lower radiator support?

[JDMs13]

Just wondering if anybody lifts the front of their car with a floor jack from the lower radiator support? If I had solid motor mounts, Id lift from the oil pan.

[theicecreamdan]

oil pan gets squished pretty easily, I wouldnt hold any more than the weight of the engine spread out over the entire pan, definitely no lifting the car by the oil pan

[chmercer]

i jack my car up from the rad support pretty much exclusivley. at least i think thats what i jack up on. we are talking about that thick bar thats under and behind the bumper right?

[Ian]

i've been told that it's bad to do it but i continually use the lower rad support as well when i need both front wheels off the ground

i use the diff for the rear and i use the front factory jack point on either side if i need to do a specific side.

[chmercer]

^^^ same, been working fine for about a year now no bends or anything. except i cant use the sides anymore, sideskirts in the way.

[projectRDM]

The radiator support isn't the best place to jack up. For those who've been doing it a lot, take a good look at where it spotwelds to the frame rails. You should see stress points on the welds and even some that have pulled apart.

[HyperTek]

yah thats a no no spot.. ive seen a few where it splits.. even mine, meaning to get it welded back. Lift at teh crossmember only.

[JDMs13]

This winter when my motors out, I plan on adding some structure to the front. Ill keep in mind what you guys said about the factory spot welds. I also lift from the diff out back. I hate the crunch panels up front, so I go under my frame rails, but thats a bitch cause my car is too low. I dont think the frame rail is the best place for a floor jack either. Too much weight concentrated on one small area.

[KiDyNomiTe]

Use your tow hooks, and a 2x4 or something to raise the car up a little.

[JDMs13]

Lift at the crossmember only.[/QUOTE]


Crossmember... Could you elaborate please.

[KOUKI KA-T]

Use your tow hooks, and a 2x4 or something to raise the car up a little.

yep
If you got coilovers it'll still lift both front wheels off the ground high enough for jack-stands.

[axiomatik]

Crossmember... Could you elaborate please.

The crossmember is the structural piece that goes across the engine bay under the back of your oil pan. The steering rack, lower control arms and motor mounts (I think) bolt to it. Use that as a jacking point, pretty much everything else is too flimsy, and never use your oil pan, you could bend it enough to block off the oil pick-up. Also, the frame rails are not very good for jackstands. The metal is pretty thin, and can collapse under the stress (I've seen it happen to quite a few members on Zilvia). For jackstands, I use the point where the lower control arm bolts to the crossmember. If you have to use the frame rails, use a 2x4 or something to distribute the load.

[[email protected]]

ive never lifted the car up from the lower radiator support, but i did use the tension rod brackets as a lift point a few times, that part seemed sturdier if you cant lift it from the sides.

[ZK]

To get the front up I use the two front tow hooks. My car is low enough that the jack won't reach any further in. The side factory jack points also work but I usually put jackstands there after the car is up in the air.

[HyperTek]

drive up on blocks.. nuff said