Are there reinforced jack plates under a 911?

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

A post on Rennlist suggests to use the four jacking pads on the tub portion under a Porsche to lift it rather than the normal location on the torsion bars. I've never seen these or heard anyone else speak of them before this. Is this legit or am I misreading what he's saying?

http://forums.rennlist.com/scripts/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=002229

dtw · 02-25-2002, 08:30 PM

They're there- if you've got an '86 or later.

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

Oh, that explains it. I have a 79. thanks. I'm SOL again.

dickster · 02-26-2002, 12:35 AM

i've got an '86 but no pads

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by richardnelson
i've got an '86 but no pads

If your car didn't have the optional jack plate locks or the previous owner left them off, your jack pads may have been stolen by a jealous pre-'86er. It's the problem nobody talks about.

Chris
'86 911 (with jack pads)

doofdog · doofdog's Garage

Someone stole my jackpads!!!! I looked and there gone!

dickster · 02-26-2002, 04:51 AM

ok, first the local dealer can't find any record of my car, next i find out its got a US engine, NOW i've got no jack pads

is this cause for concern??

what exactly are these jack pads?? you can't remove them can you??

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by richardnelson
ok, first the local dealer can't find any record of my car, next i find out its got a US engine, NOW i've got no jack pads

is this cause for concern??

what exactly are these jack pads?? you can't remove them can you??

The jack pads are little "feet" that stick out below the car bottom for jacking on or putting jack stands under. The rear ones are just ahead of the rear wheel well openings on the bottom of the car. The front ones are just behind the the front wheel well openings on the bottom of the car.

They are welded to the car. I was joking about them being removable.
-Chris

dickster · 02-26-2002, 05:14 AM

thanks chris

my '86 doesn't have them though

i'm a bit worried - its put me right off my mac d's

89911 · 02-26-2002, 05:57 AM

Front and rear jack pads on an 89 coupe. These are meant for a garage lift to pick the car up as one unit. It you jack up one of these, you will end up deforming the metal. I would still stick to the torsion bar tubes, front and rear, and center of engine, for jacking up the car. These are good places to put added supports for safety and perhaps to get one wheel off the ground.

dickster · 02-26-2002, 07:10 AM

89911

thanks, i definitely do not have those. was the changover year '86?

does anyone know??

RoninLB · 02-26-2002, 08:09 AM

I have seen heavy plates welded to platform in front of rear wheels that I believe came from factory stock. I would like to install them on my '77 if available.

Kahuna · 02-26-2002, 08:16 AM

You can use blocks of 2x4 to distribute any stress over a larger area. Size the wood as your conscience dictatates, it mostly prevents marring of the under coat.

RoninLB · 02-26-2002, 08:35 AM

KAHUNA...what I presently use is 3x3x8 hard rubber pads sold by Snap-on with their mid rise lift. Works great.

Kahuna · 08:49 AM

Years ago I bought a 6" silicon pad that fits over the saddle of my floor jack(as such it prevents any shifting of the load, which is a drawback of wooden blocks). Unfortunately it's falling apart, and even more unfortunately I haven't seen them offered for sale anywhere recently. Industrial polyureathane sheeting also works but is relatively hard to come by.

KTL · 02-26-2002, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 89911
Front and rear jack pads on an 89 coupe. These are meant for a garage lift to pick the car up as one unit. It you jack up one of these, you will end up deforming the metal. I would still stick to the torsion bar tubes, front and rear, and center of engine, for jacking up the car. These are good places to put added supports for safety and perhaps to get one wheel off the ground.

You definitely don't want to jack up the car on these locations for two reasons.

1. As 89911 said, if you jack on these you can smash 'em.

2. If you jack on these, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PUT A JACK STAND THERE? THE FLOOR JACK IS IN THE WAY!!!!

I find the jack ports and the suspension connection points to be just fine for getting the car in the air. I put the jack stands at these feet thingys because that's their intended purpose, in my opinion. To each his own.

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

I agree with the comments to use the standard torsion tube and a-frame locations for floor jacks. I was interested in these body locations since I'm starting to look for a good garage lift in anticipation of one day buying another Porsche. I'd also like to get a lift where the wheels and suspension can hang freely so I can more easily work on the car.
Evidently, the shops do support the earlier cars on lifts using points on the tub or frame without any damage. I've seen them do it many times during tire removal but I honestly was focusing on other things at the time. I'm not sure if any damage could occur if my 79SC is supported long term from the points just behind and in front of the wheels.

RoninLB · 02-26-2002, 07:18 PM

Autob...the points you mention is what I use all the time. It is a good strong area to my understanding. I've had the 911 on these points for months, no problem,,,I hope. I also use a Snap-on mid-rise lift. It's small, portable, supports 6,000 lbs., and low when in down position. A euro ride height 911 can drive on/over it. Got it used for $1400 about 6 years ago. I over-paid because it was 1 1/2 years old. Should go for $1000 today. New 4 years ago was $2,800 + shipping + tax. Snap-On has a seperate brocheure on it. Mid-rise = 37 inches without 3 in rubber pads

ChrisBennet · ChrisBennet's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by autobonrun
Evidently, the shops do support the earlier cars on lifts using points on the tub or frame without any damage. I've seen them do it many times during tire removal but I honestly was focusing on other things at the time

I don't mean to single you out autobonrun but I think any time you get your car jacked up by a non-Porsche shop you should watch them like a hawk. I can't tell you how many times this has saved my oil lines from getting crushed.

As far as the jack point "feet" go, I jack on them all the time without damage but generally I use them for the jackstands.
-Chris

autobonrun · autobonrun's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by ChrisBennet

I don't mean to single you out autobonrun but I think any time you get your car jacked up by a non-Porsche shop you should watch them like a hawk. I can't tell you how many times this has saved my oil lines from getting crushed.

As far as the jack point "feet" go, I jack on them all the time without damage but generally I use them for the jackstands.
-Chris

You are absolutely correct, I should watch closer. I actually thought about this as I said it. I think familiarity with my one mechanic and the single NTW shop I use for tire work have made me more trusting. I did contact the local Porsche dealership regarding lift points. They suggest when using a lift to locate hard rubber chocks as close to the edge as possible behind the front wheels and in front of the rear wheels if you don't have the plates and to make sure the oil lines don't get pinched. Other than the suspension points, these are is the most reinforced points underneath.

One interesting thing I found out about the dealership in Kansas City is that they do not work on any Porsches older than 1980. Since I use an independent mechanic (when I don't do the work myself), I had not run into this issue. I wonder is this a local thing or are other dealerships across the country also limiting the cars they will work on. I'm surprised Porsche allows one of their dealers not to support a product they sold; regardless of the age.

79SC