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Being a new owner of a C5 and having it Pennsylvania inspected tomorrow, I'm wondering if lift pads are necessary for it to go onto a lift. When I made the appointment for vehicle inspection the agent asked if I had them and stated that the pads came with the car when new. I've never heard of them until joining this forum. Should I have these pads and are they required when the car goes up on a lift? If so I have to get them before the inspection process.
Not 100% necessary but cheap insurance. If they're pulling the wheels a drive on lift won't help. Hockey pucks with eye bolts can work, or $21.25 free shipping from Wildvettes on this forum.
So, are the pads or pucks necessary and must I have them before the car is lifted or can it be lifted without them? And what are they for anyway?
There's a "recess" in two places, on each side of the frame, that are designated as "lift points" for the car. The "lifting pucks" that people refer to, look a lot like regular hockey pucks, but they have a "dogbone" stem, that's molded into it. The stem locks into the slots in the frame's "recess", so the pucks don't slide out.
You might be able to lift the car, by the side frame rails, but it WILL deform the car's rocker panels in the process. They may return to their natural shape, when the car is lowered off the lift, but there's also a chance that they'll crack.
Feeling lucky???
(and NO, they didn't come with the car, as far as I know. I'm the original owner of my C-5, and they didn't come with it.....)
Being a new owner of a C5 and having it Pennsylvania inspected tomorrow, I'm wondering if lift pads are necessary for it to go onto a lift. When I made the appointment for vehicle inspection the agent asked if I had them and stated that the pads came with the car when new. I've never heard of them until joining this forum. Should I have these pads and are they required when the car goes up on a lift? If so I have to get them before the inspection process.
Definitely bring something. You can use plywood squares, rubber mat material, 2x4 chunks, but you are trying to protect the body work. I use the plastic non removal type. They snap in and stay in then you always have them.
Not 100% necessary but cheap insurance. If they're pulling the wheels a drive on lift won't help. Hockey pucks with eye bolts can work, or $21.25 free shipping from Wildvettes on this forum.
Thanks. I went onto the wild vettes site and they had photos.
I ordered a set of 4.
If its tomorrow, bring four hockey pucks so they can lift the car. I just use hockey pucks now. Had the aluminum ones at one time but they were a pain and I get a bigger footprint from a simple hockey puck.
If its tomorrow, bring four hockey pucks so they can lift the car. I just use hockey pucks now. Had the aluminum ones at one time but they were a pain and I get a bigger footprint from a simple hockey puck.
Yeah, well since I won't be getting the order from Wildvettes looks like a trip to the sports store tonight. Great suggestion BTW.
I'm puzzled as to why GM would make lifting the car so complex and potentially damaging to the vehicle. Wonder if they changed the process in later models. Thanks again...
If you buy the basic hockey pucks for the inspection you can permanently attach the pucks to your frame rails and not have to mess with them again by gluing them in place in the frame rail spots. Look under the door sills and you can easily see where the pucks are to be used.
Or easier, buy 4 of these https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/%C...jack+pad,12620
If you buy the basic hockey pucks for the inspection you can permanently attach the pucks to your frame rails and not have to mess with them again by gluing them in place in the frame rail spots. Look under the door sills and you can easily see where the pucks are to be used.
Or easier, buy 4 of these https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/%C...jack+pad,12620
Great video. Nice job... I have a manual and looked all through it under jacking, lift, flat tire, lift pads, and found nothing. The forum was my last hope. This is a great forum and I thank all for their excellent suggestions.
Great video. Nice job... This is a great forum and I thank all for their excellent suggestions.
Thanks, but not my video, just searched Google.
Personally, I have used the BMW style pop in pucks (glued in place just in case) in both my 99 and my 03. They stayed where I put them for over 75k and ten years in my 99. I expect the same in my 03.
The picture Rover posted is golden. It's pretty much exactly what I use. I've had my car on stands probably 30+ times since I've owned it. I've gotten pretty quick at it. 4 BMW pucks are in at all times, and they've been my goto for lifting. Jackstands under the small red circles on the front, and a 2x4 laid across the rear cradle for the rear.
If you want to make things even easier, get some wood. If that's a problem I've heard they make pills for issues like that. Seriously tho, a couple of small 2X4's you can drive onto from the front raise the car JUST enough for me to slip my low-profile jack under the front subframe, a longer 2X4 spreads the weight across the front cradle and now you can jack the car to the moon.
are you saying that if these rocker savers are installed you can jack the vehicle up using these?
Yes. My car is sitting on a lift now with the lift arms positioned at the factory lift points. The lift arms have some rubber material on them, but they rest on the rocker rails. I have lifted my cars this way for years.
bc6152, It hasn't been mentioned ( not that I see anyway ) that the reason being the lifting pucks are needed is to clear the low hanging, wrap around rocker panel and front fender. Without the pucks you run the risk if cracking these components as the lift arm makes contact to these parts before the lift pad makes contact with the frame. With the pucks in place it give that clearance to prevent damage.
Are lift pads necessary?
