More thoughts on jack stands / jack procedure for 308?

DO NOT USE (1) DIRECTLY:
The frame cross-member (1) is not an oval tubular member, it's only a fairly weak U-channel. I've seen a couple of them that have been bowed by lifting with a jack as described below. Once bowed, your rear end is out of alignment & you've got big problems as it's very hard to apply force to straighten it.

If you have to use a cross-member, use the tubular one between the two rear jacking points shown as purple circles.

I'm not sure whether or not a 2x6 is sufficiently rigid to safely transfer the load from (1) to the longitudinal tubes so that the U-channel crossmember is protected. I'd be a lot more comfortable with a 4x4, or a 2 or 3 inch AL or steel I-beam.

I prefer a 4-stand setup. with the 2 rear stands as shown on the jacking points, and the 2 front stands at either (2), or else somewhere along the diagonal tubular members coming in to (2). I use the same points with my lift.

I haven't taken a close look at the cross-member being used for the single forward jack stand. I suspect it's another oval tubular member, so should be sufficiently strong.

 

I use two hydraulic jacks simultaniously to lift the rear of the car, positioned under the oval tubes at the axle centerlines. Jackstands at the two forward positions as shown in the diagram and one under the rear cross member LIGHTLY LOADED.

I jack the front using the central location as shown in the diagram and place two jackstands under the forward frame rails, just aft of the axle centerlines, shimming with 1/4" plywood at all locations as required.

'78 GTS

DJ

 

Mike

I use all 4 jackstands with 2 at the front (although invariably there is more weight on one than the other) and some larger ones at the rear. Positioning of the rears is similar to the diagram. Fronts are on the rails about inline with the middle of the a-arms. I do jack the front from the position shown.

FYI, The rear stands are Snap-On's and have a long saddle (7 or 8 inches I'd guess) and a wide base so that if something moves the car can, in the extreme, slide on the stand without anything becoming unbalanced. By contrast the fronts, an earlier pair of Craftsman's, have a much smaller saddle (about 4 inches) and narrower base and these can tilt alarmingly when lowering the car if sufficient care isn't taken.

I find the alignment of the casters on the jack itself to be important as this impacts the way the base of the jack will move as the car is raised or lowered and therefore the direction (and amount) of lateral force that's applied.

HTH
Philip

 

I wouldn't be at all comfortable with only one stand at the front, load would probably be OK, but I cannot imagine that it would be very stable.

I am seriously thinking of digging a 4 feet deep pit in my garage floor to get access to the underside but I am using 4 axle stands in the meantime.

 

I bought some really nice metal low clearance ramps from Sportys tool shop. I drive carefully up on the front ramps till I touch the stops.

I then jack up the car from either side using two hydraulic jacks at the recommended jack spots on the outside frame tube till the car is level. I position heavy duty jack stands with poly pads on the main large oval frame tubes near the axle center line in the rear. If I need to remove the front wheels I take off the front access panel and jack the car up at the area where the frame is strongest (again from either side) and then put the front heavy duty jack stands with poly pad on the square main frame rails. This is where the ramps from sporty's come in handy the have a section that slides into the main housing so you can slide a floor jack in there. Because I am worried that the car may fall off in an earthquake, when I am not working on it I have 4 smaller stands which I place at the factory jack spot before the rear wheel and one right behing the front wheel on the outside frame rail just to give it more support at the 4 corners. I wish I had a lift but my garage isn't tall enough.... I am going to do this this week will take some photos if anyone wants.