Floor Jack recommendations

[Shane911]

Hi All

I am looking for Floor Jack recommendations (for my 2001 996) ground clearance is presently about 115mm but am thinking of getting it lowered, so am thinking I need a low profile jack with say a minimum clearance of 90mm.  MY car is about 1380kgs. What size jack should I get?

I had a look at the Toolpro and Kincrome jacks at SCA but they do not look to be very high quality ( although I am not likely to use it that often, jsut for some minor DIY tasks)

What do fellow forum members use and what would you recommend.

 

[LeeM]

My air cooled sits at about 90mm, and I just drive up onto a 35mm x 195mm piece of wood with a standard, largeish cheapy trolley jack from Repco. Not paying silly money for one of those mega low alloy jacks 

[Peter M]

Having a low profile jack is one thing but you also need to be able to see yourself where the lifting pad is in relation to the jack pad.  Consequently I suggest you cut some planks to drive the car up on before you start jacking so you can see what you are doing.

Since you will be only jacking up a maximum of half the car at a time, or somewhere between 650 to 900kg I estimate depending which end or side you do, I'd look at something with a minimum of 1200kg rating.

Jacking is only one part of the process.  You also need to buy two jack stands OR as a minimum, place the wheels under car chassis whenever you work under or around it.  I guess a couple people die a year from having their cars crush them while working on them due to inadequate lifting measures.

I used to be a tool snob but have since recovered.  Consequently the jacks and stands I've bought from Repco and SCA have served me well over the years so I wouldn't lose to much sleep over how they look.

I wish you happy and safe spannering. 

 

[Fishcop]

Another worthwhile purchase for the 996 (and later 911s) is a set of rubber jack pucks - the set I got slot up into the 4 jack points on the car and you can clearly see where to place the jack plate or stand.  Agree with Peter - make sure you have 4 good jack stands, it gives complete confidence to work under the car and to leave it elevated for longer periods.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313826990326?hash=item49118bd8f6:g:PxgAAOSwj8Zh2~2v&frcectupt=true

[tomo]

Even with the the single roller alloy jack, If your car is a bitumen hugger the hockey puck will be 2 high, I use my Ford low wind up jack to lift the front 80 mill , And my big jack will fit with the hockey Puk ,And bobs your Uncle  ( And Bob is my Uncle) Do the same for t'other side, Use good jack stands as suggested good to go  ready to skin knuckles and get covered  in oil and stuff 👍 

[LeeM]

1 hour ago, Peter M said:

 

Jacking is only one part of the process.  You also need to buy two jack stands OR as a minimum, place the wheels under car chassis whenever you work under or around it.  I guess a couple people die a year from having their cars crush them while working on them due to inadequate lifting measures.

 

 I'm a big advocate for jack stands, as my jack failed when changing a wheel on my Karmanm Ghia trapping my hand between the guard and tyre. Being alone in my shed without stands and my phone was bloody stupid, and it's only because the missus came in to give me a coffee 30 seconds after it happened that I didn't end up with a permanent injury. She hasn't let me forget it either!

Don't be a dick, use stands at ALL times 

[Carrera28]

My 996 is low.

I use a Kincrome trolley jack. the Trolley jack will generally lift high enough to get two wheels off the ground.  I have had this jack for a number of years without any problems.

I have two half ramps which I drive the car onto to get the necessary height, they look like this (I cannot vouch for quality or otherwise of these ones and just provide the link for an example), they can be easily  bought off Ebay and stack away neatly onto of each other:

https://www.catch.com.au/product/proflow-car-ramps-low-profile-1000kg-capacity-each-black-plastic-pair-with-carry-bag-9051325/?offer_id=46262154&ref=gmc&gclid=Cj0KCQjw29CRBhCUARIsAOboZbIyYbPN0hlIAqTU_Y51fjz7Bo3l0Dh-wXX7LgyNFn_w1-yHePwcz-QaAiQ_EALw_wcB

Rather then a generic jack pad I recommend you get one designed for the 996:

https://www.amazon.com.au/AMOSKAMAR-Adapter-Polyurethane-Porsche-Boxster/dp/B098W9VZ6L/ref=sr_1_3?crid=227NGY94KRCO1&keywords=996+jack&qid=1647600189&sprefix=996+jack%2Caps%2C244&sr=8-3

This slots into the 996 jack slot and then when you twist it, it locks into position and provides a neat hold for the pad to 'lock' onto.  I also recommend getting more than one as it is really easy to lose one and then be stuck with a car you can't change wheels on without using the factory jack which is a pain in the butt.

The 996 does not have wheel nuts rather it has screws which bolt in.  In your toolkit there should be a wheel hanger that screws into one of the slots which makes it much easier to mount the wheel onto the hub as you can just slide the wheel along this item.  If it's missing you can easily buy another one and it really makes the process much simpler.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/163500883970?chn=ps&_ul=AU&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-139619-5960-0&mkcid=2&itemid=163500883970&targetid=1280418232313&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9071954&poi=&campaignid=9772799703&mkgroupid=122716907037&rlsatarget=pla-1280418232313&abcId=578876&merchantid=115563129&gclid=Cj0KCQjw29CRBhCUARIsAOboZbJnNSTxaXDnQH30Dj02rvDEky0C2rGTSzxRidIPoajD4LwwoUNDEzEaApEzEALw_wcB

I also have one of these rattle guns:

https://www.totaltools.com.au/119624-milwaukee-18v-fuel-one-key-3-in-high-torque-impact-wrench-w-friction-ring-kit-m18onefhiwf34502c

It easily breaks wheel nuts even if they have been over torqued.

When I change all four wheels my process is as follows:

1) Back car onto half ramps

2) Use rattle gun to loosen all the wheel bolts

3) Attach jack pad

4) Slide trolley jack underneath and lift car which will lift up two wheels

5) Use Rattle gun to loosen bolts and then remove wheel

6) Screw in wheel hanger

7) loosely tighten bolts with rattle gun

😎 repeat on other wheel

9) Drop car pull trolley jack to other side and repeat process

10) Hand tighten the wheel bolts to manufacturer specifications using a good quality torque wrench ensuring they are not over torqued with rattle gun

I think if get this trolley jack, it might be low enough to avoid the requirement for half ramps or pieces of timber:

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/kincrome-kincrome-2000kg-super-low-profile-garage-jack/SPO8232008.html#q=kincrome%2Btrolley%2Bjack&lang=en_AU&start=3

I also strongly endorse the pervious posters comment regarding the importance of jack stands, I have both the screw type which allow you to get it a precise height and the bolt type that have pre-determined slots and if I ever have my car in the air for longer then just a quick tyre change I try to have two jack stands per corner for built in redundancy.

[Shane911]

I already have the Jack stands, 4 of them and will make sure that I use them every time, thank you al for the good advice on that.

1 hour ago, Fishcop said:

Another worthwhile purchase for the 996 (and later 911s) is a set of rubber jack pucks - the set I got slot up into the 4 jack points on the car and you can clearly see where to place the jack plate or stand.  

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313826990326?hash=item49118bd8f6:g:PxgAAOSwj8Zh2~2v&frcectupt=true

This is interesting, so are you saying the jack pucks stay on the car the whole time? (or do you attach them to the Jack Stands?) Would they just fall off the car?

[Fishcop]

6 minutes ago, Shane911 said:

I already have the Jack stands, 4 of them and will make sure that I use them every time, thank you al for the good advice on that.

This is interesting, so are you saying the jack pucks stay on the car the whole time? (or do you attach them to the Jack Stands?) Would they just fall off the car?

No, as Carrera28 mentions above, they slot in and twist to hold, but should not be left attached (they'll fall off)

But they are a great tool to ensure the jack pad lifts at the factory lift point everytime and prevents damage to the under-sill.  The jack points on a 996 are slightly recessed in.

[TwoHeadsTas]

1 hour ago, Fishcop said:

No, as Carrera28 mentions above, they slot in and twist to hold, but should not be left attached (they'll fall off)

But they are a great tool to ensure the jack pad lifts at the factory lift point everytime and prevents damage to the under-sill.  The jack points on a 996 are slightly recessed in.

I got the Bahco Low Profile jack https://www.bahco.com/au_en/2t-trolley-jack-with-100--aluminum-structure-for-road-and-indoor-workshop-services--pb_bh1aoz2000a_.html which I use in conjunction with the 1/2 height ramps.  Don't actually need the ramps t be able to get the jack under the car, but as said, it helps you see the actual jack point.  I will, however, investigate the pucks referred to above..

[Mike D'Silva]

I went through 2 Kincrome low profile alloy jacks.... the seals blew on both...bad luck I guess... in the end I bought one of these

http://calfinn.com.au/product/cj-2t-hc/cj-2t-hc

[OZ930]

I have a Kinchrome Super low profile (68mm) with high lift capability.  Has a foot pump that I use by hand when lining up the jack point on the car.

It is steel and heavy but has low profile and long reach, high lift,  Shop around because prices vary.  It’s only 1100kg but as Peter said, you are not lifting the whole car.

https://www.kincrome.com.au/1100kg-slp-garage-jack

if you are wanting to lift the whole car then consider a scissor lift .

 

[WB997.2GTS]

10 hours ago, TwoHeadsTas said:

I got the Bahco Low Profile jack https://www.bahco.com/au_en/2t-trolley-jack-with-100--aluminum-structure-for-road-and-indoor-workshop-services--pb_bh1aoz2000a_.html which I use in conjunction with the 1/2 height ramps.  Don't actually need the ramps t be able to get the jack under the car, but as said, it helps you see the actual jack point.  I will, however, investigate the pucks referred to above..

I have the same model and stripped he bleed valve when lifting a car.  Bahco replaced the jack no questions asked under their lifetime warranty. 

[Carrot01]

just while we are on the subject of jacking, 20 years ago when I used to jack up my 911SC, I would place the jackstands under the end caps of the torsion bars - outboard of the spring plates. I did it many times, I assume this is still a safe way to do it on my 89 944?

I'm sure it is fine,  just want to hear from the people who would know :-)

thanks

[symsy]

Bits of wood  Pffft... I think i paid like $70 bucks on special at Steet FX , you can hang em on the wall in your garage if you dont use em they are that light  https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10159365404675112&id=305901075111&_rdr

Plastic ramps are the way to go  , super light , dont rot , used even on my trailer , works with a 997 GT3 and my TT , so great for super low cars . I chuck one in the bike trailer , just incase i ever have to jack on softground...

As for Jacks been solidly using this https://www.totaltools.com.au/97060-bahco-2000kg-trolley-jack-bh1aoz2000a.    Again wait till someone has it on special ebay or otherwise paid $335. I didnt buy it there , but you get the picture , removable handle is good too , I like the twist to release function and if you get into a bar fight at the race track if you nudged someone of the road and buying them a beer aint gonna make you friends again  , makes a good light weapon 😀

The thing with this shit is if your gonna use it , can you lift it also , I had a low jack but I used to need to see the chiro when i loaded in the back of my landrover discovery..when i took to event or racetrack.

I have also had a kingchrome but the seals blew , I gave it to a mate in the end , couldnt be arsed fixing 

I havent looked at  bigger the pads , but works fine with my cars , if i had one critique , its the metal wheels , sometimes can mark a painted flood .. so my next design revision would be some wide polywheels but im unsure how they go with the weight .. but then again maybe thats the old skateboarder talking in me for the poly wheels 

 

[Ozcar]

On 18/03/2022 at 23:44, TwoHeadsTas said:

I got the Bahco Low Profile jack https://www.bahco.com/au_en/2t-trolley-jack-with-100--aluminum-structure-for-road-and-indoor-workshop-services--pb_bh1aoz2000a_.html which I use in conjunction with the 1/2 height ramps.  Don't actually need the ramps t be able to get the jack under the car, but as said, it helps you see the actual jack point.  I will, however, investigate the pucks referred to above..

I have the same jack with a set of jackpoint stands. Very easy to lift the car and place the stands underneath. 
http://www.jackpointjackstands.com/

[rminc]

On 06/04/2022 at 21:04, Ozcar said:

I have the same jack with a set of jackpoint stands. Very easy to lift the car and place the stands underneath. 
http://www.jackpointjackstands.com/

I've been looking at a jack and jack stands. I decided to grab a bahco one above too.

I had a look at these jackpoint stands, are they really worth that much more than conventional jackstands? I think it probably equates to around $600+AUD. 

When lifting both the front and rear, what is the safest point for the jackstands? There's alot of different information with different positions. 

 

[Ozcar]

The jackpoint stands allow you to lift the car and lower it on the stands in one step from the correct jacking point. 
I guess the other option is to use conventional stands and place them under the control arms. 

I do agree however that $600 is expensive for a set of stands.