C5 Jack Procedures
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Oceanside CA
C5 Jack Procedures
I don't want to 
"but".....
I must be rather dense... Just got my 04 C5 Coupe in Dec.... Began reading all the posts on jacking, ramps, stand-placement, etc... I only became more confused!
Please first note: I am not that mechanically inclined, but I do wish to have the ability to remove wheels for cleaning, have the car high enough to look-around and clean the undercarriage, and maybe paint the rotors, polish the exhaust, etc....
I saw threads that said to use wood on cross-members, and I saw threads that said wood breaks or doesn't really help... I saw some that said to side-jack with pucks one-corner at a time, and others said "not" to do that... I saw some that said "any" jack would do and others that said only expensive low-profile with removeable saddles would work...
I DID buy a set of pucks from Elite Engineering (red) and they are due to arrive soon.
I have not yet bought a jack 'cause I want to know the current thoughts on the best procedure (some threads dated back to 2003 or even earlier)...
Man--is it really all that complicated??
thanks!
"but".....I must be rather dense... Just got my 04 C5 Coupe in Dec.... Began reading all the posts on jacking, ramps, stand-placement, etc... I only became more confused!
Please first note: I am not that mechanically inclined, but I do wish to have the ability to remove wheels for cleaning, have the car high enough to look-around and clean the undercarriage, and maybe paint the rotors, polish the exhaust, etc....
I saw threads that said to use wood on cross-members, and I saw threads that said wood breaks or doesn't really help... I saw some that said to side-jack with pucks one-corner at a time, and others said "not" to do that... I saw some that said "any" jack would do and others that said only expensive low-profile with removeable saddles would work...
I DID buy a set of pucks from Elite Engineering (red) and they are due to arrive soon.
I have not yet bought a jack 'cause I want to know the current thoughts on the best procedure (some threads dated back to 2003 or even earlier)...
Man--is it really all that complicated??
thanks!
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
It is perfectly safe to jack from the side or on the crossmembers. I have been doing both for many years. I use wood on the crossmembers too to prevent from marring the cast aluminum material.
If you don't have a low profile jack you may have trouble getting under the car (and you definitely won't be able to jack by the crossmembers, sides only). You can always drive on some ramps prior or even some 2x8s if you want.
Dope
If you don't have a low profile jack you may have trouble getting under the car (and you definitely won't be able to jack by the crossmembers, sides only). You can always drive on some ramps prior or even some 2x8s if you want.
Dope
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 628
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From: Columbia SC
Go to a Harbor Freight tool store and buy two of their inexpensive, low-profile hydraulic jacks. Then use your pucks to jack up each side simultaneously(little at a time) before mounting on jackstands, or wooden planks under the tires, high enough to get under the car for an oil change or whatever. Those little Harbor Freight jacks are beautiful little things, incredible finish for the money and seem to work fine. Harbor Freight has coupons in most car and motorcycle mags, Sunday papers, etc. that let you buy those jacks for $60 each.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
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I use a Torin Big Red Jack low profile hydraulic jack. When I want to jack up the car, I use a piece of wood instead of the puck and jack up from the side. The I use jackstands under the cross member. After doing both sides (front), I lift up the entire rear at once from the middle of the crossmember. Then I put jackstands on the circles on the sides of the crossmember. (If you look in the user manual there is a section for lifting the corvette. I put the jackstands on these recommended points.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Oceanside CA
Thanks to all! 
I just happen to live close to a Harbor Freight--I'll check the jacks out! (I this month's Motor Trend has an ad on them to boot!)
When my pucks arrive I'm gonna start REAL slow until I know what I'm doing is not causing any damage..
Just to be really clear: If I only have one jack, I would 1) insert puck on front side (let's say driver's side); 2) jack high enough to place jackstand in appropriate place under cross-member (maybe with a piece of wood on the stand's contact point); 3) lower jack slowly; 4) repeat on passenger side; 5) lift rear all at once via cross-member with wood between jack/cross-member*; 6) place jackstands under cross-member at rear (wood again) & lower; 7) raise jack to contact cross-member for added support (lightly); 8) reverse procedure for lowering.
*If jack won't reach I would use pucks on rear sides and proceed as I did on the front...
I would also use wheel chocks on rear while raising front.
And I don't need to worry about opening doors, lowering windows, or any of that stuff--right?? No excessive twisting/torqueing to the body?
Whew--I hope I'm not causing too much trouble!!
I just happen to live close to a Harbor Freight--I'll check the jacks out! (I this month's Motor Trend has an ad on them to boot!)
When my pucks arrive I'm gonna start REAL slow until I know what I'm doing is not causing any damage..
Just to be really clear: If I only have one jack, I would 1) insert puck on front side (let's say driver's side); 2) jack high enough to place jackstand in appropriate place under cross-member (maybe with a piece of wood on the stand's contact point); 3) lower jack slowly; 4) repeat on passenger side; 5) lift rear all at once via cross-member with wood between jack/cross-member*; 6) place jackstands under cross-member at rear (wood again) & lower; 7) raise jack to contact cross-member for added support (lightly); 8) reverse procedure for lowering.
*If jack won't reach I would use pucks on rear sides and proceed as I did on the front...
I would also use wheel chocks on rear while raising front.
And I don't need to worry about opening doors, lowering windows, or any of that stuff--right?? No excessive twisting/torqueing to the body?
Whew--I hope I'm not causing too much trouble!!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 22
From: Newark CA
I suggest you make a couple of wooden ramps, 1' wide by 2' long by 2" high in two steps. Place them in front of the front tires, then drive onto them. I put 1" high blocks at the top front to prevent driving off the ramps. Then use a good floor jack to lift the front of the car by the crossmember. Put your jack stands under the frame behind the front wheels and you're set. The rear of the car can be jacked from the rear crossmember, without having to use ramps.
Harbor has some good deals on aluminum floor jacks. Much easier to use and safer than bottle jacks.
Harbor has some good deals on aluminum floor jacks. Much easier to use and safer than bottle jacks.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Oceanside CA
Great Vid's--pics ARE worth 1,000 words!
But since my earlier post it is my understanding that I should ONLY use the "one side at a time" (front/puck) procedure to work on one wheel at a time--and that I should always either use 2 jacks--or ramps--or any method that allows me to lift the front from the cross-member (behind the transverse spring 1st choice). THEN I put 2 jackstands in place at the same time... OK?
Really good info from all--thanks again!!
But since my earlier post it is my understanding that I should ONLY use the "one side at a time" (front/puck) procedure to work on one wheel at a time--and that I should always either use 2 jacks--or ramps--or any method that allows me to lift the front from the cross-member (behind the transverse spring 1st choice). THEN I put 2 jackstands in place at the same time... OK?
Really good info from all--thanks again!!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 46
From: Taylorsville North Carolina
Go to a Harbor Freight tool store and buy two of their inexpensive, low-profile hydraulic jacks. Then use your pucks to jack up each side simultaneously(little at a time) before mounting on jackstands, or wooden planks under the tires, high enough to get under the car for an oil change or whatever. Those little Harbor Freight jacks are beautiful little things, incredible finish for the money and seem to work fine. Harbor Freight has coupons in most car and motorcycle mags, Sunday papers, etc. that let you buy those jacks for $60 each.
Somehow I ended up with 2 jacks and it works really well. Should have gotten 2 to start with. And yes, the HF low profile for $60 is a very good deal. Much better than the $45 piece of crap I got from Sears.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 483
Likes: 3
From: Woodstock Ga
I use a pair of home-made ramps (2 stepped up layers of 2 x 12s) and this harbor freight jack: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=67022 Got it on sale for like $70 directly at my local store, pretty nice jack IMO. Was lower profile than the aluminum "racing jacks" by a little bit. I put a 1x6 piece of wood (approx 16"-18" long) across the crossmember and up she goes with zero problems.
If you make ramps using 1x12s or something might work better than the 2 inchers, as they were initially a little tricky to get the car to driveup on instead of just pushing. I had a couple spare 2x4s laying around which work 100% to just put behind the ramps running to the wall of my garage, holds them perfectly that way.
Makes jacking up the whole front a quick 3 minute job. Jacking the rear up with this jack and the same piece of wood under the rear crossmember works 100% without ramps. Just about the perfect setup IMO.
If you make ramps using 1x12s or something might work better than the 2 inchers, as they were initially a little tricky to get the car to driveup on instead of just pushing. I had a couple spare 2x4s laying around which work 100% to just put behind the ramps running to the wall of my garage, holds them perfectly that way.
Makes jacking up the whole front a quick 3 minute job. Jacking the rear up with this jack and the same piece of wood under the rear crossmember works 100% without ramps. Just about the perfect setup IMO.
Last edited by GM Fan; Feb 3, 2010 at 05:00 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
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I have a 2"x12"x3'(ish) length of PT lumber. I put the jack dead center under the x-member, center the wood on the jack, pump it up, then slide in jackstands on either side of the wood.
Works like a charm.
I also have pucks for the side if I just want to get at one corner, but I've found them to be largely unnecessary. I say that with a big caveat however that you do need to be very careful where the jack hits especially on the front where you can pinch the body panels. I stick my hand under there and find the slotted pocket, then I slowly and carefully guide the jack into that depression. The pucks will give you a nice, big easy target for the jack. I'm just too lazy to get them out of the trunk most of the time.
Works like a charm.
I also have pucks for the side if I just want to get at one corner, but I've found them to be largely unnecessary. I say that with a big caveat however that you do need to be very careful where the jack hits especially on the front where you can pinch the body panels. I stick my hand under there and find the slotted pocket, then I slowly and carefully guide the jack into that depression. The pucks will give you a nice, big easy target for the jack. I'm just too lazy to get them out of the trunk most of the time.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Oceanside CA
thanks wcsinx and GM Fan!
My pucks arrive tomorrow... But I think I'm gonna be on the wood / jack program... watched the vid's and many of you are sugesting that way.. prob drive up on a 1x12 to get a little clearance prior to jacking...
My pucks arrive tomorrow... But I think I'm gonna be on the wood / jack program... watched the vid's and many of you are sugesting that way.. prob drive up on a 1x12 to get a little clearance prior to jacking...
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Oceanside CA
Too Much Equipment??
One more thought....
I was going to get some ramps also...
But then I thought "I don't really need BOTH setups" (jack, 4 jackstands, wood cross-member supports) AND ramps. This jack combo should handle any job, right?
I understand I might need a 2x10 to drive onto for jack clearance in the front...
Am I thinking clearly??
I was going to get some ramps also...
But then I thought "I don't really need BOTH setups" (jack, 4 jackstands, wood cross-member supports) AND ramps. This jack combo should handle any job, right?
I understand I might need a 2x10 to drive onto for jack clearance in the front...
Am I thinking clearly??
Last edited by Sargechris; Feb 4, 2010 at 10:44 PM. Reason: omission
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
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From: Midland TX
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 347
Likes: 1
From: Martinez GA
i understand the concern......you've finally gotten the car of your dreams and you just don't want to f-it up.
i have worked on my own cars for yrs (since at least 1989) and have jacked up plenty, however when i first got my vette i was nervous.......not because i didn't know how to use a jack or jack stands it was just my dream car since 1997 and i didn't want to mess anything up.........
that being said, i too got a set of pucks, haven't used them.......have them for if my car goes to a shop or if i just need 1 tire off the ground......i use a harbor freight jack with a 2x4 and 2 jack stands with a 2x4 per end. jack on the cross members in both front (careful of oil plug...i have a stubby piece of 2x4 running front to back) and rear. i also made a set of ramps of 2x4's with 3 steps and a stop....works like a charm.
take in everyones advice......do it once or twice for yourself and it will be like riding a bike
i have worked on my own cars for yrs (since at least 1989) and have jacked up plenty, however when i first got my vette i was nervous.......not because i didn't know how to use a jack or jack stands it was just my dream car since 1997 and i didn't want to mess anything up
.........that being said, i too got a set of pucks, haven't used them.......have them for if my car goes to a shop or if i just need 1 tire off the ground......i use a harbor freight jack with a 2x4 and 2 jack stands with a 2x4 per end. jack on the cross members in both front (careful of oil plug...i have a stubby piece of 2x4 running front to back) and rear. i also made a set of ramps of 2x4's with 3 steps and a stop....works like a charm.
take in everyones advice......do it once or twice for yourself and it will be like riding a bike
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 629
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From: Oceanside CA
i understand the concern......you've finally gotten the car of your dreams and you just don't want to f-it up.
i have worked on my own cars for yrs (since at least 1989) and have jacked up plenty, however when i first got my vette i was nervous.......not because i didn't know how to use a jack or jack stands it was just my dream car since 1997 and i didn't want to mess anything up.........
that being said, i too got a set of pucks, haven't used them.......have them for if my car goes to a shop or if i just need 1 tire off the ground......i use a harbor freight jack with a 2x4 and 2 jack stands with a 2x4 per end. jack on the cross members in both front (careful of oil plug...i have a stubby piece of 2x4 running front to back) and rear. i also made a set of ramps of 2x4's with 3 steps and a stop....works like a charm.
take in everyones advice......do it once or twice for yourself and it will be like riding a bike
i have worked on my own cars for yrs (since at least 1989) and have jacked up plenty, however when i first got my vette i was nervous.......not because i didn't know how to use a jack or jack stands it was just my dream car since 1997 and i didn't want to mess anything up
.........that being said, i too got a set of pucks, haven't used them.......have them for if my car goes to a shop or if i just need 1 tire off the ground......i use a harbor freight jack with a 2x4 and 2 jack stands with a 2x4 per end. jack on the cross members in both front (careful of oil plug...i have a stubby piece of 2x4 running front to back) and rear. i also made a set of ramps of 2x4's with 3 steps and a stop....works like a charm.
take in everyones advice......do it once or twice for yourself and it will be like riding a bike
(I already put the pucks in the cargo storage area)...Is the "stubby" on top of the 2x4 at each end and perpindicular to it?