How NOT to jack up a 350Z
08-25-2006, 07:42 AM
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How NOT to jack up a 350Z
I'm going to share a story with everyone, because I just need to vent. And hey, maybe some of you will get some amusement out of this. 
I had a new set of wheels put on at Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago. Well, they ordered the wrong offset for the front and I didn't like the way it looked (40mm offset; looked sunken into the wheel wells), so after they finally conceded that their fitment guy was wrong about what offset would fit, they ordered replacements for the front (20mm offset). So I go back a week later when the replacements arrive to have them put on. They figured that they only needed to raise the front end, which made sense. So rather than put my Z on a lift, two of their guys just slide service jacks on both sides of the car right behind the front wheels and jack up the front end.
Now, it's common knowledge that with any vehicle, there are only certain points under the car that are meant to carry the load when the car is jacked up, right? And certainly, guys who install wheels and tires for a living day in, day out, should know this, right?
They put the new wheels on, lowered the car, and everything looked good. I opened the door to drive away, and I immediately noticed that something looked kinda off with the floor mat. I figured one of their guys just kicked it crooked when they drove it into the service bay, so I bend down to straighten it, only to realize -- hey, the floormat isn't crooked, the entire floor is crooked! Then I remembered the jacks. After being frozen in terror for a moment, I bent my head under the car to look, and sure enough, on both sides, the undercarriage is crushed where they jacked it up. You can actually see circular impressions from the jacks pressed into the underside! Back up top, I now have this small hump in the driver's side floor (the passenger side somehow escaped this fate).
Those stupid monkeys just threw the jacks under my car, were either too stupid or too lazy to verify that they had them making contact at proper load-bearing points, and just jacked it up. *arghh!!!!* Here's the real kicker: My car was only 3 weeks old, with 550 miles on the odo. 
Now, please don't take any of this as a bash against Discount Tire. I've done business with them for years w.o. any problems. And to their credit, they immediately filled out a Damage Claim, faxed it to corporate, and I received a phone call from them the very next day. I had already gotten a repair estimate ($800 and change), so I emailed it to them in a .pdf and they cut me a check the next business day. Sh*t happens, and they didn't try to give me the run around or anything like that. But I've always been nervous when handing over the keys to a mechanic or any kind of service tech. I thought I was just paranoid and ****-retentive. Now I know my paranoia is somewhat justified!
I had a new set of wheels put on at Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago. Well, they ordered the wrong offset for the front and I didn't like the way it looked (40mm offset; looked sunken into the wheel wells), so after they finally conceded that their fitment guy was wrong about what offset would fit, they ordered replacements for the front (20mm offset). So I go back a week later when the replacements arrive to have them put on. They figured that they only needed to raise the front end, which made sense. So rather than put my Z on a lift, two of their guys just slide service jacks on both sides of the car right behind the front wheels and jack up the front end.
Now, it's common knowledge that with any vehicle, there are only certain points under the car that are meant to carry the load when the car is jacked up, right? And certainly, guys who install wheels and tires for a living day in, day out, should know this, right?
They put the new wheels on, lowered the car, and everything looked good. I opened the door to drive away, and I immediately noticed that something looked kinda off with the floor mat. I figured one of their guys just kicked it crooked when they drove it into the service bay, so I bend down to straighten it, only to realize -- hey, the floormat isn't crooked, the entire floor is crooked! Then I remembered the jacks. After being frozen in terror for a moment, I bent my head under the car to look, and sure enough, on both sides, the undercarriage is crushed where they jacked it up. You can actually see circular impressions from the jacks pressed into the underside! Back up top, I now have this small hump in the driver's side floor (the passenger side somehow escaped this fate).
Those stupid monkeys just threw the jacks under my car, were either too stupid or too lazy to verify that they had them making contact at proper load-bearing points, and just jacked it up. *arghh!!!!* Here's the real kicker: My car was only 3 weeks old, with 550 miles on the odo. Now, please don't take any of this as a bash against Discount Tire. I've done business with them for years w.o. any problems. And to their credit, they immediately filled out a Damage Claim, faxed it to corporate, and I received a phone call from them the very next day. I had already gotten a repair estimate ($800 and change), so I emailed it to them in a .pdf and they cut me a check the next business day. Sh*t happens, and they didn't try to give me the run around or anything like that. But I've always been nervous when handing over the keys to a mechanic or any kind of service tech. I thought I was just paranoid and ****-retentive. Now I know my paranoia is somewhat justified!
08-25-2006, 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by semtex
I'm going to share a story with everyone, because I just need to vent. And hey, maybe some of you will get some amusement out of this.
I had a new set of wheels put on at Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago. Well, they ordered the wrong offset for the front and I didn't like the way it looked (40mm offset; looked sunken into the wheel wells), so after they finally conceded that their fitment guy was wrong about what offset would fit, they ordered replacements for the front (20mm offset). So I go back a week later when the replacements arrive to have them put on. They figured that they only needed to raise the front end, which made sense. So rather than put my Z on a lift, two of their guys just slide service jacks on both sides of the car right behind the front wheels and jack up the front end.
Now, it's common knowledge that with any vehicle, there are only certain points under the car that are meant to carry the load when the car is jacked up, right? And certainly, guys who install wheels and tires for a living day in, day out, should know this, right?
They put the new wheels on, lowered the car, and everything looked good. I opened the door to drive away, and I immediately noticed that something looked kinda off with the floor mat. I figured one of their guys just kicked it crooked when they drove it into the service bay, so I bend down to straighten it, only to realize -- hey, the floormat isn't crooked, the entire floor is crooked! Then I remembered the jacks. After being frozen in terror for a moment, I bent my head under the car to look, and sure enough, on both sides, the undercarriage is crushed where they jacked it up. You can actually see circular impressions from the jacks pressed into the underside! Back up top, I now have this small hump in the driver's side floor (the passenger side somehow escaped this fate). Those stupid monkeys just threw the jacks under my car, were either too stupid or too lazy to verify that they had them making contact at proper load-bearing points, and just jacked it up. *arghh!!!!* Here's the real kicker: My car was only 3 weeks old, with 550 miles on the odo.
Now, please don't take any of this as a bash against Discount Tire. I've done business with them for years w.o. any problems. And to their credit, they immediately filled out a Damage Claim, faxed it to corporate, and I received a phone call from them the very next day. I had already gotten a repair estimate ($800 and change), so I emailed it to them in a .pdf and they cut me a check the next business day. Sh*t happens, and they didn't try to give me the run around or anything like that. But I've always been nervous when handing over the keys to a mechanic or any kind of service tech. I thought I was just paranoid and ****-retentive. Now I know my paranoia is somewhat justified!
I had a new set of wheels put on at Discount Tire a couple of weeks ago. Well, they ordered the wrong offset for the front and I didn't like the way it looked (40mm offset; looked sunken into the wheel wells), so after they finally conceded that their fitment guy was wrong about what offset would fit, they ordered replacements for the front (20mm offset). So I go back a week later when the replacements arrive to have them put on. They figured that they only needed to raise the front end, which made sense. So rather than put my Z on a lift, two of their guys just slide service jacks on both sides of the car right behind the front wheels and jack up the front end.
Now, it's common knowledge that with any vehicle, there are only certain points under the car that are meant to carry the load when the car is jacked up, right? And certainly, guys who install wheels and tires for a living day in, day out, should know this, right?
They put the new wheels on, lowered the car, and everything looked good. I opened the door to drive away, and I immediately noticed that something looked kinda off with the floor mat. I figured one of their guys just kicked it crooked when they drove it into the service bay, so I bend down to straighten it, only to realize -- hey, the floormat isn't crooked, the entire floor is crooked! Then I remembered the jacks. After being frozen in terror for a moment, I bent my head under the car to look, and sure enough, on both sides, the undercarriage is crushed where they jacked it up. You can actually see circular impressions from the jacks pressed into the underside! Back up top, I now have this small hump in the driver's side floor (the passenger side somehow escaped this fate).
Those stupid monkeys just threw the jacks under my car, were either too stupid or too lazy to verify that they had them making contact at proper load-bearing points, and just jacked it up. *arghh!!!!* Here's the real kicker: My car was only 3 weeks old, with 550 miles on the odo. Now, please don't take any of this as a bash against Discount Tire. I've done business with them for years w.o. any problems. And to their credit, they immediately filled out a Damage Claim, faxed it to corporate, and I received a phone call from them the very next day. I had already gotten a repair estimate ($800 and change), so I emailed it to them in a .pdf and they cut me a check the next business day. Sh*t happens, and they didn't try to give me the run around or anything like that. But I've always been nervous when handing over the keys to a mechanic or any kind of service tech. I thought I was just paranoid and ****-retentive. Now I know my paranoia is somewhat justified!
08-25-2006, 07:46 AM
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thats crap man. I know very little about working on cars but even i know that you can only jack certain places. Glad to hear they were good about it though
08-25-2006, 07:56 AM
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Wow. This is why I pull my own wheels off and just take them to get tires mounted, balanced, etc. At least then, the only thing they can screw up is the rims. Kind of tough for you, getting new rims and checking fitment... you really gotta watch those guys close. When I swapped rims (upgraded from Track to Nismo rims), I pout my car up on jackstands in my garage, then took the rims and new tires to the dealer to have them mounted and balanced. I kept the center caps and swapped out the TPE sensors myself. The dealer only lets one guy handle expensive rims, so they were careful. Then I carted them home and mounted them on the car myself. Tell me I'M not paranoid... 
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08-25-2006, 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by eat rice z33
that happened to me, i took my carpet out, and banged the sheet metal back in with a mallet. no big deal life goes on
08-25-2006, 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Escobar
I would, just dont beat it too hard and break through.
08-25-2006, 08:28 AM
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Originally Posted by semtex
Yeah my mechanic came over to look at it, and he said that that's what the body shop would do. He suggested I do it myself and just pocket the $800!
08-25-2006, 08:42 AM
#12
IT happens.... even grease monkeys make mistakes... LOL... did you ever see the Z that fell off the lift at the nissan dealership? Now that one takes the cake....
At least you got some dough for mods or whatever else... I might actually be happy in your situation.
At least you got some dough for mods or whatever else... I might actually be happy in your situation.
08-25-2006, 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by roast
IT happens.... even grease monkeys make mistakes... LOL... did you ever see the Z that fell off the lift at the nissan dealership? Now that one takes the cake....
At least you got some dough for mods or whatever else... I might actually be happy in your situation.
At least you got some dough for mods or whatever else... I might actually be happy in your situation.
08-25-2006, 09:22 AM
#18
Originally Posted by Invision 350z
How did they manage to do that? Hope the car didnt fall on anyone.
