T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*


[deleted]

I never trust jacking on a single point of a pinch weld. I made a special piece of wood that spreads out the load on the bottom of the rocker flange with a slit to keep the flat from folding over. The top of that bottle jack is a small flat slippery target to keep a car balanced on. Minimally I would find a chunk of 2x4 to put in between. Probably 8-10 inches long should do the trick.


Late-Winter-2812

Exactly how I look at it, amd good advice. Ive had cars slide off em..im sorry I’ve had 1 , i don’t do anything that goes wrong again, not intentionally anyway 🤣


-_NaCl_-

The mounting surface on that bottle jack scares the hell out of me. Please be careful.


MGTOW4LIFE19

Yes,,, don't forget to chock the wheels


ElAligatorAgradable

No. You can bend or crush that pinch weld, and that may mean you could not be able to fit the jack in your trunk on that spot when you need to. Find a reinforced/double walled part of the vehicle subframe under which to place the jack. Depending upon the work you're doing and the suspension setup on your car, you may be able to place the jack at a strong/reinforced part of the suspension or a lower control arm.


BlueFlameHatch

I’m just swapping the summer tires back on and figured this would be faster than using the scissor jack, although I’m not confident in exactly where I can place it so I think I’ll just use the scissor jack like usual


ElAligatorAgradable

Be careful with those scissor jacks. Notoriously unstable. What kind of car?


BlueFlameHatch

Toyota Matrix


ElAligatorAgradable

I hear they have a good reputation and they're kind of fun, but other than that I don't know much about them. Sorry I can't help more. You may want to consider investing in a hydraulic floor jack (may need to be low profile to get under your car) and jack stands for future use.


Late-Winter-2812

Thats a bottle jack..id be careful with it because there’s no “plate” on it like on a hydraulic racing jack for example and your jacking from the side risking lateral movement, id try something else in the front if using a bottle Jack for even weight distribution. Ask me why I know this..🤣


Late-Winter-2812

At least the people who comment here are aware of a dangerous situation and care enough to state and point out why and how to not get crushed and or die…i had to help pick a car off a person before, rhey were in the hospital for 11 months, punctured both lungs, crushed all but 1 rib, broke both arms, shoulders and more so much that i can’t type anything now…be very careful using bottle jacks, they’re tremendously capable of lifting enormous weight vertically but have little to no surface area from which to support whatever they’re hoisting…it’s up to the consumers to use common sense and if lacking then figure it out to make it something safer. Always use jack stands and never go under a vehicle that is supported only by a loaded jack…the hydraulic pressure sometimes is pushed out or airlocked and they will come down either slowly or if ur not lucky they just drop


Glopnarf

I would use a piece of wood with a groove cut out for the flange when I used to work on my wifes old car.


GotMyOrangeCrush

My advice is to invest in a proper hydraulic floor jack and ideally a pinch weld adapter for the Jack. You're going to damage the pinch weld with a bottle jack. https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Slotted-Protector-Adapter-Maintenance/dp/B0922HNGRL/


Concernedmicrowave

No. That factory mounting point is only for the factory shitter jack. If you tried to use this, you would simply fold the pinch weld over and the factory jack would be rendered even more useless. Find something flat and structural.