Jack Stands

[sfox]

I need to work on the underside of my 1967 230 SL. I also need to take off the wheels to refurbish them. I want to use jack stands to hold up the car. Is there anything I need to do special so I don't damage the rear axle or front end? Where is he best location for the stands?

[thelews]

Best location...

[graphic66]

It is best to put some type of cushion between the steel jack stand and the car. The lift shown has rubber pads to protect the car. Normal all steel jack stands can scratch the car. I cut squares of plywood to fit on top of the jack stands and to fit on top of my floor jack. Just make sure everything is stable.

[thelews]

It is best to put some type of cushion between the steel jack stand and the car. The lift shown has rubber pads to protect the car. Normal all steel jack stands can scratch the car. I cut squares of plywood to fit on top of the jack stands and to fit on top of my floor jack. Just make sure everything is stable.

Or, hockey pucks.

[mdsalemi]

HOCKEY PUCKS!  What a FABULOUS idea and a great example of cross-use and technology transfer!

Big, fat rubber cushions are often used underneath large air compressors.  If you go to a compressor store these things are like $25 for a set of 4.  With NHL Official Black Ice Hockey Puck selling for about $2 each, this is a great idea.

[jeffc280sl]

I would move the front lift point a little farther forward.  You want the hockey puck to be located on the the flat spot just behind where the frame rail descends from the engine compartment and the floor pan stiffner that is welded to it.  Too far forward and you will be on the curved section going up to the engine compartment.  Too far back and you will be a weak point under the floor pan. 

[thelews]

HOCKEY PUCKS!  What a FABULOUS idea and a great example of cross-use and technology transfer!

Big, fat rubber cushions are often used underneath large air compressors.  If you go to a compressor store these things are like $25 for a set of 4.  With NHL Official Black Ice Hockey Puck selling for about $2 each, this is a great idea.

Big box sports store usually has them by the bag, generic type, or rejects...cheap.  Then you can stack if needed, although I probably wouldn't go more than two.

[Iconic]

Hockey pucks are a great idea !!
I've been using 2x4 (x4) wood for years.
They eventually break with the grain ....
Hockey pucks. 

[thelews]

Hockey pucks are a great idea !!
I've been using 2x4 (x4) wood for years.
They eventually break with the grain ....
Hockey pucks.  

I shouldn't take the credit for originality.  www.blackforestllc.com turned me on to them.

[sfox]

Thanks for all of the great replies. Unfortunatly I don't have a lift system in my garage. I really wished I did. What I was going to try and do is jack each corner, one at a time and place a regular style jack stand and let the car down on it and make my way around the car. I can use the points in the pictures to position the floor jack, but I still need to place the jack stand somewhere.

Any suggestions?

[al_lieffring]

Place your floor jack under the differential pod of the rear axle first, jack up the rear end, place on stands, go around to the front place the jack under the center of the subframe just behind the oil pan, jack up the front, place the front jack stands. Now you are ready to work.

[Iconic]

What Al states is perfect ... as long as your subframe mounts are sound.
You might was to read about it first on the site.
If they are not sound, at the front, when you lower the floor jack that is at the center of the subframe, and the jack stands are in their proper position, the engine will move down relative to the frame. Mine did this to the point of having the fan "axis" hang up on the fan shroud and one of my automatic trans cooler hoses got pinched. 

So, lower carefully and watch for bad things.

[jeffc280sl]

Another good place, assumming your frame rails are solid, is directly under the holes for the tire jack.  The bottom edge of the frame rail is 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches wide.  A piece of wood or hockey puck will work great.  You do not want to be inside of this edge because that area is the floor pan.

[pagoden]

sfox and all,

I like the hockey puck innovation in so many ways.  There are also nice little red 'rubber' jack stand boots available from Harbor Freight for ~ $10/pr., their part # 95952.  (Dunno how many lifts they'll make before being shredded; pucks doubtless hardier.)

Cheers,

Denny