the dumbest question of the day

Mick Rae

Active Member
I'm about to change front brake pads. This time in my wee garage, not my mates massive place with lift. And I'm wondering best way to lift one front side at a time. As I have been in about and know that the car is solid as regards the jacking tubes, my thought is to put a bit of wood under the sill under the front jack tube, and lift with a trolley jack from there, then pop an axle stand there also and lower until the stand takes the load (then 'nip' the jack up so that its there as backup). Sound okay? I'm wary as have owned an MGB in the past ............ but P6 sills and jack points appear a lot better built. I hadn't really considered this until I looked at it just now!
 
Hi, I don't use the jacking points, usually because its them that I'm welding up. I jack the front of the car up on the front crossmember until the wheels are off the ground them axle stand under the chassis rail between the lower front suspension arms, with a piece off wood to protect and avoid slippage. Then proceed as required.

Colin
 
You should hopefully have no fear about using the jacking points because they do indicate the car’s overall condition, plus you’d need to use them to change a wheel away from home (which I’ve had to do in practice).

However, in the garage I generally do what Colin suggests with stands. I also have a piece of sawn tree trunk (about 10 inches across) that I put under the sill with an inch or so gap, just in case.
 
There is a lot of drop on the P6 front suspension. You will need a high lift jack and possibly some spacing woods. Kmart jack won't do. They don't go high enough to get the wheel off the ground. jack on either the sills under the jacking points or the front cross member NOT the engine sump! You'll tear the engine mounts if you do. You can of course use the car jack but they take forever....the gearing is very low.
 
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