Can you jack up the front using the crossmember?
01-31-2010, 05:12 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Can you jack up the front using the crossmember?
My 1989 Corvette Service Manual shows the front crossmember as the correct placement for jacking up the front end and supporting the car by the lower control arms. This is the usual way to do it on my 3rd generation Camaro, but before doing it to my C4, I wanted to be sure that this was accurate. I don't think I've ever seen anyone mention the crossmember method around here.
01-31-2010, 05:21 PM
#2
Safety Car
That should work fine structurally, through good luck getting a jack to the crossmember, and the lower control arms are curvy enough that I wouldn't trust myself to put a jack stand securely on them. I never looked in my FSM for recommended jack points (aside from what the user manual states). I use the aluminum spring retainer blocks for jack stands, personally, and the side-rail jacking points for the jack.
01-31-2010, 05:30 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
I have lifted mine on the cross member many times. It does help to drive up on a couple of 2X12's to get the jack under the car.
I always use the triangle shaped frame behind the tires for my jack stands.
I always use the triangle shaped frame behind the tires for my jack stands.
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sclebo05 (05-27-2022)
01-31-2010, 06:40 PM
#6
Race Director
As a side note....the question often comes up of how to get the car on 4 stands. Here's the method with the coveted Frizlefrak Seal of Approval.
I use two jacks....my big Sears floor jack, and a little Harbor Freight $20 Chinese special. I first use the HFCS under the jack point and lift the front end (either side) about 6"....this gives me enough room to get the big floor jack under the crossmember. Using the big Jack, I lift under the crossmember until I can get a jack stand under each front jack point.
Then, moving to the rear, I use the rear shock mount to lift each side until I can get a jack stand under the rear jack points....one side at a time. The car is now on 4 stands....and you can just raise the front as needed by the crossmember all at one time, and the rear one side at a time until the car is high enough for you to do whatever you need to do. I've swapped a 700R4 using this method and 6 ton jack stands.
Happy Jacking.
I use two jacks....my big Sears floor jack, and a little Harbor Freight $20 Chinese special. I first use the HFCS under the jack point and lift the front end (either side) about 6"....this gives me enough room to get the big floor jack under the crossmember. Using the big Jack, I lift under the crossmember until I can get a jack stand under each front jack point.
Then, moving to the rear, I use the rear shock mount to lift each side until I can get a jack stand under the rear jack points....one side at a time. The car is now on 4 stands....and you can just raise the front as needed by the crossmember all at one time, and the rear one side at a time until the car is high enough for you to do whatever you need to do. I've swapped a 700R4 using this method and 6 ton jack stands.
Happy Jacking.
01-31-2010, 07:56 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Feb 1999
Location: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
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St. Jude Donor '10
As a side note....the question often comes up of how to get the car on 4 stands. Here's the method with the coveted Frizlefrak Seal of Approval.
I use two jacks....my big Sears floor jack, and a little Harbor Freight $20 Chinese special. I first use the HFCS under the jack point and lift the front end (either side) about 6"....this gives me enough room to get the big floor jack under the crossmember. Using the big Jack, I lift under the crossmember until I can get a jack stand under each front jack point.
Then, moving to the rear, I use the rear shock mount to lift each side until I can get a jack stand under the rear jack points....one side at a time. The car is now on 4 stands....and you can just raise the front as needed by the crossmember all at one time, and the rear one side at a time until the car is high enough for you to do whatever you need to do. I've swapped a 700R4 using this method and 6 ton jack stands.
Happy Jacking.
I use two jacks....my big Sears floor jack, and a little Harbor Freight $20 Chinese special. I first use the HFCS under the jack point and lift the front end (either side) about 6"....this gives me enough room to get the big floor jack under the crossmember. Using the big Jack, I lift under the crossmember until I can get a jack stand under each front jack point.
Then, moving to the rear, I use the rear shock mount to lift each side until I can get a jack stand under the rear jack points....one side at a time. The car is now on 4 stands....and you can just raise the front as needed by the crossmember all at one time, and the rear one side at a time until the car is high enough for you to do whatever you need to do. I've swapped a 700R4 using this method and 6 ton jack stands.
Happy Jacking.
01-31-2010, 10:02 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
As a side note....the question often comes up of how to get the car on 4 stands. Here's the method with the coveted Frizlefrak Seal of Approval.
I use two jacks....my big Sears floor jack, and a little Harbor Freight $20 Chinese special. I first use the HFCS under the jack point and lift the front end (either side) about 6"....this gives me enough room to get the big floor jack under the crossmember. Using the big Jack, I lift under the crossmember until I can get a jack stand under each front jack point.
Then, moving to the rear, I use the rear shock mount to lift each side until I can get a jack stand under the rear jack points....one side at a time. The car is now on 4 stands....and you can just raise the front as needed by the crossmember all at one time, and the rear one side at a time until the car is high enough for you to do whatever you need to do. I've swapped a 700R4 using this method and 6 ton jack stands.
Happy Jacking.
I use two jacks....my big Sears floor jack, and a little Harbor Freight $20 Chinese special. I first use the HFCS under the jack point and lift the front end (either side) about 6"....this gives me enough room to get the big floor jack under the crossmember. Using the big Jack, I lift under the crossmember until I can get a jack stand under each front jack point.
Then, moving to the rear, I use the rear shock mount to lift each side until I can get a jack stand under the rear jack points....one side at a time. The car is now on 4 stands....and you can just raise the front as needed by the crossmember all at one time, and the rear one side at a time until the car is high enough for you to do whatever you need to do. I've swapped a 700R4 using this method and 6 ton jack stands.
Happy Jacking.
02-01-2010, 08:28 AM
#10
Race Director
Same here except I use a small sissor jack on a frame rail to get the car high enough to reach the cross member.
02-01-2010, 08:50 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jun 2001
Location: Columbia South Carolina
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02-01-2010, 09:02 AM
#12
Burning Brakes
I have the Greenwood package on my 90 coupe, so I drive up on 2X12,s before I can get my floor jacks under the car. Then I put jack stands under the front crossmember. I always leave the floor jacks under the car as well. You can never be too safe. Allentown Ernie.
02-01-2010, 11:31 AM
#13
I have the kit also. I used the corners of my x brace though, and I can barely fit my to real low profile jacks behind the front wheel enough to even reach that. I have wood to build some nice ramps, I just have not done it yet.
02-01-2010, 11:54 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
I have the Greenwood package on my 90 coupe, so I drive up on 2X12,s before I can get my floor jacks under the car. Then I put jack stands under the front crossmember. I always leave the floor jacks under the car as well. You can never be too safe. Allentown Ernie.
Lesson LEARNED!
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RalfKramden (06-17-2018)
02-01-2010, 11:58 AM
#15
My first day on the job in a small Garage the owner was installing a transmission in a car...he says "get me a 9/16" wrench" then I heard a sickening thud....look behind me and he's still under the car with his legs jerking and flopping around as they stick out from under the car. Blood is everywhere on his head....his wife screams and calls for the ambulance...we pull him out. Later that day my Dad says ..son don't ever work for that Garage again. The owner didn't use jackstands or any safety equipment.
Lesson LEARNED!
Lesson LEARNED!
02-01-2010, 01:09 PM
#17
Race Director
I use less (lifts) jackwise....
I have an old American built jack (was my grandfathers) and it is lower than the new chinese jacks
It makes lifting the front or rear quick, simple and safe to get the car on jackstands (or to change tires)
When I lift from the front crossmember I use a small jack IOT lift a side a little IOT get a 4x4 under the crossmember (support the crossmember) and then I lift the entire front end.
The lifting pad on my jack is large enough to get under both sides of the spring perch on the rear.
MIke
I have an old American built jack (was my grandfathers) and it is lower than the new chinese jacks
It makes lifting the front or rear quick, simple and safe to get the car on jackstands (or to change tires)
When I lift from the front crossmember I use a small jack IOT lift a side a little IOT get a 4x4 under the crossmember (support the crossmember) and then I lift the entire front end.
The lifting pad on my jack is large enough to get under both sides of the spring perch on the rear.
MIke
Last edited by aboatguy; 02-01-2010 at 01:12 PM.
02-01-2010, 01:44 PM
#18
Race Director
My first day on the job in a small Garage the owner was installing a transmission in a car...he says "get me a 9/16" wrench" then I heard a sickening thud....look behind me and he's still under the car with his legs jerking and flopping around as they stick out from under the car. Blood is everywhere on his head....his wife screams and calls for the ambulance...we pull him out. Later that day my Dad says ..son don't ever work for that Garage again. The owner didn't use jackstands or any safety equipment.
Lesson LEARNED!
Lesson LEARNED!
It's a wonder he lived to tell about it.
