Jacking the front of the car from the center member?

[Otto]

What do you think? Is the center member under the engine solid enough to rest the front of the car on it? It's a 2WD eclipse, so there's only one center member. If not, then I'd like to hear from you how you have managed to jack the car up with regular flat topped jackstands from the jacking points right beneath the threshold. I'm afraid the fold (beneath the threshold, of which a scissor jack lifts the car) will bend if I place the jacks under it. The streering system will be lift up for a long time so I don't want anything to bend or break because of misproper jacking. Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

 

[19Eclipse90]

I've done it many times. Though, if I remember correctly, because the member is off-centered, the driver's side does not rise as high as the passenger's side. Depends on how high a lift your jack provides. Mine only went as high as to set jack stands underneath on their lowest setting.

 

[DSMunknown]

What do you think? Is the center member under the engine solid enough to rest the front of the car on it? It's a 2WD eclipse, so there's only one center member. If not, then I'd like to hear from you how you have managed to jack the car up with regular flat topped jackstands from the jacking points right beneath the threshold.

Yes, it will be solid enough. Most people would not recommend you use that spot to lift the car, but you can use it and it does work. I have done it many, many times.

Why do most people not recommend this, you may ask? Because this particular spot is not technically made to be used as a jack spot.

I'm afraid the fold (beneath the threshold, of which a scissor jack lifts the car) will bend if I place the jacks under it. The streering system will be lift up for a long time so I don't want anything to bend or break because of misproper jacking.

Don't worry about damage to that part of the car. Unless you have extensive corrosion, you shouldn't worry yourself over it. In New England, the car sees salt, sand, slush, and all sorts of weather. Those spots still hold strong. The fold won't give under the weight of the car.

I've done it many times. Though, if I remember correctly, because the member is off-centered, the driver's side does not rise as high as the passenger's side. Depends on how high a lift your jack provides. Mine only went as high as to set jack stands underneath on their lowest setting.

Quite true. Let me look for a photo I have around for another spot so Otto doesn't have to lift the car up so high off the ground. I'll post it up as soon as I can find it.

 

[DSMunknown]

Here we go:

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As it is indicated by the red circle, you can use this spot to lift the car up with the jack. However, use a jack stand on the same side (where the scissor jack stand would go). Do not simply jack the car up this way and then leave the jack holding up the car at this point. This point is only to get the car up so you can put the jack stand under the frame without having to lift the car up high in the air.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Why don't you use ramps, then your jack to get some extra height on each side, then place your jackstands however you want to? This is what I do because my car is too low to the ground I can't fit a jack under it anyway. I find it easiest and the safest way for me to work under the car.

I wouldn't like to have a single point holding up the car, nevermind the weight...I'm talking just from a balance issue. That seems less safe to me. And more stands spread the weight around and reduce failure points.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Why don't you use ramps, then your jack to get some extra height on each side, then place your jackstands however you want to? This is what I do because my car is too low to the ground I can't fit a jack under it anyway. I find it easiest and the safest way for me to work under the car.

I wouldn't like to have a single point holding up the car, nevermind the weight...I'm talking just from a balance issue. That seems less safe to me. And more stands spread the weight around and reduce failure points.

My ramps would scrape the living hell out of my front bumper cover.
Usually I don't raise the car from the crossmember, but it saves time. I agree it's not the safest thing in the world, but if you're smart about it and use jackstands like you're supposed to, it is much less dangerous.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Ah nm, for a sec there I thought you were going to balance the car on one jackstand in the center after you got it up.

I bought my ramps at advance auto parts...I have 2 inch ground clearance tops, but barely fits under my front bumper. It touches but doesnt mess it up. Maybe different on a 1G. Or maybe my ramps are just angled low.

 

[95talon_in_ma]

I think you just need to make sure you are using the right type of jack. If you use those little hydraulic jack with then I would advise not to do it. But if you have a full size floor jack I wouldn't worry. I have an aluminum one with a 4" height and it slips right under my car and it's lowered 2 inches. Then I put the stands where he took the pic of. Make sure you block the rear wheels....

 

[Otto]

I have a proper jack that is able to lift 3 tons up to approx 2 feet, so that I can fit jackstands under the car. So the height is not problem. One question is that how should I put flat topped jacks under the threshhold, because there's the fold, as shown on the picture.

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I'm almost certain it will bend if I rest the car on the jacks with the fold between. DSMunknown told not to care about the fold, so I suppose he's talking of a 2G, or a 1G that doesn't have the fold. But on the other hand the fold doesn't seem to have any important purpose, so it might just be aesthetically bad if it bent

 

[95talon_in_ma]

IMO, never ever use that "Pinch Weld" to hold up your car. The only time you should use it is with the scissor jack when you have a flat. It's simply where the machine at the factory seemed together two pieces of metal. It's not the best place to hold up your car for a long period of time. After you bend it enough times it will lose its integrity.

 

[Otto]

IMO, never ever use that "Pinch Weld" to hold up your car. The only time you should use it is with the scissor jack when you have a flat. It's simply where the machine at the factory seemed together two pieces of metal. It's not the best place to hold up your car for a long period of time. After you bend it enough times it will lose it's integrity.

That's pretty much what I meant. But do I have any other option than somehow build a scissor jack like top surface on the jackstands? Or is there some other spots where to put the jackstands?

 

[95talon_in_ma]

The pic that DSMUnknown took is a good place to put the jack (I know he says not to, but I do it all the time). It's where your lower control arm connects to the front sub-frame. Your engine is bolted to this spot also. It's probably the strongest point on your car.
Personally I jack it up by the center member and put two jacks under those two spots on each side. I've done this 1000 times. Never an issue.
What are you going to be doing under there anyway?

 

[Otto]

What are you going to be doing under there anyway?

Atleast completely refurbish the brakes and replace the shock absorbers, and probably something else too. The last owner has slightly neglected regular maintaining so there seems to be quite a lot of "nothing special" to do...

But thanks for the help by telling about these spots near the control arm hinge.

 

[95talon_in_ma]

As a general rule, if I am taking the tires off, I like to slide them underneath the car around the midpoint. It's an added safety measure if a jack stand does fail and it keeps them out of the way.
There is allot of info out here on brakes and shocks. FYI You will need a spring compressing tool if you do the shocks. Take the spring and shock out of the car as one unit, and then compress the spring, then replace the shock.

Good luck.

 

[DSMunknown]

Here is another photo in case anyone thought the first photo was too dark:

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