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2003-2009 Nissan 350Z

Where's A Good Place To Place A Jack Under The Z?

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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 01:20 PM
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Default Where's A Good Place To Place A Jack Under The Z?

Just wondering where you guys place your jacks to lift the Z? Front and back? I use the rear differential to lift the rear and the factory jack points to lift the front. I have a problem putting stands under the Z because they seem to damage the frame when you place them under the factory jack points.
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:22 PM
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Bump. Anyone know of a good location to place the jacks stands?
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:26 PM
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Uh, at the specified "Jack Points" as indicated in the owners manual?
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by bixby
Uh, at the specified "Jack Points" as indicated in the owners manual?
"I have a problem putting stands under the Z because they seem to damage the frame when you place them under the factory jack points." I'm looking for an alternative place to put them. (Scenerio) I have to change the oil. I put my jack under the car at the "factory jack point", then I lift the car. Next, I want to reinforce this by using a jack stand. So now I need a place to put the jack stand then lower the car onto it......
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by bixby
Uh, at the specified "Jack Points" as indicated in the owners manual?
So helpful...
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:38 PM
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-rear toe hook near driver side exhaust tip
-rear differential
-there are two fav spots I have on the side, but I would have to show you in person
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by vo7848
"I have a problem putting stands under the Z because they seem to damage the frame when you place them under the factory jack points." I'm looking for an alternative place to put them. (Scenerio) I have to change the oil. I put my jack under the car at the "factory jack point", then I lift the car. Next, I want to reinforce this by using a jack stand. So now I need a place to put the jack stand then lower the car onto it......
Hmm, If your only purpose is for changing the oil then I'd just get a nice set of low profile ramps.

I've had mine on stands a couple of times & haven't had an issue with damage. The only freaky thing of course is when jacking it up from say a rear "point" the entire side of the car comes off the ground because of the short wheel base.
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by bixby
Hmm, If your only purpose is for changing the oil then I'd just get a nice set of low profile ramps.

I've had mine on stands a couple of times & haven't had an issue with damage. The only freaky thing of course is when jacking it up from say a rear "point" the entire side of the car comes off the ground because of the short wheel base.
I've been thinking about buying some ramps. Do you have any problems with them sliding when you attempt to drive up them?
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Rickdogg
-rear toe hook near driver side exhaust tip
I'll remember that one. What about the front?
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by vo7848
I've been thinking about buying some ramps. Do you have any problems with them sliding when you attempt to drive up them?
Thats happened once or twice. Just need the right spot/angle. My driveway is sloped so as long as I'm going up hill I don't have that problem. The slope also helps to insure all of the old oil drains properly.

Just make sure they are the low profile ones. I believe Kragen sells them for around 20 bucks.
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by bixby
Thats happened once or twice. Just need the right spot/angle. My driveway is sloped so as long as I'm going up hill I don't have that problem. The slope also helps to insure all of the old oil drains properly.

Just make sure they are the low profile ones. I believe Kragen sells them for around 20 bucks.
I'll look for them. I still need to know about front places to place my jack stands if anyone knows. Thanks guys.
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 04:17 PM
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I've heard there are adapters that you can use on the side rail so you don't bend it with you shop jack.

I just made one out of a wood block with a cut down the middle.
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 05:14 PM
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jack locations -

front - right behind the front wheel, under the lower control arm. There is a pancake shaped disk - perfect to jack from.

rear - I use the rear diff...be careful to put it on the pumpkin side, not on the rear cover - especially true for those of us with the NISMO diff cover

Jack Stands - front - I gor right under the lower control arm, works perfectly, no nicks or damage at all
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Old Sep 12, 2005 | 09:54 PM
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Originally Posted by vo7848
Just wondering where you guys place your jacks to lift the Z? Front and back? I use the rear differential to lift the rear and the factory jack points to lift the front. I have a problem putting stands under the Z because they seem to damage the frame when you place them under the factory jack points.
dam you must cry when you scrape over something, lol. mine is lowered severely so i have to start with a screw type jack first then put the shop jack under the main engine crossmember. jack stands under recomended location.
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Old Sep 13, 2005 | 05:29 AM
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Originally Posted by vo7848
"I have a problem putting stands under the Z because they seem to damage the frame when you place them under the factory jack points." I'm looking for an alternative place to put them. (Scenerio) I have to change the oil. I put my jack under the car at the "factory jack point", then I lift the car. Next, I want to reinforce this by using a jack stand. So now I need a place to put the jack stand then lower the car onto it......
Your doing it all wrong. The factory jack points are not on the frame. They are on the pinch weld. It is perfectly fine for that to bend a little and it isn't hurting anything. When you do an oil change you should be slidding the jack way under the front of the car to reach the recommended jacking location which is about even with the front wheels in the center of the car it is a small black hump on a cross brace. NOTE: YOU SHOULD NOT BE USING A STOCK JACK TO DO ANY FORM OF MAINTENANCE. Then when the car is in the air place the two jack stands on each side and let the car down. There is a picture I have posted before that shows the proper place. Find it and use it.
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Old Sep 13, 2005 | 06:19 AM
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Originally Posted by King Tut
Your doing it all wrong. The factory jack points are not on the frame. They are on the pinch weld. It is perfectly fine for that to bend a little and it isn't hurting anything. When you do an oil change you should be slidding the jack way under the front of the car to reach the recommended jacking location which is about even with the front wheels in the center of the car it is a small black hump on a cross brace. NOTE: YOU SHOULD NOT BE USING A STOCK JACK TO DO ANY FORM OF MAINTENANCE. Then when the car is in the air place the two jack stands on each side and let the car down. There is a picture I have posted before that shows the proper place. Find it and use it.

Yes, but keep in mind that the dip in alot of jack stands is too deep for that pinch weld to rest on it and the stand will bite into either side of it, leaving small dents. Even if the stand will lift the weld, there isn't anything to support it (like the stock jack is designed to do); it's just sitting on the edge, so the pinch weld can bend to one side. This is why a special insert is needed (as referred to above).
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Old Sep 13, 2005 | 07:07 AM
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I wouldn't say alot of them are too deep. I have MVP ones from Wal Mart that aren't too deep and Craftsman ones that came with my jack that are too deep. The special insert is definitely the way to go my main point was that he shouldn't be jacking up on the pinch weld with the OEM jack to do maintenance and should be using a good floor jack and jacking up on the center body point to get the entire front end in the air.
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Old Sep 13, 2005 | 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by MustGoFastR
Yes, but keep in mind that the dip in alot of jack stands is too deep for that pinch weld to rest on it and the stand will bite into either side of it, leaving small dents. Even if the stand will lift the weld, there isn't anything to support it (like the stock jack is designed to do); it's just sitting on the edge, so the pinch weld can bend to one side. This is why a special insert is needed (as referred to above).
That's the exact problem I was experiencing.
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Old Sep 13, 2005 | 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by King Tut
I wouldn't say alot of them are too deep. I have MVP ones from Wal Mart that aren't too deep and Craftsman ones that came with my jack that are too deep. The special insert is definitely the way to go my main point was that he shouldn't be jacking up on the pinch weld with the OEM jack to do maintenance and should be using a good floor jack and jacking up on the center body point to get the entire front end in the air.
I have the Craftsman stands also. The slots in them are way too deep, hence damaging either side of the factory pinch weld. I use 2 different jacks plus my stands. I have a big 2 and 1/2 ton jack which I use to lift the entire @ss end of the car, then I have a smaller jack which I use to lift the sides. It's lighter and more convenient when changing tires ect... I was just having trouble because I would use the small jack to lift the car from the factory pinch weld, then I would try to lower the vehicle on top of the jack stand. At that point the stand would cause damage to the vehicle. I like what Z1Performance had to say about using the control arms in the front. That seems like a logical place. I wonder if it would cause any dis-alignment problems though.
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Old Sep 13, 2005 | 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by King Tut
When you do an oil change you should be slidding the jack way under the front of the car to reach the recommended jacking location which is about even with the front wheels in the center of the car it is a small black hump on a cross brace.
I would imagine this hump would be directly behind the plastic skid panel?
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