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Author Topic: Jacking Points for Axle Stands  (Read 17057 times)

Urzum

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Jacking Points for Axle Stands
« on: March 06, 2019, 04:56:30 PM »

Hello everyone thanks for having me,

I just bought a poor condition '04 1.1 ForFour and I want to start working on it. When I lift cars I avoid keeping them up using only the hydro jack so I always want to put them on axle stands. I've been browsing the forum for nearly 2 hours and I wasn't able to find out a clear explanation on the points where to use the jack and the stands. I have made extensive forum and google searches for this information but I only managed to find the basic bits specified in the owner's manual.
So, does anyone have a drawing or a picture of the points underneath the car where you can use the jack and the stands? I have attached an example picture of what I am looking for.
If I was just too stupid to actual find the information, please be kind and point it out for me. I would really appreciate it! :)

Thanks!

PS: i am not a mechanic but a casual DIY-er, just got the car almost for nothing and I challenged myself to find what i can get out if, as I have always liked this model and wanted to grab one. I want to find out how much i can fix before replacing with new parts, so repairing > replacing :)

PPS: brace yourselves, as I will definitely ask many stupid questions on this forum from now on.


« Last Edit: March 07, 2019, 07:52:37 PM by Urzum »
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steddie eddie

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Re: Jacking Points for Axle Stands
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2019, 07:24:49 PM »

G'day Urzum and welcome to the forum, i am sure you will get all the info you need from here.
Greetings,
Eddie.
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mr singh

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Re: Jacking Points for Axle Stands
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2019, 07:40:46 PM »

what I usually do when I put mine on axel stands is put the stands under the front sub frame and under the rear beam for the rear
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Urzum

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Re: Jacking Points for Axle Stands
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2019, 07:48:30 PM »

I am updating the question:
Does anyone have a photo or technical drawing of a 454 from below?
We can work with that to figure out the jacking and axle stand points.
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CrazyG

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Re: Jacking Points for Axle Stands
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2019, 10:47:38 PM »

I think that mr.singh was quite specific and detailed in his
explanation....and I doubt anyone has photos that have been
taken to show where the axle stands should go under the car.

All I can do is add more detail to mr.singh's post.
But note that I do not advocate axle stands under the rear axle beam.
That is my choice....not the golden rule, ok.

The BIG assumption here is that you have a long and low hydraulic
trolley jack that can slide easily under the car without it hitting anything.

You now have 2 options/choices on how you raise the car up.

1. using the front engine cross member, and then the rear beam axle.
2. using the existing side jacking points.

No matter which option you choose, there is one golden rule that you
MUST follow.... no matter what !
And that is...Do not under any circumstances put any axle stands
under any part of the front lower suspension arms....they will move when
you lower the jack !  Put them close to the ends of the crossmember.
(One member even had his car nearly slide off and crash down when he
put them under those lower arms.
)

OPTION 1.
At the front, slide the jack under the engine crossmember and jack the
front of the car up. Place an axle stand close to each end of the crossmember.

At the rear, jack the car up from the centre of the beam axle. That point
is a long way in..hence the assumption that you have/will have the use
of a long and very low high lift hydraulic jack.
My preference is not to place any axle stands under the axle beam.
It should not move...but it may do...depending on if you are doing any
work on the brakes or suspension etc.
(When I/we work on the S2smartracing Brabus at the race track
  l/we never put axle stands under the rear beam axle.)

So where do I/we put them....
Well if one looks under each sill of the car you can clearly see there
is a double thick raised seam that 'hangs down' and runs the entire
length of the sills.
Now if you look along those seams you will see there are a pair of
'notches' about 6 to 8 inches in from both ends of the seam. Between
those notches is where one usually places the standard wind-up jack.
Place the axle stand on each side so that they are located between
the rear pairs of notches. Lower the jack slowly so that the seam sits
down onto the axle stands.

OPTION 2...
Put the head of the trolley jack between the pair of notches at the front
of the side sill on the first side. The pad of the jack must be central
on the raised sill seam. Jack the car up high enough to slide an axle
stand close to the end of the engine cross member....but NOT under
anhy part of the lower suspension arm.
Slide another axle stand into position between the rear pair of notches
on the underside sill seam.
Lower the jack slowly...moving the axle stands if necessary.
Repeat for the other side....but...
do it slowly and carefully as you need to be very aware that by
doing it this way will put a lot of sideways pressure on the axle stands
that are already in position.
It is best to have someone watching to make sure that those axle stands
do not move or tilt.
Raise the car slowly, then when it is up, position the axle stands in
the same way as you did on the other side...1 close to the the end of
the engine crossmember and the other under the side sill seam
between the rear pair of notches.
Please be aware when you come to lower the car that once you remove
the axle stands on one side that there will be stress/pressure on the
remaining axle stands when you lower the car....so be careful and
have someone watch them as you lower the first side, ok.
« Last Edit: March 07, 2019, 10:48:41 PM by CrazyG »
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Urzum

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Re: Jacking Points for Axle Stands
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2019, 12:09:23 PM »

Thanks for the very detailed reply, CrazyG! I'll make sure to follow your advice.
I have managed to install AutoData today and they have this image attached for jacking points. Kinda' matches what you described.

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Problemchild

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Re: Jacking Points for Axle Stands
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2019, 03:16:22 PM »

It it’s solid and doesn’t move then it’s a good place tonjack

I usually use the pivot point for suspension (where joins the chassis) if I’m using axle stands

JJ