Yellow6t7

What is the best way to jack the car up on a 4-post lift so that I can take all four wheels off. My 4 post lift has one jack bridge and I'm not sure of the proper and safe way to do this. Where should I lift the car from and where/how should I support it? I want to take the wheels off.
Thanks

ohiovet

Doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

wmf62

there are some 'bubba' ways I could suggest, but I won't....

another jacking bridge is the only proper way...

Bill

Frankie the Fink

Rolling trolley/bridge jacks are best and safest. Otherwise I wouldn't try it. Many 4 post lifts come with a metal, sliding "jacking tray" and some even show pics of bottle jacks in the tray lifting the car. DON'T DO IT.

I did once and got my task done but it was some scary, unstable BS...you're better off on jack stands on the floor if you don't have a two post lift OR the bridge jacks. Cheapest bridge jacks I've found are $495 each - I couldn't justify it.

Having said all that, if you have shop air, there are inflatable "pillow" jacks that are cheaper and work well (I am told). I don't have shop air.

HilltopClassicCars

Gotta agree with Bruce, Bill, and Frankie on this one. Could you remove just the front wheels first, then remove the rear wheels after replacing the front wheels?

ejboyd5

Why not do it on the floor with Jack stands like everyone else would do? Certainly a lot safer.

GCD1962

Depends where the frame is positioned on the ramps. I have no problem doing that with my '62

427Hotrod

I have a rolling jack. I can place one end on stands on the runways and the other on the jack.

Jim

Frankie the Fink

Please show us.

AkrHack

I've often wondered where the contact points on a C2/C3 Corvette would be when using one of the jacking plates that go between the runways on a 4 post lift. I could see the front maybe where the frame narrows ahead of the front wheels. In the back, there is no such narrowing of the frame and the only jacking point that would be plausible in my view is the rear differential. I don't think I'd want to do that. All that said, if I do any work that requires the wheels to be off, I take the car off my 4 post lift and use jack stands.

GCD1962

No photos but I do it all the time as my lift is a little narrow compared to some. I can use the tray for the rear, and in the front with the rails just above the ramps, I can jack from there, or if needed under the A-arms.
Never had a single problem doing it this way

roberts427

just use a bridge jack,DO NOT try other methods. I had a friend jack up with a 4 x 4 and a floor jack and the car slid to one side as the floor jack rolled a little on the floor. ALMOST lost the car off the lift. It slid about 2 inches and came within a 1/2 of falling off the ramp.

ptjsk

Actually I do this quite often.

I have a rolling jack and place it on the frame just in front of the "kick ups".

I have cut some 2" x 12" planks to bridge the gap between both the runners.

I place the jack stands under the axle. Usually one leg of the jack stand is out onto the 2" x 12'.

Set it down then move the rolling jack to the front of the frame just behind the front wheels.

Same thing, a 2" x 12" bridges the gap between the running ramps, and I place jack stands under the front suspension. Again, one leg of the jack stand is supported on the 2" x 12".

I have done this for years and have never had a mishap.

Additionally, as a safety measure, I will usually slide the wheels/tires under the frame of the car.

Pat

wmf62

Pat

that was one of my 'Bubba' ways (no offense intended to you or Bubba) that I would do myself; but I wouldn't suggest it to others...


Bill

ptjsk

LOL!!

The 2" x 12" resting on the inside ledge that the rolling jack rolls on, is just about level with the top of the ramps. It's a bend pak lift.

It's definitely not going to break with the small amount of weight from the third leg of the jack stand.

But in reality, it could be improved by making a metal truss type plank to bridge the gap between the ramps.

Pat

Frankie the Fink

This is the cheapest rolling bridge jack I've found (it apparently went up $100 since I last looked at it) and this outfit stays sold out of 'em...this is about 1/2 of what many cost...there are manual and shop air versions.

Frankly, I don't see how a manual jack with some slide points to mate to the frame and essentially a bottle jack with a sideways pump handle can cost so much...

Which is why I don't have one:

http://www.garage-toys.com/44lbrobrja.html

Here is an air bag jack that I've seen used on a lift (in pairs):

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/2-Bag-Air-Jack

Short of one of these I wouldn't recommend anybody doing a Rube Goldberg jack arrangement with a car 6' in the air on a lift....

As I said, I did it once and got away with it -- never again, it was scary and more than a little stupid...

Black_Magic

Pro Jack 3500
Definitely worth the money
Safe
Easy to use

George

63splitter

I have a 4-post Backyard Buddy with one jack tray. I have managed to get all 4 wheels up with the tray in the front and a couple of easy-to lift floor jacks on each side of the back (the car needs to be centered on the lift ramps to do that. I don't recommend this method and that's why I do the front first with the jack tray and then do the rear.

Kerrmudgeon

We used to make cheap jack posts to be used on lifts out of an old steel wheel rim welded to a building jack post in the center hole. You can even glue a rubber pad onto the pad on top to prevent slipping. You just lower your hoist a little when you have the posts placed. Two at a time, never four though.

wmf62

too long/too tall and you run the danger of them tipping....

Bill