lifting c5 tire change
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3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
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lifting c5 tire change
Just got my tires changed at Big O and like a dumb ***, I didnt have lifting pucks. they used the straight rail type lift with soft type pads that run along the frame rail. after reading all the discussions on damage to the fiberglass rails, I checked the underside and found no damage to the fiberglass, was I just lucky ? as the tire guys told me they allways lift c5 this way. Has anybody else had there c5 lifted this way with no damage.
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One of the first things I invested in when I got my C5 was some jacking pucks. I had heard of horror stories here on the forum where the underside of the rocker panels were cracked/scraped from lifting without them in place. I just didn't want to take the chance on that happening to mine. What I bought was lifting pucks from BMW - they snap in place and you can keep them on the car all the time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Rockford Illinois
You can lift the vette on the frame all day. But a lot of us are **** and don't want scratched up frame rails. I went to the local ice rink or you can go to eBay etc, and just buy 4 hockey pucks for about $20. Most of the ice rinks will give you or sell you the used pucks for a few dollars each. Once you have the pucks go to the hardware store and buy 4 eyelet screws. Ore drill a hole smaller then the eyelet and hand thread them in.
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You said the pads sat on the frame rail. Was there any contact with the rocker panel itself? If so, a soft pad that speads the load would probably be OK but I'd still be nervous. The jacking pucks lift the head of the jack away from the rocker panel so there's no contact. I fitted the rocker rails that give enough clearance and spread the load.
Last edited by DeeGee; Aug 29, 2012 at 02:43 AM.
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
I've never used them because my car is lowered...I need all the clearance I can get. If you look at the jacking points you can see there is plenty of opening in the fiberglass to allow a jacking plate to not touch anything but metal. Of course, I have a 4 post lift and it is easy for me to see what I am doing, but it can be done easily with care even without the car in the air.
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Kill two birds with one stone...
Install a set of frame rails with built in jacking pads. The frame rails protect the car and I never worry about lifting the car from the side for individual tire/wheel maintenance.
Install a set of frame rails with built in jacking pads. The frame rails protect the car and I never worry about lifting the car from the side for individual tire/wheel maintenance.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Huntley Illinois
Never had the car lifted anywhere by anyone else so far and the first purchse I made after buying the vet was a set of 4 expensive jacking pucks. I didn't know any better at the time but after I got a little smarter and saw guys making them with hockey pucks I could have kicked myself.
Making them would have been simple and a whole lot cheaper, and unless you use four jacks when jacking the car I'm not sure if you really need more than 1 or 2.
Everyone has a "better way" of lifting.... good luck.
Making them would have been simple and a whole lot cheaper, and unless you use four jacks when jacking the car I'm not sure if you really need more than 1 or 2.
Everyone has a "better way" of lifting.... good luck.
Last edited by Randyman2002; Aug 30, 2012 at 11:06 AM.
Melting Slicks
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From: Odessa FL
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Never had the car lifted anywhere by anyone else so far and the first purchse I made after buying the vet was a set of 4 expensive jacking pucks. I didn't know any better at the time but after I got a little smarter and saw guys making them with hockey pucks I could have kicked myself.
Making them would have been simple and a whole lot cheaper, and unless you use four jacks when jacking the car I'm not sure if you really need more than 1 or 2.
Everyone has a "better way" of lifting.... good luck.
Making them would have been simple and a whole lot cheaper, and unless you use four jacks when jacking the car I'm not sure if you really need more than 1 or 2.
Everyone has a "better way" of lifting.... good luck.
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From: Phoenix area, AZ
With my 2500 round-trip road trip in mind I bought the leave-in jacking pucks from Southern Car Parts. I had enough emergency equipment and luggage in the back without having to carry a set of pucks around too. They might have cost more than homemade, but I never have to worry about them and they're always there when I need them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17