Lifting and supporting points

[The_Lizard]

This is the OEM rear skidplate on a 98 OB. It can be used as a lifting point, with a floor jack.

[The_Lizard]

This is a jackstand spanning the pinch weld at the rear of the 98 (right side). My general rule for supporting the rear of a body is to place the stand near the point where the control arm attaches to the body.

[aerosaaber]

If I remember correctly the jackstands are located at the bushing area for the lower control arm. My jackstands have the curved surface you describe, definitely not for use with a pinch weld. I've used this type of point on my other cars in the past. Because the bushing area of the car is strong enough to deal with lots of stress, placing a jack stand there shouldn't be a problem.

I don't have any better pics of this location, hope that's good enough for now.

Also once you install a skidplate like this one, you'll still be able to jack the car from the center jackpoint, located just behind the two bolts at the back of the skidplate.

[OzzyOutback]

Hi guys,

I have some Jack Stands that I want to use to lift up my front end however they are only rated for 1,200kg's each and I believe the cars gross weight is 2,066kgs.

What I would like to know is, the front end weight is 1,002kgs, so will tthis be ok for the stands or should I get stands rated for the gross weight?

Secondly, when jacking up the car with the emergency jack for the stands, do I need to keep the jack in the center of the pinch-weld or can I jack it up anywhere on the weld so I can put the stand on next to it?

This brings me to my last point, is it OK for the car to be jacked up on one side and placed on a stand, then jacked up on the other, or does it need to be jacked from the center to prevent stress?

[aerosaaber]

I believe the jack points along the pinch weld are specific so I don't think you can "jack anywhere" on the pinch weld.

I don't know about jacking one side and then the other, I have always just gone from the middle.

If you look for a floor jack you should be able to find something that isn't too expensive. I see sets of jack and 2 jackstands for under $50 all the time.

Hope that's helpful.

[The_Lizard]

Side to side can be done, that was the only way I could lift the Escort.

Ozzy, I think you are well within a safe limit - assuming that load is approximately half the rated capacity.

Once I set the car on jackstands, I like to grab it and give it a shake to make sure everything is settled. Better to find a problem then than to be under it with a wrench, pulling hard...

[OzzyOutback]

Ok, thanks fellas.

[The_Lizard]

Today I lifted the front of the 96 to go after an exhaust shield rattle. I noticed that the pinch weld has old damage from being either lifted or supported incorrectly. So here's a shot of doing it right, next to evidence of doing it wrong.

[The_Lizard]

Lifting the front of a 96 2.2, w/o skidplates. In the past I've lifted by the forward crossmember, but this time I cradled a longitudinal plate (black in this pic) that spans between two crossmembers. The engine did not go through the hood.

[aerosaaber]

Lizard that is the exact place I use to jack my car, only with my skidplate on, it's covered. So I just jack against the skidplate that sits flush against that plate which IIRC is the "jack plate" or something like that in the parts manual.
When I got the skidplate the actually sent me one of those, Perhaps some other them did not have threaded holes for the bolts used to secure the skidplate?

I just reused my old one which appears to be stouter with multiple layers of steel.