Jacking Question: Please Clarify

[mca]

I have searched and read many posts on jacking up a 911 but I still need a tad bit of clarification on ONE particular method.

METHOD:
Using the jack pad and a floor jack, is it possible to get one side up high enough to place a jack stand underneath the rear torsion bar cover and under the a-arms in the front ... then proceed to the other side and use the jack pad and a floor jack to bring the entire car off of the ground and then place stands in a similar fashion?

Wayne's 101 book suggests that it is possible but I feel like there may be some instability when jacking the side that will ultimately bring the entire car off of the ground. No information on jack stand height is provided.

There are many types of stands with varying height settings. If the method mentioned above is doable ... is it specific to a certain jack stand heigh (ie. don't do it this way if your stand is taller than 1ft at its lowest setting)?

I am not looking for other ways to get it off of the ground (there is a lot of info on this). I just want clarification on the method I mentioned.

Many thanks!

[Nine9six]

Since your car is a coupe, I would say probably yes...However, I had a mobile mechanic that jacked my cab in that fashiond, and the passenger door has not closed correctly since.
I did not realize the jacking damage until 3 weeks later, and then felt it was to long after the fact to mention to the mechanic.
This guy is known as talented and very conscience, but others should take note on jacking cabs in this fasioon.

[MattAlpha]

You can also jack using the transmission cross member. I always use a piece of wood inbetween the jack's plate and the cross member. It distributes the upward force through the chasis via the transmission mounts. No need for the see-saw method, no instability as long as you chock the front wheels. After the rear end is up, place your jack stands where you like them.

I'm not a fan of the see-saw method. Many here are, and most probably have more experience than I.

-Matt

[dfink]

I do it all the time but still it looks scary when doing. I make sure that I am not somehow hovering over the jack in case it should break and flip up somehow. I also make sure that I have room between the wall and the car so if it falls to the side i am not trapped. My car is now low enough I can't get a jack under the front or rear. The wheels hang down far enough that they are touching the ground before the car gets to any extreme angles.

[SP2]

Yes, I do it alot, but don't try to go max height right off the bat. You will have to from side to side a few times unless you have 2 jacks, but that is no biggie. I am always worried that the torsion bar jackstands will be to far inside or outside (when set with the other sides tire still on the ground), so at the end I do a final lift to reposition the jackstand on the t-bar. I also shake the car from side to side to see if the car moves. If it moves, something is wrong.

Same thing with the front jackstands on the t-bar cover plates. These plates are sloped and could slip, so I make sure they are correct. And I leave the tires under the car incase it falls.

It might seem like overdoing it, but I work alone. Good luck. Be safe!

[mca]

see ... my concern is that the car needs to get up pretty high in order for my jack stand to fit under the front of the car.

maybe my jack stands are too tall?

don't have the exact heights but i will check this evening.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally posted by mca
.

METHOD:
Using the jack pad and a floor jack, is it possible to get one side up high enough to place a jack stand underneath the rear torsion bar cover and under the a-arms in the front ... then proceed to the other side and use the jack pad and a floor jack to bring the entire car off of the ground and then place stands in a similar fashion?

Yes, it is easy to do that way.


Back in the old days, I used a floor jack under 1 side at the jack point, place the stands, then jack the other side. I have stands that allow for a slight amount of lateral slide by the chassis that will be induced by this method. Of course wood or other pads are used on top of the stands.

[JB36]

I happen to have two jacks and thought I would try elevating the car on both sides at once. I bought two pads and then found out the front of the car would not elevate high enough to put stands under the torsion bar covers. The cars was balancing on the pads and I could almost lift the front end up high enough, but stopped for safety reasons.

I just use the method you mentioned