How to jack car up without damaging side skirts? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Boxtaboy · 10-24-2010, 09:21 AM

Ok, it's getting close to the time when us Northeasterners need to swap our summer wheel/tires for the winter set of wheels. Usually, I have no problem jacking up the car myself and swapping the set of wheels, but this year, I'm wondering how I can do this without damaging my newly added side skirts (since they wrap under the sill area of the car). Anyone know a good method? I have a standard floor jack and hear that jack pad inserts can damage side skirts? Can I use a hockey puck instead?

eightsandaces · 10-24-2010, 09:37 AM

Use the scissor jack first to make room for the floor jack then reverse the process.

Boxtaboy · 10-24-2010, 10:14 AM

Never thought to use the scissor jack. Thx.

danyl55 · 10-24-2010, 10:34 AM

If you are driving it in the winter why are you worried about damage from a jack?

Boxtaboy · 10-24-2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danyl55

If you are driving it in the winter why are you worried about damage from a jack?

I've driven this car since 2002 in the cold winters of NYC and NJ, without issue. I run smaller 17" wheels with snow tires in the winter, and no problems. The car, as you can see, still looks amazing. As long as you rinse off the salt from the underbody after the snow storms, there's no issue.

I worry about the skirts because I don't want them to crack from sloppy floorjack use. Get it now?

chaudanova · 10-24-2010, 11:57 AM

Depends on how low-profile your jack is, but for my car, which is somewhat low, I use a low profile jack along with a hockey puck, and it clears the sideskirt...

Boxtaboy · 10-24-2010, 12:15 PM

Thanks Chaud. Will try the floorjack with hockeypuck first, as I'm too lazy to pull out the scissor jack.

Mark_T · 10-24-2010, 08:49 PM

Apparently lots of people drive these cars right through the winter. Probably not much of a problem in NYC or Toronto where it never really gets that cold. I would be worried about starting it up when the temp's down around -30, not uncommon here in mid-winter. Has anyone fitted a block heater to these cars? Do they have frost plugs in accessible locations?

eightsandaces · 10-25-2010, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

Thanks Chaud. Will try the floorjack with hockeypuck first, as I'm too lazy to pull out the scissor jack.

If you crack them doing this you will never forgive yourself, if you use the scissor from one side, you can then raise the entire rear by placing the floor jack in the center from the rear making sure to land on the brace shown in the Bentley book. It's not like the jack and spare are under the car, don't be lazy man!!!!