Jacking points
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,412
Likes: 962
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Jacking points
I’m asking this because of a thread on one of the C5 groups on FB where someone is contending that the ‘lift points’ and jacking points are different. He insists that a c5 should be lifted from either end by the cradles. Since the real experts are here, I thought I’d get some input.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,412
Likes: 962
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
NCM Lifetime Member
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Cunningham, TN
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My jacking pucks are permanently in place and that’s the only place I can lift mine, with a floor jack, as it is so low.
Last edited by lewislgZ06; Jun 3, 2021 at 05:22 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 10,805
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From: Feverish All Over
OMG he should get a life. You are not hurting the car in any way lifting it at the 4 designated lift points. Now if you lifted the car at one of these points, put a stand under it and left it that way all winter for example, well that would damage things, and would also be incredibly stupid....
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 289
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From: Texas
Hmmm....maybe that's what the person was thinking? I never thought of it that way exactly, but I always thought it was more a question of "how long are you going to leave it like that" that might drive a more preferred point for something? In other words, if you were to like the car and leave it on all 4 of the jacking points all winter....I would presume that's ok as there is no other force acting. But if you were to lift the car by one point at the jacking point, maybe that wouldn't be the best for a whole winter. I don't know, I've never seen a real study on something like that. But according to the diagram, I read it more like 1- some points are considered more preferred (but why?) but it doesn't really matter in the end as long as you use a designated point.
Instructor
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 106
Likes: 95
From: Bellingham, WA
I don't see how you could ever jack it up from the preferred locations with a floor jack. I have a very long reach ultra low profile floor jack and it does not reach the front preferred points. I haven't had a reason to try the rear preferred point.
I own an auto shop with 9 lifts, 8 of which are two posters and one is a four post alignment rack. None of my 2 poster arms will fit under the car with the jacking pads in place. For most stuff I'll just drive it onto the alignment rack or use a floor jack and jack stands. The one time I put it on a 2 post lift, I had to drive up onto 2x4s in order to fit the arms underneath.
I own an auto shop with 9 lifts, 8 of which are two posters and one is a four post alignment rack. None of my 2 poster arms will fit under the car with the jacking pads in place. For most stuff I'll just drive it onto the alignment rack or use a floor jack and jack stands. The one time I put it on a 2 post lift, I had to drive up onto 2x4s in order to fit the arms underneath.
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 10,805
Likes: 706
From: Feverish All Over
Hmmm....maybe that's what the person was thinking? I never thought of it that way exactly, but I always thought it was more a question of "how long are you going to leave it like that" that might drive a more preferred point for something? In other words, if you were to like the car and leave it on all 4 of the jacking points all winter....I would presume that's ok as there is no other force acting. But if you were to lift the car by one point at the jacking point, maybe that wouldn't be the best for a whole winter. I don't know, I've never seen a real study on something like that. But according to the diagram, I read it more like 1- some points are considered more preferred (but why?) but it doesn't really matter in the end as long as you use a designated point.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
For sure leaving it on 4 stands for a prolonged time is fine, but any uneven position for a long time could ultimately twist or throw things out of line, for example by lifting one of the 4 points you are transferring weight on to the springs on the opposite side of the car, depressing them. These modern frames and suspensions and light years ahead of earlier generations, but not immune from abuse or doing stupid stuff.......
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 355
From: Northville, MI
What is really different is all the current and former Corvette suspension and performance engineers in our club who race C5-C7 Corvettes, jack up their race cars at one point in the middle of the "Y" width and change tires or work at the track (with jack stands). They all talk about how rigid the frame is and also that the company now ships the Corvettes and other cars with over the wheel tie downs and not using the J-points. My self, I use the front jacking point (BMW covers) and lift the car high enough to change both front and rear on that side of the car.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 87
I don't see how you could ever jack it up from the preferred locations with a floor jack. I have a very long reach ultra low profile floor jack and it does not reach the front preferred points. I haven't had a reason to try the rear preferred point.
I own an auto shop with 9 lifts, 8 of which are two posters and one is a four post alignment rack. None of my 2 poster arms will fit under the car with the jacking pads in place. For most stuff I'll just drive it onto the alignment rack or use a floor jack and jack stands. The one time I put it on a 2 post lift, I had to drive up onto 2x4s in order to fit the arms underneath.
I own an auto shop with 9 lifts, 8 of which are two posters and one is a four post alignment rack. None of my 2 poster arms will fit under the car with the jacking pads in place. For most stuff I'll just drive it onto the alignment rack or use a floor jack and jack stands. The one time I put it on a 2 post lift, I had to drive up onto 2x4s in order to fit the arms underneath.
To lift the front, I just drive onto a couple 2x10's, lift from the front puck spot just a bit, and then I can get the jack under the front crossmember.
As stated, don't leave it lifted cockeyed and you'll be fine
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 343
From: Long Island New York
I think this is determined by the method of lifting.
1) Shop lift or Quickjack
2) Floor jack
Technically, I don't think the guy is wrong.
Before I bought my Quickjack, I used to raise either the front or the back with two floor jacks evenly to proper height, then place jack stands at the the Red & Green locations in the diagram.
I tried one time to raise the car at just one puck location at a time and I did NOT like the way that was going, that was not a normal lift procedure and I could see how that can put stress on the vehicle frame/components .
1) Shop lift or Quickjack
2) Floor jack
Technically, I don't think the guy is wrong.
Before I bought my Quickjack, I used to raise either the front or the back with two floor jacks evenly to proper height, then place jack stands at the the Red & Green locations in the diagram.
I tried one time to raise the car at just one puck location at a time and I did NOT like the way that was going, that was not a normal lift procedure and I could see how that can put stress on the vehicle frame/components .
