? for those who have Craftsman or HarborFreight Racing Jacks
10-20-2005, 02:36 PM
#1
? for those who have Craftsman or HarborFreight Racing Jacks
Okay, a while back I did a search (yes, it does work!) and found a number of threads in which you guys recommended getting either the Craftsman or Harbor-Freight (US General) alum. racing jacks. Everybody says it fits under the Z - no problems. Well ya'll lied.
I found a great deal on the Craftsman a couple weeks ago. I got it Monday and decided to give it a test. There's no way you can slide it from the front of the car so it reaches the lift point at the back of the engine. I figure if I remove the plastic shroud, I could probably get the jack back far enough but then handle would have to stay most of the way down.
It looks like I back to having to drive the car on some 2x6 boards to get it up in the front. Am I missing some trick? Does anybody really have a jack that truly fits?
BTW, both the CM and HF jacks are about 6" high at the pump end. Yes, they both claim a minimum lift of about 3½" but that is based on the assumption that the whole jack doesn't actually have to fit under the car, just the lifting end.
I found a great deal on the Craftsman a couple weeks ago. I got it Monday and decided to give it a test. There's no way you can slide it from the front of the car so it reaches the lift point at the back of the engine. I figure if I remove the plastic shroud, I could probably get the jack back far enough but then handle would have to stay most of the way down.
It looks like I back to having to drive the car on some 2x6 boards to get it up in the front. Am I missing some trick? Does anybody really have a jack that truly fits?
BTW, both the CM and HF jacks are about 6" high at the pump end. Yes, they both claim a minimum lift of about 3½" but that is based on the assumption that the whole jack doesn't actually have to fit under the car, just the lifting end.
10-20-2005, 03:08 PM
#2
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Use the scissor jack lift point along the side seam (bottom, around where the rear-view mirrors) and either of those will work fine (unless you are lowered and/or have after market sideskirts.)
10-20-2005, 03:39 PM
#3
True, lifting from the side will work but I'm lazy. I want to lift the front or rear and put jack stands under both sides at the same time. Lifting each side can be a little scary too because it never seems to lift straight up, it always want to shift to one side or the other causing the jack stand to lean.
10-20-2005, 04:21 PM
#4
I have the Craftsman, and had I seen your earlier inquiries, would have saved you the trouble. There's no way you'll squeeze it, even if you remove the underbody aero piece, sorry. A 2x6 will work, or better yet the low profile ramps that Z1 sells. Also, having worked for sears, let me tell you a dirty little secret with this jack as well as the U.S. general jacks, do NOT store your jack in an upright position for very long as the seals are not designed to prevent fluid leakage this way and will empty all over your wall or floor. I never had a problem with any of our other jacks, but these new aluminum ones would spill their fluid all over our displays at the store and generated a safety notice to tell or give to customers, but I have yet to see any store following through.
Will
Will
10-20-2005, 04:25 PM
#5
Thanks for the tip Will. I'll be storing mine horizontal by rolling it up under my workbench.
From what I can tell, there is no jack that will really do what I thought it was going to do. I have some ramps and I've used the 2x6 trick before so I guess I just have to keep doing that.
From what I can tell, there is no jack that will really do what I thought it was going to do. I have some ramps and I've used the 2x6 trick before so I guess I just have to keep doing that.
10-20-2005, 08:44 PM
#7
mine is lowered about 2.5 inches all around and the only way i am getting mine up is to use a scissor jack under the side, then slide a floor jack under the center and lift from there. only need to go about 3-4 inches on the scissor jack to gain the clearance under the front.
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10-20-2005, 09:50 PM
#8
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I just use ramps. If I am working on suspension, tires, or brakes; I lift one side at a time. Or, drive it up on ramps and jack it up from there. I use the scissor jack and my air gun to make quick work of it. Then I simply put a jack stand under there.
All four corners can be raised under 5 mins. I too wish I could shove my harbor freight jack under the front and crank it up like my '67 Camaro. There is just a lot more ground clearance on those older cars.
All four corners can be raised under 5 mins. I too wish I could shove my harbor freight jack under the front and crank it up like my '67 Camaro. There is just a lot more ground clearance on those older cars.
Last edited by Z_Driver; 10-20-2005 at 09:54 PM.
10-21-2005, 06:38 AM
#10
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the downside about using a jack on the side to get a larger jack further inboard is getting the car back off this setup. Lowering it back down on to the factory jack so you can pull the floor jack out is pretty precarious.
10-21-2005, 07:11 PM
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Mine came with plastic attachable ramps for cars like ours that have low profile front ends. they are like 5' long so the angle is very gradual. You take them off once the car is on the ramps for better access to the side if you need to.
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