Hi all, I realise that this has been covered already, but....

Started jacking up the front of my limited edition earlier and ignoring the fact that my aging £20 halfords jack died before I got going, I want to make sure Ive picked my jacking point well.

I used the point behind the sill with a bit of wood after I'd removed the plastic trim around said point.

What's everyone's thoughts on the PIC?

Joe Mattley shared "IMAG0675.jpg": https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=CE0DC57C9902A505!2631&authkey=!AF71IE_-dL8PkRo&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg

Cheers Mike. I'd actually ordered a hockey puck thing, but I think the snow in Sheffield has delayed it! I used the inner of the sill because that bit looks the strongest and the profile of the widow maker jack claw suggests that the outer part is used to prevent slipping only, thus the inner takes all the weight.

I know this isn't specified in the manual, but I jack mine up at the point where the suspension attaches to the body- the rear ali bracket on the front and the steel housing not far from the jacking point on the rear. If the car is designed to be supported at that point during normal driving then it seems sense to me to use that as a jacking point if you gave a suitable trolly jack. Obviously if you're using the scissor effort you can't do this.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/287585-trolley-jack-and-jacking-points/

I know this isn't specified in the manual, but I jack mine up at the point where the suspension attaches to the body- the rear ali bracket on the front and the steel housing not far from the jacking point on the rear. If the car is designed to be supported at that point during normal driving then it seems sense to me to use that as a jacking point if you gave a suitable trolly jack. Obviously if you're using the scissor effort you can't do this.

That's what I was thinking. Cheers!

That jacking point with the wood is a "no" from me.

 

If I'm just jacking up to change a tyre quickly (no undercar work) I use the console bush like "littleade" does.  You can just see the bolt in the lower left corner of the photo.

Generally, I put a bit of rubber on top of the jack pad & jack up on the sill so that i can use the console bush for the jack stand.

That jacking point with the wood is a "no" from me.

 

If I'm just jacking up to change a tyre quickly (no undercar work) I use the console bush like "littleade" does.  You can just see the bolt in the lower left corner of the photo.

Generally, I put a bit of rubber on top of the jack pad & jack up on the sill so that i can use the console bush for the jack stand.

Which bit of the sill would you use? 

Hi all, I realise that this has been covered already, but....

Started jacking up the front of my limited edition earlier and ignoring the fact that my aging £20 halfords jack died before I got going, I want to make sure Ive picked my jacking point well.

I used the point behind the sill with a bit of wood after I'd removed the plastic trim around said point.

What's everyone's thoughts on the PIC?

Joe Mattley shared "IMAG0675.jpg": https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=CE0DC57C9902A505!2631&authkey=!AF71IE_-dL8PkRo&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg

I have used this point to jack when replacing my console bushes. Works perfect as the floor is very strong at this point, and as it looks (from the photo) like you nicked the piece of wood that I used, I know it sits nicely flush with the metal. As you say, remove the plastic shield first(is that what it is for anyway?).

Agree with littleade also, just common sense.

So I have just bought one of these, am I right in thinking that the seem weld on the seal sits in the grove and you just jack up the car on the part of the seel nearest the wheel?

So I have just bought one of these, am I right in thinking that the seem weld on the seal sits in the grove and you just jack up the car on the part of the seel nearest the wheel?

image.jpg

Picking mine up from post office tomorrow! I'll let me you know how it goes

Which bit of the sill would you use? 

I go under the arrows - give or take an inch or 2. 

 

Or off the actual front cross member (big chunk of rubber seems to stop slippage & distribute the load)

 

Or off the centre piece of the rear suspension frame (possibly a bit naughty that one but if I break it I'm the only one I can cry to).

I think its Pi$$ poor that skoda do not show this in the handbook TBH.

 

Every garage on earth uses four point jacking or trolley jacks, and the millions of people who use jacks at home should at least be informed via the handbook where to safely and securely jack the car up with alternative methods other than the widow maker.

 

I cant imagine the RAC, AA or Greenflag etc etc carrying hockey pucks for their trolley jacks or maybe they do?

 

Some sort of sense from the manufacturers should be provided.

Said it on another thread, but the bloke at National (normally a monkey, but this time seemed quite sensible) jacked it up on the very front and rear of the sill with a flat plate. His logic was it's double seamed so it was stronger and wouldn't bend, and when I looked, he was right! Sold me!

Right then, got my rubber slotty pad today. It seems nice and sturdy as it's moulded rather a butchered hockey puck. However, for jacking an Octavia, it rubbish. I offered it up and it could do with a 20mm x 20mm slot rather than 10 x 10. Might just use it upside down instead of a block of wood though.

I was told that the double seam can be used to jack the car at any point as its not stronger at the arrow points

Just searching this very subject as tomorrow I want to jack the car up to change the wheels prior to having them powder coated.  So are we saying that you can lift the entire side of the car by jacking in between the jacking points with a trolley jack Chris? 

 

Regards Chris

If Skoda meant the car to be jacked on the seam then they would have designed their jack to do that - but they didn't on the Mk 2 but did for the Mk 3 which has a different sill design.  Jack the car up with the supplied jack at one of the designated jacking points then look under the car along the seam and you will see that the car rests on the jack immediately behind the seam,   If you use a hockey puck then the weight is taken on the seam.  

Yes, so if the car is jacked up behind the seam with a length of wood spreading the load could you safely (without damage) jack up one side of the car?

 

Regards Chris

Just pick a suspension point that looks strong and use it. There's a picture knocking about on the internet of Octavia 2 jacking points. To be fair, looking underneath and using common sense should serve you well.

I have a fair amount of common sense and my son in law owns a garage in town so I shall nip and see him and ask him where best to jack and then I know I will be right.  At least with a mini you could use the sub-frame.....well until it rotted away.

 

Regards Chris

Just searching this very subject as tomorrow I want to jack the car up to change the wheels prior to having them powder coated.  So are we saying that you can lift the entire side of the car by jacking in between the jacking points with a trolley jack Chris? 

 

Regards Chris

No that would probably cause damage.

 

The chassis is stiff enough that if your jack has enough height it will lift the front & rear wheels together when using the arrowed jacking points

Edited 14 March, 201511 yr by brad1.8T

I agree with Brad. My common sense would say that trying to jack up the whole side of a car with one jack, especially something as large as an Octavia, would not be sensible, to say the least. No offence intended.

With two jacks, shouldn't be a problem so long as you chock the other side well.

I prefer to use the suspension as well if possible as this removes the vehicles tendency to swivel sideways.

That is why I would prefer to lift front in one or back in one rather than one side.  It looks as it isn't possible to lift the entire front or back though.  Just when changing wheels over I didn't want to have to jack it up for each corner individually as it takes more time. Hey ho!

 

Regards Chris

I agree with Brad. My common sense would say that trying to jack up the whole side of a car with one jack, especially something as large as an Octavia, would not be sensible, to say the least. No offence intended.

With two jacks, shouldn't be a problem so long as you chock the other side well.

I prefer to use the suspension as well if possible as this removes the vehicles tendency to swivel sideways.

It's only 1.5tonne - tops.  That's not much in the scheme of things. I use a cheap 1.8tonne trolley jack - not the factory widow-maker which I'd only use in the most dire emergency.

 

If I'm rotating tyres I lift the right front & put a jack stand under the console bush housing. 

That wheel gets washed & I lift the right rear & fit the wheel.

RR gets washed & I lift the whole of the LHS and throw a jack stand under the left console bush just in case the jack fails (it's just sitting there with no weight on it).

RR gets fitted to Left Front.

Left Front is washed & fitted to Left Rear

LH jack stand removed & jack lowered

LR fitted to RF

vehicle raised, jack stand removed, vehicle lowered

Left Rear washed & fitted to right front

 

 

If I'm doing anything beyond a wheel rotation then the jack stands & tyre wedges are always used & I slide the removed wheel under the sill as a back-up

 

The rear is a pain but the front can be done in one hit if you jack off the front subframe / cross member thingy - the big chunk of alloy that runs across the car.

Brad thanks for that.  I need to invest in some axle stands and a widow maker for when I have a spare wheel for emergencies.  Main thing at the moment is motivation to get out there lie on the floor and do it all!  Should be doing it now but it looks like rain so any excuse.  I was hoping to take my wheels tomorrow to get them done but at this rate it isn't going to happen.  I have even thought about having the spare set done but as they are Zeniths and not Neptunes I want to keep the car looking standard albeit with black wheels.

 

Just finish this cup of tea and then launch myself out there.

 

Thanks again for the advice.

 

Regards Chris