Jacking all four corners.

R

Raj_UK

Member
I'm going to change my brakes and paint all four calipers and want the whole car up on axle stands. What's the best way to do this I.e. where to jack and where to rest stands?

Thanks
 
I'd Jack the car up using the rear jacking points high enough to get the stands under the front jacking points, a side at a time. Then use the centre rear jacking point where the two braces come together under the diff. That should get both back wheels off the ground, then stands under the rear jacking points on each side. All on the flat, of course.

...all that said, I've never had all four wheels off my car at the same time so I've never done it. Hopefully someone will be along to either agree, or tell you which bit I got wrong :D
 
I tried doing this once on a brand new fiesta to paint the calipers and the car nearly hit the floor on one side :lol:

Needless to say, I haven't attempted it since! I just do one at a time now :lol:
 
I did it the way Bing suggests and it worked .... but it does get a bit iffy when you jack from the rear centre point with the front on stands as there was a tendency for the car to lean forward and want to tilt the stands, even with the trolley jack moving freely on casters. I got away with it but I probably won't bother next time and just do either one end or one side at a time.
 
What you said Bing sounded good but the other posts are making me think twice!!! My plan was to lift car. Remove brakes. Clean and paint calipers. Leave for a few hours. Second coat and leave overnight. Then refit new stuff. I suppose I could do it in pairs, just take longer.
 
I do what Bing explains, as long as you're careful and in level ground it will be fine. Not all jacks will lift the rear high enough tho
 
Cheers Jan. Do you put the jack/stands straight on to the jacking points or use wood/pads or something else.
 
When I did mine on my last car I did one side at a time, and didn't remove the calipers. If you're careful you can leave them in place. I prepped them as best I could with a wire brush cleaned them off (can't remember what with) and used Hamerite silver paint. I think I onlmy had to put one coat on and it lasted for ages, still looked good when I sold the car maybe a year later ? Though I didn't change the brakes at the same time.

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Though it took all day, and I ended up having to camp out in the rain to finish them :lol:

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Loving the tent idea! :rofl: I have painted calipers before without disassembly. Result was excellent but took me two days when I did it in pairs. Since I'm changing pads and discs maybe I'll leave them on whilst painting. I suppose I don't need to be too careful....
 
Raj_UK said:
Cheers Jan. Do you put the jack/stands straight on to the jacking points or use wood/pads or something else.
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Yes, jack stands straight on the jacking points.

This reminds me i need to paint mine since fitting new callipers, haven't decided silver or black.



I like the fact the disc have a coating on them, wonder if it will last. I'll sort it when I fit some better pads as these new ones create too much dust :x
 
I too am wondering if the coating will last? I've ordered Textar ePads as I've heard they don't generate much dust. I originally wanted to do calipers silver but in the end opted for black.
 
I only have access to the road, or a sloped drive. Would it be good, or dangerous to use the jack sitting on a large sheet of wood, to allow the jack to move / roll vs jerk as it moves? The jerking as the jack moves over the small set bits of gravel scares the living **** out of me! Still not manned up enough to jack it & do my drains, as quite like my arm the shape it is!
 
mj2k said:
I only have access to the road, or a sloped drive. Would it be good, or dangerous to use the jack sitting on a large sheet of wood, to allow the jack to move / roll vs jerk as it moves? The jerking as the jack moves over the small set bits of gravel scares the living **** out of me! Still not manned up enough to jack it & do my drains, as quite like my arm the shape it is!
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Obviously there are slopes, and slopes! I've had a car slide off a jack in the past, it doesn't take much and is *kin scarey, TBH I think you know when it feels dodgy and I wouldn't risk it on a slope with a wood board. Maybe a mate, neighbour or member has a flat drive/garage you could use?
 
Sorry, I meant I would use the road (quiet estate), so flat, but would the smoothness of the wooden board help the jack to slide on its wheels when it's meant to, rather than the more jerky 'overcoming the small gravel bits'
 
Mj2k, don't sound like too bad an idea to me, providing there's no chance of the wood slipping/splitting. I take it you'd still use axle stands though? I've seen jacks break!!
 
Raj_UK said:
Mj2k, don't sound like too bad an idea to me, providing there's no chance of the wood slipping/splitting. I take it you'd still use axle stands though? I've seen jacks break!!
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Wood shouldn't split, in theory....watch this space :headbang:

Will still be using axle stands, yes - I like my arms & head the shape they are! I don't have any railway sleepers to pop under the tyres once raised as a second line of defence, but do have 2 spare batteries from our Zs that I haven't got round to taking to the tip yet, thinking they will do for the 'just in case' support should a jack & 2 axle stands all fail within the same 5 seconds of each other. I sure if one goes, it will be the fastest I have ever moved in my life!!
 
Wasn't planning on taking the wheels off, but failing to locate the drain plugs by feeling, so might be required. Have seen the wheels used also & agree I'd prefer to need a new wheel vs a new head!
 
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