Author Topic: don't use floor jack on front end??????  (Read 4188 times)

Offline brads70

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don't use floor jack on front end??????
« on: February 22, 2009 - 01:26:43 PM »
Hey I just got one of those manuals on CD for a 1970 Challenger. I noticed that it said to NOT use a floor jack on anything but the rear end housing?? Surely you all use a floor jack to raise up the front end??  Where do you all put the axle stands if you wanted the whole car up on stands? If I hadn't read that I would have just jacked it up on the sub frame somewhere??
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
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Offline 72hemi

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2009 - 01:39:05 PM »
I always jack on the k member and then I place the jack stands on the frame rails. Anywhere in the circled area is generally where I place stands.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2009 - 01:41:33 PM by 72hemi »
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1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe

Offline BadJoey

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2009 - 05:56:42 PM »
I could see not jacking on the frame to avoid dents . But why not jack on the k frame or the control arms ?

Offline Changin Gears

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2009 - 06:37:39 PM »
Hey I just got one of those manuals on CD for a 1970 Challenger. I noticed that it said to NOT use a floor jack on anything but the rear end housing?? Surely you all use a floor jack to raise up the front end??  Where do you all put the axle stands if you wanted the whole car up on stands? If I hadn't read that I would have just jacked it up on the sub frame somewhere??

Sounds like Chevy-speak to me.  If this was true it would be a bumper jack or nothing.  Anyone out there actually use a bumper jack?

I place a jack on the k-frame or lower control arms, and jack stands where 72hemi shows.


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Offline bb71challenger

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2009 - 07:05:52 PM »
I have always jacked a car up by the center of the k member and put the jack stands under the lower control arms  :dunno:
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Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2009 - 07:06:23 PM »
I use a bumper jack first to get my car up a few inches, then I put a floor jack in the area 72hemi circled.

Mike

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Offline LAA66

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2009 - 09:30:22 PM »
 I use the K-frame to jack it up then stands under the sway bar close to the frame mount.

Offline moparnut

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2009 - 10:31:56 AM »
as stated, i use jackstands on the frame rails, but i use these poly pads to keep them looking nice and prevent dents

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95952
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Offline Roppa440

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2009 - 10:37:54 AM »
Having a 440 R/T means I have a skid pan on the K-frame so a floor jack would either damage it or slide off.

I always jack one side up at a time using the subframe or the LCAs.
Dave
1970 Challenger R/T
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited

Offline HP2

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2009 - 02:06:42 PM »
This may be one of those old factory warrenty items that they discouraged floor jacks to prevent some moron from jacking up the car using the torsion bars.

Offline PlumCrazyRTSE

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2009 - 10:35:58 PM »
as stated, i use jackstands on the frame rails, but i use these poly pads to keep them looking nice and prevent dents

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95952


Those are nice, I need to get some.  Thanks for posting.
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Offline 72hemi

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2009 - 10:40:00 PM »
Having a 440 R/T means I have a skid pan on the K-frame so a floor jack would either damage it or slide off.

I always jack one side up at a time using the subframe or the LCAs.
My 70 cuda had a skid plate and I jacked on it all the time and I never dented it or had the car slide off the jack. The skid plate is pretty heavy duty gauge, as are the frame rails and it takes a fair amount to dent them.
1972 Dodge Challenger 340 6 Pack 4-speed
1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe

Offline LAA66

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2009 - 10:46:55 PM »
 I didn't know thay had skid plates on Challengers? What do they look like?

Offline 72hemi

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2009 - 11:14:56 PM »
here you go
1972 Dodge Challenger 340 6 Pack 4-speed
1996 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe

Offline Roppa440

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Re: don't use floor jack on front end??????
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2009 - 04:38:34 AM »
It just does not look very secure to me when using the skid plate to jack it. The car could slip either side or even forwards.

Maybe I am just too careful having had a car fall on me once as a teenager. The chassis is a good solid position to jack from with no danger of anything slipping. It only takes a few moments longer to get the car up on stands.
I don't see the problem with being careful?
Dave
1970 Challenger R/T
1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited