How high is too high? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

03-17-2005, 00:15

If I am going to lift the front-end of my 93 Mustang GT by placing a floor
jack under one of the lower A arms, how high (i.e., by measuring the
distance from the ground to the bottom of the tire) can I lift the vehicle
without causing any damage? (My intention is then to use the floor jack to
raise the other side of the vehicle to a similar height.)

Thanks in advance...

Steve

03-17-2005, 00:16

Steve Forrester opined in news:2dadncFgdNuCEbffRVn-vw@comcast.com:

> If I am going to lift the front-end of my 93 Mustang GT by placing a
> floor jack under one of the lower A arms, how high (i.e., by measuring
> the distance from the ground to the bottom of the tire) can I lift the
> vehicle without causing any damage? (My intention is then to use the
> floor jack to raise the other side of the vehicle to a similar height.)
>

I suspect MOST people, like me, lift the front by centering under the K
member.

If you cant do that easily, get down to your discount tool store and buy a
decent 3 ton floor jack.

In a pich, lifting one side then the other doesnt really HURT - but it doesnt
help, either... esp when you might have developing floorpan/seatmount and
floorpan to rockerpanel cracks.

--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

03-17-2005, 00:16

"Backyard Mechanic" <pettyfog@Yaywho.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9611755819749BkMch6d@207.115.63.158...
> Steve Forrester opined in news:2dadncFgdNuCEbffRVn-vw@comcast.com:
>
>> If I am going to lift the front-end of my 93 Mustang GT by placing a
>> floor jack under one of the lower A arms, how high (i.e., by measuring
>> the distance from the ground to the bottom of the tire) can I lift the
>> vehicle without causing any damage? (My intention is then to use the
>> floor jack to raise the other side of the vehicle to a similar height.)
>>
>
> I suspect MOST people, like me, lift the front by centering under the K
> member.
>
> If you cant do that easily, get down to your discount tool store and buy a
> decent 3 ton floor jack.
>
>
> In a pich, lifting one side then the other doesnt really HURT - but it
> doesnt help, either... esp when you might have developing
> floorpan/seatmount and
> floorpan to rockerpanel cracks.
>
>
> --
> - Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

Backyard Mechanic,

Thanks, again, for your frequent contributions to the NG and specifically
for helping me out of a number of jams.

The reason for going the Lower A Arm route is whenever possible I use
wooden blocks under the tires rather than jack stands in order to maximize
the amount of room (or floor space) in which I can work and maneuver
about and lifting by K Member requires me to lift the car much higher
before the tires are lifted nine inches off the floor.

BTW... Regarding the floor jack, you once advised me to "Get a floor jack,
stupid." Advice which I promptly followed. Needless to say, it has made
my work much easier.

Thanks, again!

Steve

03-17-2005, 00:16

Steve Forrester opined

>
> Backyard Mechanic,
>
> Thanks, again, for your frequent contributions to the NG and specifically
> for helping me out of a number of jams.
>

Well... thanks.

I understand the reasoning.

But you also need GOOD jackstands..(solid base) I place THESE under either
the a-arms or body jack points, depending on the need.

--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

03-17-2005, 00:16

03-17-2005, 00:16

"Backyard Mechanic" <pettyfog@Yaywho.com> wrote in message
news:Xns961195909B5B6BkMch6d@207.115.63.158...
> Steve Forrester opined
>
>>
>> Backyard Mechanic,
>>
>> Thanks, again, for your frequent contributions to the NG and specifically
>> for helping me out of a number of jams.
>>
>
> Well... thanks.
>
> I understand the reasoning.
>
> But you also need GOOD jackstands..(solid base) I place THESE under
> either
> the a-arms or body jack points, depending on the need.
>
>
>
> --
> - Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

Again, you are absolutely right!

....and I do... they are currently under the rear axle so I can rotate the
drive shaft.

03-17-2005, 00:16

"SVTKate" <whoever@whatever.complaint.dept> wrote in message
news:EaKWd.4846$603.165@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> DAMN BM! Someone actually listened to you!
>
>
> "Backyard Mechanic" <pettyfog@Yaywho.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns961195909B5B6BkMch6d@207.115.63.158...
> | Steve Forrester opined
> |
> | >
> | > Backyard Mechanic,
> | >
> | > Thanks, again, for your frequent contributions to the NG and
> specifically
> | > for helping me out of a number of jams.
> | >
> |
> | Well... thanks.
> |
> | I understand the reasoning.
> |
> | But you also need GOOD jackstands..(solid base) I place THESE under
> either
> | the a-arms or body jack points, depending on the need.
> |
> |
> |
> | --
> | - Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -
>
>

BM,

Come to think of it... were you the guy who suggested I use an unlit propane
torch to find an electrical short in the engine compartment? ... or was it
a vacuum leak? I can remember!

JK

Steve

03-17-2005, 00:16

SVTKate opined

> DAMN BM! Someone actually listened to you!
>
>

There's always a wise-ass!

--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

03-17-2005, 00:16

Steve Forrester opined in news:36OdncyavewH7LbfRVn-hg@comcast.com:

>
> BM,
>
> Come to think of it... were you the guy who suggested I use an unlit
> propane torch to find an electrical short in the engine compartment?
> ... or was it a vacuum leak? I can remember!
>

It was probably to help in finding a plug wire arc-over!

;)

--
- Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -

03-17-2005, 00:17

"Steve Forrester" <xxgfr92yxx@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:ErSdnQVqfLGJ7LbfRVn-jg@comcast.com...
>
> "Backyard Mechanic" <pettyfog@Yaywho.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns961195909B5B6BkMch6d@207.115.63.158...
>> Steve Forrester opined
>>
>>>
>>> Backyard Mechanic,
>>>
>>> Thanks, again, for your frequent contributions to the NG and
>>> specifically
>>> for helping me out of a number of jams.
>>>
>>
>> Well... thanks.
>>
>> I understand the reasoning.
>>
>> But you also need GOOD jackstands..(solid base) I place THESE under
>> either
>> the a-arms or body jack points, depending on the need.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> - Yes, I'm a crusty old geezer curmudgeon.. deal with it! -
>
>
>
> Again, you are absolutely right!
>
> ...and I do... they are currently under the rear axle so I can rotate the
> drive shaft.

Then you need more for the front. ;-)

JS