Open Doors For Jacking????
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 393
Likes: 1
From: Bryan Tx.
Open Doors For Jacking????
i was at a wheel shop the other day trying on a few different wheels and i was concerened that they didnt know what they were doing, jacking it up from the side no puc or pad or nothing. i mentioned to the boss man that they could do damage by jacking it up like that and he said they just make sure the doors and hatch and hood were open to prevent any body binding. is there any truth to this or was it just a bunch o bull?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 789
Likes: 38
From: Shreveport LA
Originally Posted by A.Fry
i was at a wheel shop the other day trying on a few different wheels and i was concerened that they didnt know what they were doing, jacking it up from the side no puc or pad or nothing. i mentioned to the boss man that they could do damage by jacking it up like that and he said they just make sure the doors and hatch and hood were open to prevent any body binding. is there any truth to this or was it just a bunch o bull?
Former Law Dawg Moderator
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 29,434
Likes: 96
From: Eads, Tennessee
CF St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
Originally Posted by alanh
That body twisting or springing is a real issue on the older Vettes, but has never been a problem on the C5's. They are just carrying the old precautions over to the C5's.
I too would check for under body damage if they weren't using any block or pucks to jack it up. There are certain areas a vette is to be lifted.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
From: Punta Gorda FL A Man's got to know his limitations!
Hey Guys, Just to let you know there is a little flex in the car. It's built that way. You'll even find a frame stiffner in the torque tube area under the car just above the exhaust for this reason. It is common practice according to the GM dealership when they lift these vettes, they do it with mine. They, however, use the proper jacking pucks to prevent damage to the body panels. Does opening the doors need to be done? Who knows. If they are continuing with this practice because of earlier model problems then what's the harm. Never let anyone lift your car without placing either a puck or small piece of wood directly on the frame rail to protect your rocker panel. When they break, it's a pain in the A** to fix and it's never the same. Just my .02. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 22
From: Cary NC
This is carried over from the C4 and possibly earlier Vettes. The C5 has hydroformed rails and the chassis is very stiff compared to the C4. The earlier C4s were worse than the later ones. So it was always a good idea to crack the doors open when lifting one. Just like putting the removable top on them was best done with the car on level ground.
I've never opened the doors on my Z06 when lifting it.
I've never opened the doors on my Z06 when lifting it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
On a four post lift or jacking by the crossmembers I don't think it makes a difference about the doors. If jacking only one corner, just to be safe, don't open or shut the door while the car is jacked up.
I don't open my doors when I drive across rail road tracks and other uneven surfaces.
I don't open my doors when I drive across rail road tracks and other uneven surfaces.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA.
Originally Posted by alanh
That body twisting or springing is a real issue on the older Vettes, but has never been a problem on the C5's. They are just carrying the old precautions over to the C5's.
The "hydro-formed" rails on the C5 added so much stiffness that it's no longer necessary to open doors and rear deck lids as in the past, BUT I certainly would recommed the use of jacking pucks or something to protect the bottom facia.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
stiffness
The open the doors thing is for C4 verts. the frame wasn't stiff enough to keep from pinching the car in the middle, and the windshield is the first thing to go even with the X brace under the car.
If you remove the X brace, you have to jack the car in the middle to eliminate the sag so the bolts will go back in
If you remove the X brace, you have to jack the car in the middle to eliminate the sag so the bolts will go back in
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,055
Likes: 9,817
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I have been hearing this fairy tale since I bought my first Vette in 1972. Have never had a problem no matter how I jacked the car. The 69 roadster and the 86 targa top were the most flexible and once the car was jacked it was better to leave the doors where they were when you started. The 71 coupe and the C5s were so stiff you could lift 3 wheels off the ground by jacking at one point. I currently jack my C5 on one side to get both wheels off the ground and can open and shut the door with no problem.
The pucks are not the correct things to use for jacking since they are designed to use with a lift so the lift pads do not hit the rocker panel at the rear lift points. If used for jacking the pucks are too small in diameter for the weight being supported and will dent the frame. If a wide jack pad or a wooden 2x4x5 is used at the front lift points the car can be jacked to take both wheels off the ground with no frame damage.
Bill
The pucks are not the correct things to use for jacking since they are designed to use with a lift so the lift pads do not hit the rocker panel at the rear lift points. If used for jacking the pucks are too small in diameter for the weight being supported and will dent the frame. If a wide jack pad or a wooden 2x4x5 is used at the front lift points the car can be jacked to take both wheels off the ground with no frame damage.
Bill
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk, Long Island NY
Originally Posted by mvvette97
I had mine on the hoist lastnight and when I went to open the door it seemed like it was stuck. The body must twist some
