Please excuse my ignorance, but can someone please tell me where I can safely position a trolley jack so that I don't damage any of the underpinnings of the car. Photos/diagrams would help to eliminate any misunderstanding on my part.

Thanks,

Steve

It seems that I have inadvertently put up duplicate posts, can anyone tell me how to remove one?

I use a block of wood as a pad and use the 'jack points' in the manual.

To get rid of the duplicate you'll have to PM a moderator and ask nicely if they'll remove it. Or lock it yourself and it'll fall down the list naturally.

 

Regarding the jack, if the Yeti is like the Octavia, on the sill there will be a small indent, possibly in the stone chip, that looks like a triangle pointing down.

 

You put the jack underneath the sill joint at this point. You're putting the jack onto the folded down part of the sill that is pointing downwards.

Edited 24 February, 201610 yr by meb90

use a hockey puck on the jack plate

I guess that the hockey puck takes the place of the shaped bit of the standard jack?

Is there no safe place under the car/ suspension etc to use place the jack?

I don't use a hockey puck, I just put the trolley jack under the sill fold/seam and I haven't been killed yet.

My thanks to who ever removed the duplicate post.

Meb90, does it not damage the seem?

Under the spring mount or, if you've got a substantial trolley jack with a large pad and can reach - a cross member is my choice.

I don't use a hockey puck, I just put the trolley jack under the sill fold/seam and I haven't been killed yet.

I have used the sill plenty of times.

 

A thick square of rubber stops you damaging any of the paint/stonechip

 

I sometimes use the chassis or other areas if I plan on using an axle stand under the sill

Edited 24 February, 201610 yr by SuperbTWM

The hockey puck is medium hard rubber so it forms around the jack points without the metal plate of the jack bending the sill you can even use them on axle stands so no metal to metal contact

Edited 24 February, 201610 yr by skoda1982

Meb90, does it not damage the seem?

 

I have used the sill plenty of times.

 

A thick square of rubber stops you damaging any of the paint/stonechip

 

I haven't damaged it yet. The under seal has torn a little, but I'm not too worried if I'm honest.

 

I can see the advantage of a hockey puck to spread the load a little but you need to make sure it can't fall off the jack. I did once have a car fall off a jack as I was using a block of wood between the jack and the car, when lowering the car, the wood fell off the jack rather than moving the jack.

 

Apologies for the flippant comment, I meant it against the view that you have to use a hockey puck or hell will break loose.

I haven't damaged it yet. The under seal has torn a little, but I'm not too worried if I'm honest.

 

I can see the advantage of a hockey puck to spread the load a little but you need to make sure it can't fall off the jack. I did once have a car fall off a jack as I was using a block of wood between the jack and the car, when lowering the car, the wood fell off the jack rather than moving the jack.

 

Apologies for the flippant comment, I meant it against the view that you have to use a hockey puck or hell will break loose.

 

 I was just saying a puck is better than wood it fits in the cup of the jack instead of resting on top

If you use a hockey puck it is better, and easy, to cut a slot in it to accommodate the seam, then place the hockey puck on the trolley jack cup, position the slot in the puck over the seam by the "arrows" moulded into the plastic sill and everything is stable and the seam is well protected. Used it at least twice a year when I change from summer to winter wheels and vice versa without problems.

I use a folded towel in the jack cup to protect the paint/metalwork.

 I was just saying a puck is better than wood it fits in the cup of the jack instead of resting on top

 

I don't think wood is a good idea either!

 

My comment wasn't aimed at you, it was a sweeping generalisation. No offence meant

 

I like Urrell's idea of a towel, I hadn't thought of that.

We don't have your corrosion problems, so a piece of floor board (cross grain) grips both .

Whatever you use, back up the system with timber props.

 

I have 4 off 200mm x 100mm x 1000mm slabs of wood that I slide under the suspension points and solid parts. If the jack goes then there's someting close on any part of my body width to hold the car.

 

I also chock front and rear wheels that remain on the ground.

If you are going to use a jack other than the supplied scissor (OEM) jack, then you need to ensure that whatever you use mirrors the profile of the supplied OEM jack as closely as possible.

If you look closely at the OEM jack you will see that the load bearing part is the small flat area alongside the "u" shaped section that the seam slots into. The load bearing part is slightly higher than the "u" shaped section which does not carry any load but locates the jack in the right position and prevents it slipping as well as protecting the seam. The OEM jack actually bears on the strengthened flat area on the floor pan of the car.

When I had my Yeti, I made a pad from a hardened rubberised material that fitted under the car in the same way as the OEM jack as well as sitting correctly on the trolley jack.

Others have also used inflatable air bags similar to those used at tyre fitting establishments but are inflated by the car's exhaust rather than compressors. It should be noted that these operate at low pressure so are safe to use.

If you're going to buy a trolley jack it goes without saying you should have proper jack stands.

I generally position my trolley jack head on a substantial flat area just behind the sill seam. There's just enough room to fit the jack head without it pressing on the plastic undertrays.

I use a folded towel in the jack cup to protect the paint/metalwork.

That seems like a good idea.

Planning to lift mine up to look at suspension bushes tomorrow so will give it a go!

If you are going underneath something that could kill you if it falls. use the correct equipment.

A jack is only an appliance to provide a lift while stands are put in place.

 

Be careful, short cuts can turn into long gashes. 

As well as using axle stands, I also slide the wheels under the car once I've removed them.

On the basis that they'd limit how far the car could fall if it came off the jack/stands and be less likely to crush me, yet wouldn't distort the floorpan too much.

I hate working under cars, especially if it's something where I have to wriggle a long way under to get to.

Edited 25 February, 201610 yr by muddyboots

I use one similar to this on the jack: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jacking-Jack-pad-adaptor-rubber-block-Porsche-TVR-VW-TDi-classic-car-/161161332835?clk_rvr_id=901777721106&rmvSB=true&clk_rvr_id=987662451621&rmvSB=true