Jack Stands + Pinch Weld
 

I have been searching all over the forum/interwebz to find the answer to this.

My jackstands do NOT have a slot cut in them for the pinch weld to nicely settle in as pictured below #1.

My jack stands look like this (pic below #2). So when I lower the car onto the stands its pretty much balancing on the pinch weld and one side of the jack stand is touching the unibody.



Is this safe? Is there an adapter I can use? Do I need to get different jack stands?

I know about hockey pucks but as far as I read thats just for jacking on the pinch welds which I do not do since I have a floor jack.

I plan to get the rubber boots for the top of the jack stand but I am still worried about that pinch weld balancing. Any input?


1.http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...mage_19560.jpg
2.http://rentallhawaii.com/media/catal...J026-_1__1.jpg

I'm in the same dilemma, the three or so times I've jacked it up haven't been any issue though, I used exactly the jackstands in your second photo and everything looked and seemed very stable, no worries about bending the sheet metal or having the car fall.

Well, Wyattkb, I haven't jacked up my FR-S yet, but I jacked up my miata a bunch of times by just placing the jack (or jack stands) right on top of the pinch weld. I never had the pinch weld crimp in, nor the jack slip off.

I would suggest that if you put your jack (or jack stands) on top of the pinch weld in between the two little notches (see page 317 of the drivers manual) you will be good to go. I would suggest you do any jacking up on a firm, level surface (if possible).


humfrz

PS - ol @strat61caster is quick on the draw tonight .....:w00t:

i would recommend just getting the ones with pinch welds for ~$20 from harbor freight.

don't wanna screw around when it comes to jack stands.

Also helps to have this to minimize body damage:

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece...and-95952.html

-alex

Shouldn't screw around with jack stands...
Recommends $20 Harbor Freight stands...

I can't be the only one seeing the irony.

Thanks for the responses guys.

I have used the jack stands 2 times and nothing happened. I was just inquiring to see if I was doing something wrong.

I am ordering the rubber covers tonight, along with one for my jack just for the extra peace of mind.

As for harbor freight, that is where I got my jack stands. The only set that had the slots for the pinch weld where the 6 ton ones. I was being cheap and didn't want to spend the extra cash.
@Bordedom.is.me- You can't really mess up something as simple as a jack stand. The chinese quality doesn't bother me. I have a harbor freight engine hoist that hasn't failed me in 4 years.

When I realized that I was going to hold onto this car awhile, I trashed my old stands and went out and bought 4 of the exact stands you have in photo one from harbor freight. Worth every penny and I use them often.

From today. You can see them in this pic

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h8...psoaxf1v1o.jpg

Can you point me to incidents of harbor freight jack stands failing?

Not the HF ones in particular, biting have heard horror stories of more 'reputable' stands failing. It's the welds that are usually compromised.

I just had a laugh when you said, "don't cheap out, but here are some for $20". I was just pointing out the logic, not the product.

Ha that's what I was thinking:bonk:

there are only so many ways to skin a cat... yes it is ironic in retrospect, lol, but OP seems cheap any ways so I am offering him another similar solution

the lift arms at most toyota dealers dont have any more of a notch than #2 its just 4 sided. Dont worry.

You can purchase an adapter

http://distilleryimage11.ak.instagra...0a9f129c_7.jpg

$10 pair from harbor freight

Had the same question...going to get the harborfreight ones + rubber tips.

I used to work at a HF for a couple years. We used to have people return those jackstands ALL the time when they broke. The white center piece is just cheap pot metal. You have been warned.

My jackstands are like # 2 as well.. nothing for pinch weld. However, mine apparently shipped without the rings/chains negating the ratchet mechanism. So I must take them back.


daaaaangit.

I have been using the harbor freight ones for over a year now with 0 damage. Get them.

If you're really worried, you can also get Esco jack stands. Pricey, but they're padded and distribute the load across a ~5" rubber section, similar to a 4-point lift. Much less likely to damage a pinch weld this way.

http://webspace.ringling.edu/~dplass...sco_stands.jpg

Oh, my .....:sigh:

What's wrong with just using 4"x4' s ...... :D

I got these from Griots but apparently they don't sell them any more.

https://griotsgarage.scene7.com/is/i...10164?$detail$

Do an Ebay or Amazon search for "Aluminum Jack Stands" and you'll find similar options. TORIN makes a nice set as well.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Torin-T43004-Aluminum-Jack-Stands/dp/B0007XTGCI/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393523725&sr=8-1&keywords=aluminum+jack+stand"]Amazon.com: Torin T43004 3 Ton Aluminum Jack Stands (Sold in Pairs): Automotive[/ame]

I stuck an old pair of tennis shoes over the head of the jackstands.
Looks ghetto but worked just fine...

I use the rubber pads on my jack-stands and they work great.

I wish I could afford those, but the cost of 4 = 2 whole track day fees. Im ballin on a budget here lol.

For now I will just get those poly covers. Although those jack stands look simple enough I am sure I could have my local fabricator build me some for half the price.

I have a set of those.. Rock solid.. But I don't like supporting the pinch weld
With these.. They make pinch weld adapters to support the load and not have the tip of the pinch weld be the support.. The adapter allows the pinch weld to sit in the middle and supported on either side of the pinch weld. Just like the spare jack does..

@Mikem53

I have seen those adapters. But those would only work on a Jack stand like the ones posted correct? They won't sit properly on the C shaped ones.

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The problem is when the pinch welds go on the jack, there's where the bending is...

I have 4 hockey pucks (Canadian, eh?) that I sawed 3/4 of the way through. I will try using them on top of my jack stands in the spring. I hope they keep the car stable on the stands as i am super paranoid when underneath.

Yeah, a pinch weld adapter would be ideal, but I just haven't any that fit securely on a regular jack stand.

Personal opinion here, but to me, the contact point on an Esco jack stand is the same as a 4-point lift. It spreads the load over a 5" rubber pad, just as a lift would, and I haven't seen a pinch weld bend from a lift before. Car manufacturers design pinch welds to support the car on a 4-point lift. And if you really wanted, you could cut hockey puck pinch weld adapters and place them on the Esco jack stands since the tops are flat. :)

I think pinch welds bend when you're lowering the weight of the car onto a small cross-section, like a 1-2" metal jack stand. It's the application of force over a small cross-section that causes the damage, but by spreading it over a much larger cross-section (i.e., 5" rubber pad), you prevent damage.

I took four pieces of 4x4 cut into perfect cubes, shaved about 1" off one side, then routed a 1/4" wide groove in the wood down the middle of one of the wider sides just about 1mm less depth than the height of the pinch weld. I put them on top of the jack stands, and the pinch weld down the groove. They bear the weight of the whole car no problem.

I used the HF rubber tips on top of HF jacks and they promptly sliced the paint right off the jacking points. They're too soft and narrow so the pinch weld "slides" through the rubber, ripping off the paint in one go. ARGH. (Tips I used)

Weld is still mechanically intact but now I need something to cover/protect the exposed metal, any thoughts?

4x4 squares work well.

So the metal on the pinch weld is exposed?

Just get some good spray paint and go to work. It's the bottom of the car, i don't know about you but i could care less what it looks like underneath.

You could also get the color of your paint in a spray can and give the area a few coats.

Yeah metal is exposed, just wanted something as a rust preventative.

Also read "Valvoline Tectyl 506" as an option. Guess I'll go with whichever I find first in autozone.

Mine bent

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Cut up a pair of rubber slippers that can be bought at WALMART and place between the weld and jack stand :)