I am hoping to change my front brake pads this weekend. It looks like I may have JUST enough ground clearance for my small floor jack and a hockey puck, using the side jack points. BUT, what would I do if I had a flat. I am not using run-flats. I have a compressor, green slime, and tire plugs. Also AAA!

Bob

 

Get a cellphone too.

 

You can probably jack it up off the front or rear cradle if the side doesn't have the clearance for your jack.

 

You'll see guys build ramps, in many threads, (do a google search) to drive up onto in our garage, out of 2 x 10's. Gets the car up, high enough to get any jack, and lift tool under it.

I keep two pieces of 2 x 8, in the trunk well area. One is about 16 inches long, the other about 8 inches long. In case of a road side flat; I can drive the flat, gently, just a few feet (without damaging the wheel) up onto the two 2 x 8's (mini-ramp), so that I can then get the jack under the puck, to lift the car for tire plug, and air comprressor.

Don

 

and call AAA with your cellphone

 

 

Total noob here. So you guys put a hockey puck in the cradle of the jack to lift the car up?

As long as you can get your jack under the designated jack points with a puck you are golden correcT?

 

Correct. But the better pucks, not just a bare flat puck, have some sort of protrusion that fits into the slot of the jacking point so that it won't accidentally slip.

 

The only reason for the hockey pucks is to make sure the jack does not press on the rocker panel. You don't need an eye bolt just a plain hockey puck. If you reach under the car directly below the front door seam, you will feel a cutout area in the plastic rocker panel. In the center of that cutout is a frame contact point with a oval hole in it. That is the jacking point. There is a second one about 4 ft to the rear, same, a cutout in the rocker and an oval hole in the frame. The puck centers over that oval hole. You can use wood, but the puck gives a good bit of friction and prevents slipping of the car on the jack

When I am in a hurry to swap tires at the track, I jack up at the front point and keep jacking until both tires clear. Then I have about 5 blocks that are 2x6 wood cut into squares and I put a second puck on them and put that under the rear lift location for safety. Let the jack down just enough so the second puck touches the frame (at the oval hole of course) and one side is ready for tires or quick brake service.

Now Do not get under the car work with your hands in a safe position and watch for pinch points. For safety, put a stack of blocks under the frame cross member near one of the A arm pivots once you get a wheel off. Buy a $6 2x6 at Lowes and ask the clerk to cut into squares and you have all you need to get a C5 in the air.

Most folks that work on their C5's will buy a low profile "race jack" pretty early in their DIY journey. You can buy a dozen hockey pucks cheap on Fleabay,