[Zed2011]

Hi Everyone,

As stated earlier, I purchased a new jack and a cross beam from Harbour Freight and was hoping to find another easier way to jack up our cars. The 3 Ton Jack cost about $90 and the Cross Beam cost about $35. I also had to purchase a 10mm bit socket to remove the bolt to install the Cross Beam - for the price I was hoping this was included in the Cross Beam, but not such luck...

With the idea from litz, I decided to try out if the jack and cross beam would fit under the sides and be able to lift the car up. So here we go.

The pics...

This is the 3 ton jack and Cross Beam. Just remove the bolt from the jack and bolt on the cross beam. Thank goodness they use the same size bit socket.

Line up the cross beam to the side. Make sure that when you slide it in, the pads on either side are at its lowest point. As my car is lowered (about 1" on Tein H.Techs), it went under the side about a half inch of clearance.

Raise it slowly and once its at the lowest height of your jack, put it the jack stands.

Do the same on the other side, just go a bit higher to clear the tires. btw, because the drivers's side was lifted up, there was actually more clearance on the passenger side.

And that is it. No damage to the car and super easy to lift.

What I did tho is lift the driver side up about 12" high, put the stands in, lifted the passenger side to almost 15", put the other stands in, then lifted the driver side again to stable it at 15". I presume you could go up 15" in one go, but I was just too scared that the imbalance might not work with the stands I have.

Anyway... this is but another way to raise our cars!! And all it costs is a $35 Cross Beam. I think this was a great deal.

Thanks for reading everyone!!

 

[litz]

Looks good, but I wasn't going to count on the seam along the bottom/side to hold up unless the cross beam could span enough to catch the end of each of the jack points while leaving enough space to slip the jack stands under them. Guess I was worried about the edges bending over if you couldn't reach the jack points to lift.

Thanks for the r&d and pics.:thumbsup:

 

[Zed2011]

You are correct. The pads on the cross beam are not far enough to reach the usual Jack points, however the pads themselves are about 5in square on each side and seem to spread the weight rather evenly on the underside seam. Even though they are about 8in away from the Jack points, it looks really safe, but I am no expert on this.

 

[96firephoenix]

this is all well and good for DIYers, but has anyone had problems with a shop putting the lift pads in the wrong place? my 96 firebird had the fender mount rolled over by a shop that missed the jack pad (under PO's watch, not mine), so I'm a touch nervous about this.

 

[Zed2011]

?? a shop putting the lift pads in the wrong place ?? If that ever happens, I would go back to the shop and have them fix the damage - or go through your insurance and have them go after the shop.

 

[Sonic Motor]

?? a shop putting the lift pads in the wrong place ?? If that ever happens, I would go back to the shop and have them fix the damage - or go through your insurance and have them go after the shop.

Yeah, it's sad, that happens more often then not.

 

[96firephoenix]

its less about who pays for fixing it and more about it not getting damaged...

 

[Eddie70]

Glad I found this thread. I knew the car looked low to the ground. So was my Z06 Corvette but itI could get it on the ramps. This thing is amazing. Jack the rear up and put on jack stands. Jack the front up and I put it on ramps. Whew. Still its very low on ramps and I cannot use my creeper to get under the car.

 

[Eddie70]

this is all well and good for DIYers, but has anyone had problems with a shop putting the lift pads in the wrong place? my 96 firebird had the fender mount rolled over by a shop that missed the jack pad (under PO's watch, not mine), so I'm a touch nervous about this.

My sons 2000 Z28 has the lip rolled just like you are talking about from some incompetents actions. Messes up the fender to door alignment on his.

 

[96firephoenix]

Glad I found this thread. I knew the car looked low to the ground. So was my Z06 Corvette but itI could get it on the ramps. This thing is amazing. Jack the rear up and put on jack stands. Jack the front up and I put it on ramps. Whew. Still its very low on ramps and I cannot use my creeper to get under the car.

So my best bet for the ramps was to put a short section of 2x6 lumber in front of the ramps, drive onto the lumber, then onto the ramps.

 

[Eddie70]

So my best bet for the ramps was to put a short section of 2x6 lumber in front of the ramps, drive onto the lumber, then onto the ramps.

I like the 2X6 idea. I believe my car is lowered. Today I found red progressive springs all around. I measured ride height and it is right at 24.5" at the highest point on the fenders through the center cap.

 

[litz]

I like the 2X6 idea. I believe my car is lowered. Today I found red progressive springs all around. I measured ride height and it is right at 24.5" at the highest point on the fenders through the center cap.

Yep. You're lowered. I'd say, about an inch or a little more. I'm just a tad higher with my Mugen suspension.

 

[Eddie70]

Yep. You're lowered. I'd say, about an inch or a little more. I'm just a tad higher with my Mugen suspension.

Thakns for the confirmation Litz. Lowered really makes maintenance a lot more work for me. I would not have lowered it.

It rides nice and smooth. 1st time I have had a lowered vehicle and I wasn't looking for one. The price was right, and it drove and run good, so I brought it home with me.

 

[Fediej]

Lowered really makes maintenance a lot more work for me. I would not have lowered it.

It rides nice and smooth. 1st time I have had a lowered vehicle and I wasn't looking for one. The price was right, and it drove and run good, so I brought it home with me.

All the cool kids lower their cars, you got a free bonus mod. Just be careful of driveway transitions, curbs, railroad crossings and speed bumps/humps/tables/whatever they're called in your area. As long as you can get in/out of the car without trouble and it rides/handles good you'll be ok.