again.

You don't sound stupid mate. I think it's a very valid question.

 

[Sast]

I'm sure it'll be a doddle once I get the hang of it, just first time nerves and all that

 

[Deleted member 74601]

I'm sure it'll be a doddle once I get the hang of it, just first time nerves and all that

I have the same problem! I was going to put the Axle stands on that joint there, but I'm not confident about using a trolley jack on the sill.

On my last car, even using the crappy scissor jack that was designed for the sill, it still bent, so I'm not too confident about it not bending.

 

[Marty.H]

i personally don't like jacking any car up on its sills i tend to always go for a bed or lower arms.

I see a comment further up the thread that you cannot jack up on lower arms that is incorrect you can some VSI information when i do MOT's says to jack up on lower arms that's on a double wishbone setup and them lower arms a lot skinnier then the ones on a macpherson strut setup.

I have been doing it like that for years and have never had a problem saves the sills as well because once the tin worm gets into a sill its game over.


Once you have also lowered the car onto the axle stands give it a gentle rock and make sure its solid also buy a decent set of stands not the cheap halford specials as i have seen them break luckily no one was under the car at the time

 

[Jammy78]

Hopefully this will help. Had to try and fish out the best pictue I had of the car from underneath.

What if you've jacked the car where the axle stands go........... will you cause any damage?

 

[Deleted member 74601]

What if you've jacked the car where the axle stands go........... will you cause any damage?

Should be okay, I was told by a guy in work who does a lot of car work to jack the car up there. If the Axle stands are okay there, a jack probably will.