jacking the rear safely

...needing to jack the car up again, but still not sure where the best points are in the rear. where is the safest place to lift with the floor jack, and where are the safest places to put the jack stands?

thanks-

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Adam Nitti
www.adamnitti.com
'85 Carrera
'74 3.0 CS

There are different views on this subject. I'll tell you how I do it and you can choose.
I use a 2.5 ton jack and place a square of soft pine wood on the jacking plate. I place it under the oil screen cover (where the drain plug is). This is the jacking point. The car will go up at an angle so care must be taken not to slide off the cover. Jack stands are placed under the outboard torsion tubes in front of the rear wheels. Warren has pointed out that you may want to cushen the jackstands so as to not scratch the tubes. I have used this method for a decade without incedent.

I've always been curious about that - what's to scratch on the torsion tube ends, and why are we worried about it? I'll start cushioning mine, but I've used jack stands and just gently set the car down on them without incident. Aren't those the tube *covers*, anyway?

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

I use the tranmission mount directly infront of the rear stabilizer bar. Use a piece of wood to avoid scratching the bolts. As far as the tubes, my jack stands are kind of rounded and fit good. Don't really bother with anything underneath them.

Rarly, it doesn't hurt the screen plate to put a jack under it? That piece seems pretty flimsy.
I have always used the flat nub looking area, on the flywheel side of the case near the cross over pipe. I usually put the car on a lift so I'm not using a floor jack often... is what I'm doing bad?


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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

I just came back from the Porsche shop that I go to for questions and work sometimes. While I was there I checked out the cars on the lifts. The lifts in the back were all at the seam that runs diagonally just in front of the torsion bar covers. The have a rubber pad that is on the lift "foot". He said that a piece of wood on my floor jack would work fine also.

Some engines have a "nub" near to tranny mount that can be used as the jacking point. My engine doesn't have one. The oil plug area does look a bit flimsy but the load is spread out on the soft wood and the oil change nut burries into the wood to help keep the jack from slipping. I have never so much as dented the screen plate so it must be OK if you are careful. Unfortunately I can't get my jack under the car far enough to use the tranny mount without hitting the bumper with the jack handle. As for pading the torsion tubes, I don't do it. I just thought I would add that in for folks concerned about such things.

[This message has been edited by RarlyL8 (edited 07-20-2000).]

I have a pump jack but I'm worried about using just one. The handle 1/2 under the car and on the motor or tranny.I think it is a pain in the a$$ I worry that the handle will slap the body.I use the car jack it came with. one side at a time. then put the jack stands under the tubes one at a time. It has worked for me. I want to get (2) floor jacks so I can do both sides at the same time or a lift for large A/C units they have (2) bottle jacks on each side with a step down brace the brace goes under the A/C and you pump on both sides. I have used them on construction jobs in the past with some very heavy units.Want to give that a try.The brace should hit both jack points on the body.if I get one I'll let you know how it works out.

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Brett
BTW 88'911

My car had more damage done to it by floor jacks than just about anything else. Now when I want tires I take the wheels off and take them to the shop!

My question - if I do take my '70 911 to the shop for tires where should they position the four lift supports?

[This message has been edited by Allan Broadribb (edited 07-20-2000).]

You know...I've been putting the jack stands on the inner part of the torsion tubes for adjusting spring plates and the like. Is this bad? None of you have mentioned this method yet, and I'm wondering why.

Break it to me easy.........skip in Va

Tlook, Can you give me some pointers on adjusting the spring plates? I want to adjust the height of the rear of the car and have asked Warren, but I just haven't gotten it so far.

Have you seen the tech article on replacing the torsion bars because this seems like a perfect proceedure to adjust the spring plates thus adjusting the car height. Instead of prcoeeding to removal and replacement of the torsion bars, I would think I could just adjust the spring plate by one tooth or 9 degrees(raising the car about 1.5 inches).

I am about to just go out to the car and start removing things and learn by trail and error. Any pointers would be appreciated. Mark

Educated trial and error is the method you must use. Good luck, Mark.

I was assured that the factory approved a jack point just behind the sump cover. The case has a bench or saddle shape cast into it, that sticks down RIGHT behaidn the sump cover and you can jack on that.

Tlook, I believe the Great Warren places the jack stands on the INBOARD part of the torsion tubes.

What I'd like is a better jack point for the front. there is a spot kind of just under the fresh air intake, on either side, but some hoses are also right there. Someone give me a better alternative.

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'83 SC



[This message has been edited by Superman (edited 07-20-2000).]

When I was talking to my mechamic he showed me the cars on the lifts. Said I could put the jack at the seam that is just behind ans inboard of the from tire. He said I coud pad the jack with a piece of wood. Last time I actually used a folded up newspaper. Another place he mentioned for jacking up the entire front to put jackstands under was right in the middle directly behind the sway bar. Said to use a length of 2X4, jack the whole front end up and insert stands.

Gunter '82SC Targa

Once you have the front jacked up, where would you position the jackstands? Would you leave the 2 x 4 in place and use that?

I've been wondering about this...

Dan

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Dan Shust
74 Carrera

I would like to find out if anyone has any knowledge or experience with the jacking method formula cars use. It would be great to have built in jacks to lift the car.