Jack Points
 

Hi guys,

So I've had the Boxster on all four jack stands for a few times now, every time it was pretty solid. My garage floor is a little uneven because of a couple big cracks. There was only one time when I had the car on all four jack stands, but one jack point was strangely off the jack stand. Surprisingly, the car was still stable on three. I shook the car from all directions, and it was pretty solid, but I refused to go down there with only three contact points. I had to use a piece of wood under the jack stand to get it just a little higher to contact the jack point.

Anyway, just want to share a story. Personally, I feel a little uncomfortable when having the car on jack stands because the shape of the jack points doesn't seem to sit securely onto the saddle of the jack stand. I've tried the deep saddle from HF as well as the shallow one from Torin. My Honda has pinch welded jack points, and I think it's a lot easier and feels safer to get that securely onto the jack stand's saddle. Does anyone experience this?

I'm always leery when it's up on all fours. I made special ends for my jack stands out of plywood so there is a flat surface against the car and full distribution across the end of the jack.
Some have used Hockey pucks for this purposes.
For extra safety I always use jacks at the other structure points on the end I'm working on. It's a little tight at the back

use these and never worry - Liftbars

I have used them for years with my 928, and my Boxster. Lifts the car fast and they are very stable and safe.

I have the Boxster set for sale for $175, but only for local pick up or delivery to the Hershey swap meet next week. You can get yours directly from Ken - great guy, and he is the inventor/seller.

I always felt the same about using four jack stands. For extra safety, I'd often put a couple of spare stacked wheels/tires under the car "just in case".

Solved it by getting a four post lift.

What a great fargin idea.
Brilliant ! :cheers:

I had this happen to me once too, I had to raise that jack stand one click above the others. It only happened that once. I also put the jack where I will be working and slide my extra wheels and tires under the car as well.

The liftbars do look pretty cool, would be nice to get that extra height under the car.

It only takes 3 lifts of the jack for me to get the car up on the highest jack stand setting (lift back, set back jack stands at lowest setting. Lift front, set jackstands at higher setting. Lift back again and set back stands at higher setting), or two lifts if I want a lower setting, so I don't think the liftbars would save me any time there. That extra height would sure be nice though...

I damaged a couple of the standard lift points on the car using jack stands. Not pleased.

If you set the jack stands correctly you can set and forget. I had these under my mustang for over 10 years and numerous earth quakes.

Knock on wood nothing has ever happened

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1428594278.jpg

I had a 89 928s4 years ago. Coming home from Detroit Michigan.
Blew a tire on a interstate. Tire was a total mess so drove on the
Flat to the next rest stop. Blocked front tire. Using the porsche
Jack from the tool kit. Wheel was off and Jack started to bend
Very very lucky I yelled for help people came running and held
The car from falling. A guy with a bottle Jack can to the rescue.

A very close and potential very dangerous call. I now carry a
Bottle Jack in place of the stock jack.

Gack ! ... you're Mustang has become a storage shelf, just like my '65 project !

Try putting a $2 hockey puck on top of the jack stand before you let the car down.

Even better... use weighted training pucks. Aside from being denser they're orange and thus easier to spot & place ;)

Amazon.com : Pro Guard Weighted Ice Hockey Practice Pucks : Sports & Outdoors

I never used these but they look like they would work.

http://m.harborfreight.com/2-piece-rubber-pads-for-jack-stand-95952.html

I have those and they work well
I also have the jack stands 90 deg turned from each other on the front and rear points
the front ones go sideways and the rear ones front to back

Just took the car down after 3 weeks on the stands using these rubber tops for the 1st time. Big improvement over just the cast iron. Tough material and much less risk of damaging the jacking points. That bar gizmo looks like it could be the most trick set up though. I might order one of those.

I've got those same pads and they work well. For the back I orient the head of the jack stand front to back, and for the fronts I jack from the jack point and place the stands in the reinforced area that is described here:

Pelican Technical Article: Jacking Up and Lifting the Boxster on Jack Stands - 986 / 987

I used to jack from that point but found that my jack interfered with the placement of the jack stand at the jack point so I switched to doing it this way.

Steve

Try this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0SblGp8Oy0
or
http://liftbars.com/

I have been to Harbor Freight about 3 times this week, I looked at the Jack crossbeam they have for $39.99 (remember to use your 20% off coupon!) I wonder with addition of hockey pucks, could you use this to jack up both sides, front or rear, at the same time?

Steel Floor Jack Cross Beam

One more, The lift stand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcjw_VlX2fc or here

I don't think it is wide enough, it only goes to 37 in

Esco jack stands have a flat top. I have had mine way up high on those and it's very stable....its the trip up thats dicey

Is it cool to leave my P-car up on jack stands say, all Chicago winter?

P.S. Those liftbars may just be the coolest thing I have ever seen.

There has been a lot of debate about that over the years (on rennlist, 928 forum where I mostly hang out). Many do, but the smart guys say put something under the wheels in order to keep the shocks from becoming fully unloaded, which is bad for the seals apparently. It makes sense to me.
I never put my cars off the ground for extended periods. I do overinflate the tires quite a bit to avoid flat spotting, however. A few months of sitting won't hurt anything imho.

I finally sold that a couple years ago and put this on it for a while...

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1429491739.jpg

Then this...

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1429491387.jpg

scary how high it looks. :eek:

This is what I wish I had
 

PS cheap jack pads
 

I bought some clear Tygon 4 inch hose at Lowes, 5 bucks per foot. Cut off a 4 or 5 inch piece and then cur that in half. Take each half and cup over your jack stand and it is tough as hell but will not mar your car.....also seems to add friction to the top which is good.

I would never trust my life under one of those. I have seen them, and they are not very robust. I don't care what the stated rating is.
For a reasonable amount of money, Max Jax sells excellent 2 post lifts that do not require high ceilings. They do require at least 6 inches of reinforced concrete footers though.

If I were to ever get another lift I think it would be a overhead scissor lift like this...

http://gsmith.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/ATTD-SLP7K-2.jpg

https://youtu.be/QfoYzlgfZPI

If anyone wants to learn all the geekish details of various lifts, I suggest you search on Garage Journal. I 'apprenticed' there on this subject and as a result decided to buy a Mohawk 2 post with wheel engaging adapters. American made and worth every penny (and I am mean with those pennies!).Lifts my Porsche easily and my Cummins diesel truck -effortlessly. Steady as a rock - which in my earthquake prone area is vital.

Mohawks are seriously over engineered. If you want something big and heavy, I don't think you will find any heavier or more robust.

Been there.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps7877d612.jpg

I think these are on the buy list.

Contact My Lift Stand - Automotive Lift Stands for DIY car repair & autotive maintenance shops

I have a friend with a R33 Skyline and he uses these for car shows to get the car off the ground. The look very handy.

with pichers

http://986forum.com/forums/performance-technical-chat/48554-liftbars-boxsters.html

:( :eek: :(

The best I have ever seen
 

Are the jack stands for a E36
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/.../JP_0014_3.JPG

THis is pure genius, they are keyed so they cannot rotate or twist

That's an old race car trick, the Trans-Am car I used to crew for had the same. The cars are too low to get a jack under.