Jacking up the car?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 2
Jacking up the car?
I am getting ready to sand my rims, any suggestions. But my main question is this, should I have to jack up the rear of the car first and when I'm finished jack up the front of the car. Or can you jack them up safely by doing the driver side wheels and then the passenger side rims or is that extremely dangerous. I only have two jack stands so I guess it would be best to do the rear first and finish those rims and then the do the front on the same side. Give me advice on the safest way to do it, and has anyone used the polishing kits from Eastwood Co. or any other products. I think wet sanding and elbow grease my be my best bet. One last question when wet sanding do I use soap or just water. Thanks I'm all 
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
Here's my lifting routine:
1- stick a long, low-profile jack under the front of the car and hit the fram extension that goes under the radiator. Jack this up in the center to raise the entire front end, then put jack stands sort of inside the lower control arms. There's a solid piece of metal there that's the perfect shape to safely set on jack stands.
2-On each side in the rear, stick a jack in the "box" of frame behind the jacking point. It's just rearward of where the brake lines go inboard. You can get the jack on 2 'rails' of the frame here, and be careful not to pinch the lines. Jack up one side, and put a jack stand on the rear jacking point, as shown by the arrows on the car and in the manual. Repeat this for the other side of the rear, and you're set!
I've lifted my car A LOT, and I've weeded this out to be the fastest and safest method.
1- stick a long, low-profile jack under the front of the car and hit the fram extension that goes under the radiator. Jack this up in the center to raise the entire front end, then put jack stands sort of inside the lower control arms. There's a solid piece of metal there that's the perfect shape to safely set on jack stands.
2-On each side in the rear, stick a jack in the "box" of frame behind the jacking point. It's just rearward of where the brake lines go inboard. You can get the jack on 2 'rails' of the frame here, and be careful not to pinch the lines. Jack up one side, and put a jack stand on the rear jacking point, as shown by the arrows on the car and in the manual. Repeat this for the other side of the rear, and you're set!
I've lifted my car A LOT, and I've weeded this out to be the fastest and safest method.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 3
From: Souderton Pa.
Seriously? I will need to have the hood, the doors and the rear hatch open just to jack the vehicle up? Sorry if this is a stupid question but I am getting my first vette and did not know this. I have always had trucks that I never needed to open anything before jacking.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 616
Likes: 1
From: Cocoa Beach FL
your trucks werent fiberglass,I thought it was bull too but i took an 89 i had to a corvette shop to have new brakes put on and the mechanic opened up everthing and told me that it prevented the fiberglass from cracking or shifting and cracking the paint.So...since he did it and he had worked at the corvette plant in bowling green and now has a shop in nashille tn, I listened to him.And I've had or have a 77,78,89,92 and an 03 and have always done it,and never a crack.
just passing it along do what ya want
just passing it along do what ya want
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
I'm not contradicting this, I just have never heard of it before. I've been jacking my '96 up many, many times over the past year and nothing has cracked. Always with everything closed up. Perhaps it is something from the older fiberglass era.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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Is this a fact? It seems if these were all shut it would brace the body of the car better. It's a unit then. Opening up doors and such would cause the car to flex even more IMHO.
I'm not contradicting this, I just have never heard of it before. I've been jacking my '96 up many, many times over the past year and nothing has cracked. Always with everything closed up. Perhaps it is something from the older fiberglass era.
I'm not contradicting this, I just have never heard of it before. I've been jacking my '96 up many, many times over the past year and nothing has cracked. Always with everything closed up. Perhaps it is something from the older fiberglass era.
Based on my own experience, I've always left the doors and hatch closed and the roof in place.
As for jacking, drive up on some 2 x 8's and you'll have enough clearance to place a jack underneath.
I use the location of the swaybar brackets to place the jackstands up front.
To jack the rear, I use a "Jack-a-vette" to raise the rear and place jackstands in an appropriate place.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 11,628
Likes: 1
From: Sherwood, Arkansas
Good luck finding the Jack-A-Vette anymore. Here is another type of lifting brace: http://www.corvettegadgetman.com/products3.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,068
Likes: 6
Good luck finding the Jack-A-Vette anymore. Here is another type of lifting brace: http://www.corvettegadgetman.com/products3.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,943
Likes: 14
From: Gurley (Keel Mtn, Sweet Home) Alabama
Sorry, have to raise the flag.
Post is merely perpetuating a myth. This is like stating the flexing while driving through a driveway slope on an angle will cause cracking because of flexing. Whatcha going to do, open the hood, doors, hatch and remove the top to drive it through?However, if anyone has some actual proof of such damage being caused as a result of proper jacking procedures, I'm all interested.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
I've heard of this, but nobody has provided solid evidence that anything will or will not happen.
Based on my own experience, I've always left the doors and hatch closed and the roof in place.
As for jacking, drive up on some 2 x 8's and you'll have enough clearance to place a jack underneath.
I use the location of the swaybar brackets to place the jackstands up front.
To jack the rear, I use a "Jack-a-vette" to raise the rear and place jackstands in an appropriate place.
Based on my own experience, I've always left the doors and hatch closed and the roof in place.
As for jacking, drive up on some 2 x 8's and you'll have enough clearance to place a jack underneath.
I use the location of the swaybar brackets to place the jackstands up front.
To jack the rear, I use a "Jack-a-vette" to raise the rear and place jackstands in an appropriate place.
I'll have to keep using the jack points I guess. Cramped for room in the front so no room for the jack. I have to drive up on 2X anythings anyway. Car is lowered so the jack doesn't fit anywhere.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
I think it's something that comes from the C3. I'm told the C3's would crack when jacked, sometimes even with the doors open.
I think the C4 will handle it fine. At least mine has.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 988
Likes: 7
From: Sarasota Fl
Sorry, have to raise the flag. Post is merely perpetuating a myth. This is like stating the flexing while driving through a driveway slope on an angle will cause cracking because of flexing. Whatcha going to do, open the hood, doors, hatch and remove the top to drive it through?
However, if anyone has some actual proof of such damage being caused as a result of proper jacking procedures, I'm all interested.
Post is merely perpetuating a myth. This is like stating the flexing while driving through a driveway slope on an angle will cause cracking because of flexing. Whatcha going to do, open the hood, doors, hatch and remove the top to drive it through?However, if anyone has some actual proof of such damage being caused as a result of proper jacking procedures, I'm all interested.
+1. I've jacked it up many, many times with the doors and hood ('vert) closed with no ill effects. I'm all though for pictures or testimonial if any of it holds true.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
Agreed on leaving the doors/top closed/on. Actually, I've put holes in my cieling from accidentally lowering it with the hood up, and punching the corners through the drywall 
. I need some touchup paint...
As for jacks, Northern Tool sells a nice aluminum "Racing Jack" that is very low profile and reasonably long. I'm lowered between 1 - 1.5 inches, and the jack fits on all the factory jack points, and also fits under the front bumper to jack up the radiator support.
. I need some touchup paint...As for jacks, Northern Tool sells a nice aluminum "Racing Jack" that is very low profile and reasonably long. I'm lowered between 1 - 1.5 inches, and the jack fits on all the factory jack points, and also fits under the front bumper to jack up the radiator support.
