tibasnatch

Want to change my brake pads tomorrow and I just have a standard jack. I looked this up but see most people use pucks. I would go get some at a local autozone but they dont sell them..

If I want to lift up the back I usually just put the jack under the side skirt and do it from there (previous cars) but i read you cant do that without the pucks?

I saw a picture of someone with a 2x4 and jacking with that on the rear main frame.

What do you recommend?

camgci

I saw a picture of someone with a 2x4 and jacking with that on the rear main frame.

I got my pucks at a sporting goods store. You can use a standard jack under the rear, but hard to fit under front. Do not try to jack under side frames without the pucks. You can make your own with 3/4 plywood and a hole saw.

Don-Vette

Just use a hunk of wood between jack and frame. The only reason is not to damage the rocker panel.

Not So Fast

And believe me they can get damaged
Let us know how the pad-let change goes, gonna do it myself pretty soon, I've been told by many that it's quite easy, hope so
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jackcasual

My 09 is lowered and corner weighted. I made ramps out of 2X 10's I had. I beveled the edge I drive up on. Then placed a 2nd 2X10 on top of 1st 2X10. 1st 2X10 is about 3 ft long and 2nd 2X10 is about 14 in. Its beveled too. Place at front tires, drive up on 1st 2X10, then drive up on 2nd 2X10. Place small 2X4 on jack cradle and jack at center of car on frame.

theblue

you can just jack the car normally... just use caution and check several times to make sure the jack is not moving onto the sideskirts.

this forum blows things way out of proportion sometimes.

EVRose

Agreed. There is plenty of space around the rocker panel to place a jack pad on the frame without a puck being needed.

duckvett

The following photos show the ramps to drive onto and wooden "cradles" I made for jacking and jackstand use. The wood makes a very stable base and protect the aluminum crossmembers. These photos were taken under our previous C5, but I still use the same pieces under our current C6.

Not So Fast

Nice Jim, yes sir
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5knives

I had my car in the air yesterday to change out the rear dif fluid. Although I have pucks, I did not use them this time. I just put the jack on the area where you would normally use the pucks. I made sure it would not come into contact with the rocker panel and started jacking away. I put 2 stands under the front cradle then jacked up the rear from the rear cradle and put 2 stands under that to remove the jack. This was so the car was level for the dif fluid change. All of that may not be necessary depending on what plan on doing under there.

Don't overcomplicate things. Sometimes this forum makes the Corvette out to be something other than a car.

Not So Fast

IMHO if the "new" Corvette owner DOESNT see these various warnings then there is the possibility of doing damage, so I take it all in and appreciate the info. Keep it coming, if you already know how to do everything then why read the posts???
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GhostC6

I took a piece of 2 X 1 I had laying around and cut them about 4 inches long and put the jack under the side, then place 2 pieces of the wood on top of each other and jack it up. I really need to buy some wood or go pick up scrapes around a construction site.

One thing I did learn which may be helpful is if you jacking all 4 wheels off the ground, start with the front. If you do the back first, it makes the front even lower than it already is and it can be impossible to get a jack under it. So do the two front wheels then the back.

I have also purchased 2, yes 2, low profile jacks since I bought my Corvette last year. They really are worth it and pay for themselves quickly. It is so much easier than driving up on boards, then trying to get a regular jack under it, then setting it back on the boards and driving it off.

Not sure if this helped any but thought I would share.

5knives

I'm not sure if this was directed at me or not but since it was right after my post, I'll make that assumption.

I don't recall saying or even implying I knew how to do everything. On the contrary. I read the posts for the same reason you do, to learn. And if there is a rare occurrence where my limited knowledge can actually assist someone, then I will offer up my experience and opinion. If all of the "know-it-alls" as you proclaim them to be, didn't read the posts, how would they help people such as yourself?

There is no special inherent danger jacking up a Corvette when compared to any other car. If your sop for jacking up a car is to roll the jack under the car and start pumping away without looking to see what the jack will come in contact with, well then you should be dropping the car off at the nearest garage or dealer for maintenance work.

Although this forum is a tremendous source of helpful information, it's also a tremendous source of unnecessary anxiety. The owner's manual warns against improper lifting, as do all vehicle owner manuals. I'm not chastising the OP for asking the question. If he has any doubt, he should of course ask and research. But based on his comments, it's most likely the forum that gave him the doubt to begin with. I'm merely suggesting to him not to worry so much. Use the same educated diligence he hopefully uses when working on other cars.

Not So Fast

Just finished building the ramps and "cradles "ala duckvett pictures, but for the life of me when some guys say they have a lowered Corvette I don't know how you do it, mine is stock and still a PITA even with the ramps its close.
Hope my neighbors floor jack is a low profile
Oh yeah, I found the ramps slipped on the concrete floor so I put some of the shelving/drawer rubber bubbly stuff on the backside and no slide anymore
Off to get the brakes pads and see if I can screw that up, hope not anyways PEACE
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