How to jack up a C5 for jack stands?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 2
From: Auburn Michigan
How to jack up a C5 for jack stands?
Hey guys I need some help.
I am buying a new set of tires this week.
Since the weather is going to be bad I am going to take the rims off and take them to the store.
I only have one floorjack that fits under the jacking spots.
The question I have is where is a safe place to set the car on jack stands?
I am going to do the rears first then the fronts.
So I only need to jack up the front or back at a time.
Worst case scenario I can do one rim at a time but I hope you guys tell me a safe way to do this.
Let me know
Thanks
Fireman591
I am buying a new set of tires this week.
Since the weather is going to be bad I am going to take the rims off and take them to the store.
I only have one floorjack that fits under the jacking spots.
The question I have is where is a safe place to set the car on jack stands?
I am going to do the rears first then the fronts.
So I only need to jack up the front or back at a time.
Worst case scenario I can do one rim at a time but I hope you guys tell me a safe way to do this.
Let me know
Thanks
Fireman591
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 4
From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
What I do is jack one side up far enough to get 2 or 3 (can't remember which) pieces of 2x4 under that tire. Let the jack down and do the same on the other side. With both tires now approx. 4 1/2" or so off the ground you can get a low profile jack under the front to the crossmember and jack the whole front. A low profile jack will get under the rear without raising the tires off the ground to do the rear.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 2
From: Auburn Michigan
Crossmembers are ok?
What I do is jack one side up far enough to get 2 or 3 (can't remember which) pieces of 2x4 under that tire. Let the jack down and do the same on the other side. With both tires now approx. 4 1/2" or so off the ground you can get a low profile jack under the front to the crossmember and jack the whole front. A low profile jack will get under the rear without raising the tires off the ground to do the rear.
let me know
Thanks
fireman591
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 2
From: Auburn Michigan
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17,640
Likes: 1
From: Lenoir City TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I looked quickly and found the C6 with some good pics, this should help because the C5 is very similar, I use the same technique.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1906105
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1301555&forum_id=74
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1906105
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1301555&forum_id=74
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 4
From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Just went through this myself. Made a ramp out of scrap wood (2) 2x6 & (1) 1x6 to get the car high enough to get my jack under. The service manual shows the crossmembers as the preferred jacking spots. I used my jack stands, with a small block of wood, on the front and back.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Put a Two 2"x12"x24" on the ground to drive the front wheels up on too.
Makes jacking up easy.
This way I can slide the low profile jack under the front of the car to center between the frame.
Put block behind rear tires
loosen front wheel lug nuts, slightly.
Jack up the front, and put jack stands under the front cross frame.
Jack stands at lowest level.
Go to rear
put jack centered under rear cross frame
Jack slightly
Loosen rear lug nuts slightly
Jack up rear and place on jack stands.
Lift rear slightly more to extend jack stands a inch or two more.
Go back to front to jack front to same height as rear, extend jack stands.
Keep the jack stands as far out as possible on the frame, not the lower a-arms.
Hopefully your garage floor is level, many are not.
Take wheels off.
Makes jacking up easy.
This way I can slide the low profile jack under the front of the car to center between the frame.
Put block behind rear tires
loosen front wheel lug nuts, slightly.
Jack up the front, and put jack stands under the front cross frame.
Jack stands at lowest level.
Go to rear
put jack centered under rear cross frame
Jack slightly
Loosen rear lug nuts slightly
Jack up rear and place on jack stands.
Lift rear slightly more to extend jack stands a inch or two more.
Go back to front to jack front to same height as rear, extend jack stands.
Keep the jack stands as far out as possible on the frame, not the lower a-arms.
Hopefully your garage floor is level, many are not.
Take wheels off.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 62
Likes: 8
From: Denham Springs LA
I bought the book 'C5 Performance Projects' and it describes options for jacking up your C5. I don't like using the side jack option or a lift without the special lift inserts. I used the method mentioned above. Make a trip to Home Depot and purchase a 2X6 and 2X12. Cut the 2X12 into 4 pieces and put one in front of each tire and drive up on them. Cut the 2X6 into 18" pieces, use these in the front and back to go across the cross members while jacking the car up, and leave them there and place the jack stands at the ends of these 2X6's. Much cheaper, and protects the crossmembers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,369
Likes: 4
From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Put a Two 2"x12"x24" on the ground to drive the front wheels up on too.
Makes jacking up easy.
This way I can slide the low profile jack under the front of the car to center between the frame.
Put block behind rear tires
loosen front wheel lug nuts, slightly.
Jack up the front, and put jack stands under the front cross frame.
Jack stands at lowest level.
Go to rear
put jack centered under rear cross frame
Jack slightly
Loosen rear lug nuts slightly
Jack up rear and place on jack stands.
Lift rear slightly more to extend jack stands a inch or two more.
Go back to front to jack front to same height as rear, extend jack stands.
Keep the jack stands as far out as possible on the frame, not the lower a-arms.
Hopefully your garage floor is level, many are not.
Take wheels off.
Makes jacking up easy.
This way I can slide the low profile jack under the front of the car to center between the frame.
Put block behind rear tires
loosen front wheel lug nuts, slightly.
Jack up the front, and put jack stands under the front cross frame.
Jack stands at lowest level.
Go to rear
put jack centered under rear cross frame
Jack slightly
Loosen rear lug nuts slightly
Jack up rear and place on jack stands.
Lift rear slightly more to extend jack stands a inch or two more.
Go back to front to jack front to same height as rear, extend jack stands.
Keep the jack stands as far out as possible on the frame, not the lower a-arms.
Hopefully your garage floor is level, many are not.
Take wheels off.
I bought the book 'C5 Performance Projects' and it describes options for jacking up your C5. I don't like using the side jack option or a lift without the special lift inserts. I used the method mentioned above. Make a trip to Home Depot and purchase a 2X6 and 2X12. Cut the 2X12 into 4 pieces and put one in front of each tire and drive up on them. Cut the 2X6 into 18" pieces, use these in the front and back to go across the cross members while jacking the car up, and leave them there and place the jack stands at the ends of these 2X6's. Much cheaper, and protects the crossmembers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
I use 2x10s pushed up against rhino ramps to get the front up in the air. I then use a jacking board I fabricated out of a 2x6 board. This allows me to jack it up in the middle of the board and place the two jack stands at the ends. In the rear, I just use a jacking board I fabricated as its high enough back there to get the jack under the car . Do a search on jacking the c5 and/or look in your manual for proper jacking locations for the car and methods. I got my methodology from searchs and jacking is easy for me now. Improper jacking techniques can damage your car. 
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 548
Likes: 3
From: Northeast NE
Using a simple low floor jack and being careful not to jack on the body panels, I side jack it. Both front and rear tires come off the ground enough to put jack stands underneath, then do the other side. I have done this several times with no problems and I can have it in the air in 5 minutes easy. I think people make this operation way too complicated if you ask me.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 468
Likes: 15
From: Jupiter FL
I have jacked my 00FRC up a few times. Right now it is up on jack stands getting a ZO6 suspension. But in reading these posts I wonder if I am doing it correctly. Since I am working on the suspension, I wanted as much room around around the springs and sway bars as possible.
I just but to small pieces of scrap 2 X 4 in front of each front wheel. I then drive forward over the wood. Then I stick a low profile jack with a 12 inch piece of 2 x 4 going perpendicular to the front Cross member. The board spans across the spring to the rear part of the cross member. Then jack it up as high as the jack will go. I then insert the hockey pucks in the front jack point, slid the jack stands in place and lower the jack, with the car settling down on the jack stands.
Repeat the same for the rear but do not need drive over the lumber to raise the wheels.
So my question, is it a problem to support the car from the 4 jack points?
I just but to small pieces of scrap 2 X 4 in front of each front wheel. I then drive forward over the wood. Then I stick a low profile jack with a 12 inch piece of 2 x 4 going perpendicular to the front Cross member. The board spans across the spring to the rear part of the cross member. Then jack it up as high as the jack will go. I then insert the hockey pucks in the front jack point, slid the jack stands in place and lower the jack, with the car settling down on the jack stands.
Repeat the same for the rear but do not need drive over the lumber to raise the wheels.
So my question, is it a problem to support the car from the 4 jack points?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
