Safest spot to jack up car?

[A4RingPimp]

Since I can't search right now......Anyone know where the safest spot would be to jack up my automatic A4 without causing damage (front and rear)?

[Phrost]

Are you using a hydraulic floor jack? I put mine right on the pinch weld where the oem jack is supposed to fit. If I need to use jack stands, I place my jack on the pinch weld and just use the lower control arms for the jack stands.

There are probably other spots that are reinforced where you could place a jack stand to keep the car higher (since the suspension will unload and lower a few inches if you use the control arms like me) but I never need the car that high and don't want to take any chances [;)]

[Zebman]

Lifting this car is a bitch! That's all.

[A4RingPimp]

Yeah I will be using a floor jack maybe 2. I wanna get both wheels up at the same time. Not having to go from one side to the other. I think 2 floor jacks would work with 1 person on each side under the pinch welds pumping each floor jack simutaniously.

[Phrost]

It doesn't matter if you do one side at a time or both simultaneously. Just swapping wheels quick with a hydraulic jack is fine, but if it's going to stay up then you really need to use a jack stand just in case, for the sake of your safety and $$$ in potential damage.

Are you rotating your tires, or what are you trying to do?

[A4RingPimp]

I will definitely use jack stands once its up. I had just read somewhere online that jacking your car up from one side, puts unecessary stress on the frame. It very well might not be the true or hurt anything. But in theory it makes sense to me. I am wanting to do something like this http://www.audizine.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=34146 and some other stuff.

[Phrost]

I wouldn't worry about it, it will put some stress on the sway bar so the opposite side will begin to rise too, but it won't do any harm. There is nothing wrong with jacking up your car one corner at a time. Just make sure you use a jack stand though, since it will be up for a while when you're doing the vent mod

[a4b7]

I wished they had more room along that side rail where you jack it up. I can barely fit the hydraulic jack to get it up to place the stands. Somehow I got all four corners on stands when I was doing the suspension. I need to raise the car a bit this summer..so I will have to do that shit again, but wish there was an easier way to get all four sides on stands since there is very little usuable space along that rail.

[cstarky15]

the plastic peices under the car that cover the sub frame work pretty well. you can push on them a little and they bend about 2cm and then hit the sub frame. or get one of these :
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950187000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Lift+Equipment

[Jay B7]

the plastic peices under the car that cover the sub frame work pretty well. you can push on them a little and they bend about 2cm and then hit the sub frame. or get one of these :
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950187000P?vName=Tools&cName=Mechanics+Tools&sName=Lift+Equipment

for some reason I don't think i'd be comfortable laying underneath a car that is supported by jack stands that look like those. just my opinion.

[Subaru71]

for some reason I don't think i'd be comfortable laying underneath a car that is supported by jack stands that look like those. just my opinion.

I second that.

I am also interested in this, I have always jacked my cars up from either the front crossmember or another piece of the frame that the manufacturer recommended. But for ours, there isnt a good location. (i had my car on a lift yesterday trying to figure it out) But it looks like I can go from the crossmember, if the plastic panel under it won't break. Has anyone done it this way?

[chubbychynk]

I noticed the plastic starting to bend on mine so I pulled it back off, I didn't feel comfortable damaging any part of my car even if it's just plastic under the body. When you go to sell your car you then have to explain to the buyer why the plastic is bent underneath... not worth it IMO.

[evilgabbie]

where would you place your jack stands ? any pics ?

[Phrost]

When I'm under the car, I always use a jackstand and always leave the hydraulic jack up (with barely any stress on it) just in case something horrible would happen. That would be the worst death ever, your car half smushing you so you can't breath, can't yell for help, then you slowly die. Natural selection though?

[A4RingPimp]

When I'm under the car, I always use a jackstand and always leave the hydraulic jack up (with barely any stress on it) just in case something horrible would happen. That would be the worst death ever, your car half smushing you so you can't breath, can't yell for help, then you slowly die. Natural selection though?

LOL

I like to think my car loves me too much to kill me.


Seriously though, Safety is always first!!!

[Entropy333]

Haha...I was wondering the same thing when I was going through my first oil change. I did a jack on each side, and had my girlfriend stay out and watch me to make sure the car didn't kill me. Wasn't the best feeling, but I didn't feel like I really had an option.

Pics of Jackstand setups would be awesome.

~James

[minameismud]

Pics of Jackstand setups would be awesome.

x2

installing my RS4 sway in the next couple of weeks. my wife would kill me if the car tried.

[cstarky15]

for the sways you can just get two ramps and you will be fine.