Jack placement?

[vagt6]

Lotsa questions here, so thanks for bearing with me!

Jacking up a MKIII Midget: I placed the jack under the front frame cross member in front: is this okay?

And for the rear, the Haynes manual says "near" the differential near the spring attachment points. Does this mean "ON" or under the diff, or next to it?

I'd assume I place jack stands on the frame members on either side of the engine up front. Where in the rear???

I'm performing a blitz routine maintenance on the car this weekend; total lube, change gearbox and diff oil, adjust rear brakes, etc., etc.

Gotta get the car on jack stands.

Thanks!

 

[Trevor Jessie]

The front cross brace is fine, put use a block of wood to spread the load out to the frame rails. Otherwise it will crush in.

 

[tao724]

What Trevor Jessie said...........! for front.

For rear I use axel stands as far spaced apart as possible on the axels, after using a floor jack on the differential casing, (with a a cloth cushion).

 

[aeronca65t]

Yes, the front area with a wood block is fine. Just watch the oil pan.

For the rear, there's lots of opinions.
Some folks jack on the "pumkin" and others will not.

I prefer to jack right under the area where the leaf spring attaches to the rear axle (using a wood block or rubber pad to prevent mangling the U-bolt threads).
Or (if the axle needs to "dangle"), I jack up under the area where the front part of the leaf spring attachs to the frame (again with a wood block).

This means that you have to do one side at a time.

Jacking on the "pumpkin" is certainly quicker.
But the rears in these cars aren't that strong.....I've bent two of them (racing) and I have at least one other that was never raced and is sort of bent too.

Again, this is just my experience.

In any event, you'll need a nice, low floor jack and thin wood blocks or rubber pads (made from old tires works well).

 

[jvandyke]

I jack on the pumpkin, wood block between and use axle stands under the axles as wide out as I can. Front, I jack with hydraulic floor jack under frame in the middle by the pulley but with a wide hunk of wood to spread the load, then I do axle stands under the two side members as well. Block any wheels that are still on the ground. My car sits so low I have a hard time getting the jack under there with a piece of wood, I've found I can put my shoulder under the bumper and lift the car a bit as I cram jack and wood where I want it. Advantage to a light car I guess.