[robotvoice]

Originally Posted by STi__G

Ok here's my take:
I think the pinch seams are the best place to put the jack stands. But the surface area of the top of the stand is not enough to ease my concern on pinch seam bending. So I put a 5" piece of "uni strut" with a 1/8" glued layer of rubber on top of the jack stand. The strut just slides over the top of the stand and distributes the weight of the car much better/safer. If you put your car on a car lift, the same principal applies. The glue I used in the pics was a little weak and the rubber has since been re-glued. The rubber "mat" provides a non marring surface as well as gives the pinch seam more "grip" to the jack stand to prevent slippage. I'm sure you could find "uni-strut" at any construction part supplier.
To the pics. I place all the jack stand under the factory "jacking points" FWIW.






-joe

Cool idea but I think this is a bit of an overkill. Plus, I don't know if I would trust that tiny piece of metal in between the stand and the car. It seems like it could slip off the stand or bend very easy. If you don't feel like your stands are working well with the bottom of your car...why not just pick up some new stands that have a better seat on them instead of trying to reinvent the wheel? I do applaud you for your ingenuity though.

[STi__G]

^the whole process took me 5 mins and cost me nothing, so effort wise it really wasn't a big deal. As for them slipping off, originally I was going to put a bolt on each end of the uni strut to "lock" it in place but after using them there is no need. All the jack stands that I've seen have a U-shaped contact area. They don't have enough surface area to make me feel conformable.

[osbjmg]

I just had my car up for 3 days on the protrusions just inside the pinch welds, it felt pretty good. I took my time getting everything lined up though. Now I just need to get some of that rubberized coating to re-apply where the jackstands took a bit off. Anyone got a pointer for that stuff? I don't see much salt and snow here, but it happens.

[SubieEngineer]

Originally Posted by osbjmg

I just had my car up for 3 days on the protrusions just inside the pinch welds, it felt pretty good. I took my time getting everything lined up though. Now I just need to get some of that rubberized coating to re-apply where the jackstands took a bit off. Anyone got a pointer for that stuff? I don't see much salt and snow here, but it happens.

Try Wal-Mart... I think that's where I bought my last can. If they don't have it, any generic auto parts store should.

[NaiveRapture]

Goodness, is NO ONE going to comment on WHY you shouldn't bend the pinch welds? Mine are totally bent and I just don't see this as being a problem.

[osbjmg]

Originally Posted by NaiveRapture

Goodness, is NO ONE going to comment on WHY you shouldn't bend the pinch welds? Mine are totally bent and I just don't see this as being a problem.

The problems I have heard relate to them bending while on stands. It would be bad if the car fell off the stand or the jack. Other than that, maybe cracking the paint and allowing an easy entry-spot for rust? I don't know?

I used the area just inside the pinch welds and noticed the rubber undercoating had scraped off a bit, and even scratched through some paint. I got some spray-on rubberized undercoating and I'm as good as new now.

[chimchim]

Originally Posted by NaiveRapture

Goodness, is NO ONE going to comment on WHY you shouldn't bend the pinch welds? Mine are totally bent and I just don't see this as being a problem.

If you DD the car and you need to change a tire to the spare you won't be able to use the trunk's scissor jack. Inconvenience, but not catastrophic.

[NaiveRapture]

I'll have to take a look at what you're talking about, but if you are correct that could indeed be a problem.

[chimchim]

duplicate - stupid lag

[chimchim]

Originally Posted by NaiveRapture

I'll have to take a look at what you're talking about, but if you are correct that could indeed be a problem.

The scissor jack assumes that the pinch weld metal sheet slips between the U shaped head on the jack. This is excellent for reducing the jack from slipping off the top. If the pinch weld is bent up too much, you won't be able to slip it into they U shaped head.