Need help with my new floor jack

JM19 · 01-02-05, 09:00

I recently bought a hydraulic floor jack to rotate my tires and detail the undercarriage. It is the one in this picture:

I am looking for a small "plate" to attach to the end of the jack so it will be easier to lift the vehicle from the side. The best way to describe this is from pictures in one of David B's article. What I am looking for is pictured in the bottom left hand corner of both pictures. From what I can tell, it appears as though the jack I bought is the same, if not similar, to the one David B. is using in the article.

I went to Sears today and unfortunately they told me they don't carry such an item and it is unlikely I will find it anywhere. Could someone please let me know if I will be able to find it somewhere or even make it myself?

Accumulator · 01-02-05, 09:13

Many floorjacks use the same size plate, and often it just slips in the arm (not threaded). I replaced the metal one on my Sears floorjack with a rubber-faced rectangular plate from Eastwood. Maybe they'll have something to fit yours. No link handy, but do a search on Eastwood Tools or something similar and see if you find them.

IMO the first step is figuring out a) how your currrent plate fits on the jack and b) what size you'd need the new one to be (size of the post that goes into jack arm).

In an absolute worst-case scenario, you could find a plate you like and have a machine shop adapt it to your jack. Big hassle, but it wouldn't cost much.

General Lee · 01-02-05, 09:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Accumulator

In an absolute worst-case scenario, you could find a plate you like and have a machine shop adapt it to your jack. Big hassle, but it wouldn't cost much.

That is what I was thinking. A machine shop, or a little welding shop should be able to hook you up. It would be nothing to weld a piece of plate to it. Relatively inexspensive too.

Jung918 · 01-02-05, 10:04

why not just use a piece of wood?

JM19 · 01-02-05, 10:29

Quote:

Originally posted by Accumulator
Many floorjacks use the same size plate, and often it just slips in the arm (not threaded). I replaced the metal one on my Sears floorjack with a rubber-faced rectangular plate from Eastwood. Maybe they'll have something to fit yours. No link handy, but do a search on Eastwood Tools or something similar and see if you find them.

IMO the first step is figuring out a) how your currrent plate fits on the jack and b) what size you'd need the new one to be (size of the post that goes into jack arm).

In an absolute worst-case scenario, you could find a plate you like and have a machine shop adapt it to your jack. Big hassle, but it wouldn't cost much.

I found something on Eastwood which I think might help me out:

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...1&keyword=jack

Is this something that I could use on the type of jack that I own? I'd like to know if I could benefit from it if I do place an order.

If all fails, such as the pad not being appropriate for my jack, would I use the normal attachment on the end of the jack on the manufacturer specified jack points of my car?

Accumulator · 01-02-05, 10:40

That looks like what I have. I dunno if it'd fit your jack (it fits my Sears one by I never tried it on my other one from a different maker).

Go see if you can remove the "head" from the arm of your jack. Check out the size of the hole in the arm and see it it'll work. Or, if you're not opposed to visiting the welding shop, they should be able to modify the Eastwood plate to work with most anything.

Like most guys, I used to use pieces of wood, but every now and then there'd be an unpleasant surprise

and these days I want something nice and soft touching my well-detailed undercarriages

Wood with foam/cloth over it will work, but there are better ways to do it. The rubber really works great, I've never had any slippage, which is more than I can say for when I used wood between the jack and the car. Nice to have the pad firmly attached to the jack arm too, especially in those cases where it goes way under the vehicle.

JM19 · 01-03-05, 04:03

I inspected both my vehicle and the jack, and realized that the two will not work together as my car has unibody construction.

After a little bit of research, I think I have found a solution to the problem. I am thinking of buying an adapter so that I can convert my current floor jack to one that would be able to lift my car.

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...ProductID=2061

Does anyone have experience with doing this type of conversion?

Brad B. · 01-04-05, 04:21

Is that a 993 Carrera? Check this link out.
http://p-car.com/diy/jack/
This website has tons more good DIY info for 993 Porsches.
http://p-car.com/diy/
If your car isn't a Porsche then I misunderstood.

I have the adaptor you picture from Eastwoods and find it quite limiting. I almost never use it.

My favorite thing is a hockey puck. The puck protects anything it touches. It's very tough, won't tear. It grips well and won't slip. I put it on anything from strong unibody sections to (mostly) A-Arms and strong suspension mounts. Anywhere that I can lift enough to get a jack stand under. I've seen covers for the end of jacks like yours that do the same thing but are fairly expensive. You can get pucks for a couple bucks. Hey, that rhymes!

klnyc · 01-04-05, 04:45

Get the one from Sears, it a alummium jack for 99.99. It has a rubber pad. I have it and works great.

stevet · 01-04-05, 05:57

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad B.
My favorite thing is a hockey puck. The puck protects anything it touches. It's very tough, won't tear. It grips well and won't slip. I put it on anything from strong unibody sections to (mostly) A-Arms and strong suspension mounts. Anywhere that I can lift enough to get a jack stand under. I've seen covers for the end of jacks like yours that do the same thing but are fairly expensive. You can get pucks for a couple bucks. Hey, that rhymes!

Thats brilliant. I wish you would post more often Brad.

Red98gt · 01-04-05, 06:13

Yes, the pucks work well! A lot of C5 vette guys use them. There are jack points under a vette and most jacks need a spacer so the Hockey Pucks works great.

JM19 · 01-04-05, 06:32

Quote:

Originally posted by Brad B.

If your car isn't a Porsche then I misunderstood.

No, unfortunately I do not own a Porsche, but I wish I did!

I am thinking that sometime today I will physically raise the car on ramps and take pictures of the jacking points to help further diagnose the problem.

Please stay tuned.