Reinforce Jack points?

[Morgan]

I change my tires often and with a regular 2 ton garage jack and jack stands but the metal rail on the underbody is starting to bend. Is anyone else having this problem?

I have considered welding in some reinforcement along the rail or maybe getting rubber pads for the jack, but if its just me then maybe I'll take it to the dealer and complain. I know cheap car, cheap materials but just throwing it out there...

[KCALB SIRAY]

I use 3/4 pine plywood between any of jack stands and jack. It absorbs the pressure and does not damage the frame.

[Morgan]

Considering welding in some reinforcements... I'll keep this thread updated, but school is busy this time of year so possibly over thanksgiving or winter break I can get something done - thanks!

[CB900F2]

Try this...Take a hockey puck, and on a table saw, and cut a grove down the middle.. works great!..

I use it for the jack and also with jack stands.. For the jack stand, you will need the flat top style, not axle stands..






I change my tires often and with a regular 2 ton garage jack and jack stands but the metal rail on the underbody is starting to bend. Is anyone else having this problem?

I have considered welding in some reinforcement along the rail or maybe getting rubber pads for the jack, but if its just me then maybe I'll take it to the dealer and complain. I know cheap car, cheap materials but just throwing it out there...

[nemelek]

Great Idea

[CTScott]

Are these jack point new to the 09? This is from my owners manual:

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Yaris-Jack.jpg

[Morgan]

The hockey puck is awesome, would have never thought of that...

for some reason something like this (http://www.jewelrysupply.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20399) being bolted in each of the jack points came to mind earlier.

[thebarber]

i just use a piece of leftover 2x4 i have kicking around my garage...disperses the load evenly enough...

[CB900F2]

Your link does not seem to be working.. Can you try again?

thanks


The hockey puck is awesome, would have never thought of that...

for some reason something like this (http://www.jewelrysupply.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=20399) being bolted in each of the jack points came to mind earlier.

[voodoo22]

Are these jack point new to the 09? This is from my owners manual:

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Yaris-Jack.jpg

Has anyone seen diagrams like this for the sedan? The ones in the manual are of no help to me for finding the rear jack point.

That hockey puck idea is ingenious. Great thinking.

[CTScott]

Has anyone seen diagrams like this for the sedan? The ones in the manual are of no help to me for finding the rear jack point.

That hockey puck idea is ingenious. Great thinking.

The hockey puck is a great idea for jacking by the body lift points. Those lift points really are designed for extremely occasional road-side emergency tire changes though.

The reason I posted the manual page above is that I noticed that it didn't seem to be included in prior year manuals (or a least the 07 one that I had). All vehicles have better lift points for maintenance than the body points intended for use with the oem jack.

[SilverGlow]

Considering welding in some reinforcements... I'll keep this thread updated, but school is busy this time of year so possibly over thanksgiving or winter break I can get something done - thanks!

Sorry but that's a rediculous idea....I've had my 2007 for nearly two years, and I use s 2-ton jack too...just make sure the split metal on the jack are worked over the body seam designated for jacking up the car. My seams are not bent, and are in perfect condition, and I rotate my tires every 5,000 miles...presently I have 44,000 miles, and still no issues. Welding on or near body parts can change the temperance of the metal, and remove the integrity that the factory wants for those parts....in addition, doing this could void your warranty....just be more careful about how you place the jack under the car and you too will have no worries....

[CTScott]

hockey puck!!! :bow: sweet idea

you can probably buy these at any convenience store in toronto... but i may have to mail order :biggrin: :wink:

about those central jack points... i may be mistaken but i don't think my 07 has the rear point. on the front one i can't get the floor jack under my lowered car to access that point, unless i first drive up on a board or something.

I am going to buy a new floor jack, as my current one won't fit under my Yaris either. I have problems at both ends of the spectrum - The yaris is too low and My Xterra needs two chunks of 4x4 to get it off the ground. I am looking at an Arcan one that will go from 3 1/2" to 21 3/8", which would work for both of my vehicles.

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/144236_lg.gif

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200345429_200345429

[Thirty-Nine]

Are these jack point new to the 09? This is from my owners manual:

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Yaris-Jack.jpg

I know the rear mount has always been there, but I don't recall the front mount being mentioned in my 2007 manual (I could be wrong, though).

I hove the hockey puck idea -- I'll pick one up!

[ChinoCharles]

Yes, the 2006+ Yaris LB has central jack points, front and rear. If you're lowered, good luck getting to them. If not, you're golden.

[pinoypizzaboy]

how do you guys jack it when its lowered?

[thepoche]

how do you guys jack it when its lowered?

I just drive on 2x6 blocks. This lift you an extra 2"

[Morgan]

Sorry but that's a rediculous idea....I've had my 2007 for nearly two years, and I use s 2-ton jack too...just make sure the split metal on the jack are worked over the body seam designated for jacking up the car. My seams are not bent, and are in perfect condition, and I rotate my tires every 5,000 miles...presently I have 44,000 miles, and still no issues. Welding on or near body parts can change the temperance of the metal, and remove the integrity that the factory wants for those parts....in addition, doing this could void your warranty....just be more careful about how you place the jack under the car and you too will have no worries....

I lif the car almost every weekend, tires, oil changes, positions for rear mount:wink:... Almost to the point where I can just about visualize the under body more than I can the actual body, I'll try and post some pictures of what I'm talking about -

As for the link, http://rmgsupply.com/products/RUBBER_BLOCK_4_X_4_X_1-1233-52.html

http://rmgsupply.com/images/products/preview/ben-404.00.jpg

maybe not that exact item but something similar, the military base I used to go to had these rubber pads on the ends of their jacks sort of like these

[Reddog99]

The hockey puck idea is great, but there aren't many of those just laying around here in southern California. I use a 4" long piece of 2x4 with the same slot cut in it. It doesn't look nearly as trick, but the material is readily available. :laugh:

Those central lift points are on my '08, too.

[bladesmith6]

Here's another suggestion guys: http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=2061&itemType=PRODUCT

[greggg3]

Are these jack point new to the 09? This is from my owners manual:

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo163/ctscott329/Yaris-Jack.jpg

This is the same as my owners manual, and its time to rotate the tires. I'm confused about the rear jack point however. In the diagram it looks like it supposed to be in the center but there is no such piece in the center. There is something that looks similar but its about 8" off to the right (to the passenger side of center, about in line with the right side of the indentation for the license plate.

Is this where everyone is putting the floor jack? And then where do you put the jackstands to support the car while you go up front with the floor jack, to swap the tires?

I know this probably sounds like I'm an idiot. I don't think I am, I've rebuilt engines, do my own brakes and oil changes, etc. Its just that everything seems so thin and tiny, I'm worried about bending something. So I thought I'd ask where everyone else is jacking up theirs at (rotating the tires every 5,000 miles so I'll be doing this alot). Also are most of you leaving the car supported on jackstands while you swap the wheels or do you have a full size spare that you put on to set the car down on while you go swap the wheel?

[CTScott]

The rear one is off center. When you jack it from that point the right is about two inches higher than the left.

For rotating tires, if you jack it by the side rail a little forward of center, you can get the front and rear of that side off the ground at the same time. I use a slit hockey puck on my floor jack and a pair of jack stands.

[greggg3]

OK, thanks CTScott, that would certainly make it easy for rotating tires. You follow the manual then and just rotate front to back only when you rotate?

To make sure I've got it, you're saying if you use the slit hockey puck, and put the underbody seam in the slit, you can pretty much lift the car anywhere along the side like this without bending or damaging anything?

[CTScott]

OK, thanks CTScott, that would certainly make it easy for rotating tires. You follow the manual then and just rotate front to back only when you rotate?

To make sure I've got it, you're saying if you use the slit hockey puck, and put the underbody seam in the slit, you can pretty much lift the car anywhere along the side like this without bending or damaging anything?

Yes, with radials it's always just front to back rotation.

The hockey puck does protects the seam edge from scraping of the paint, as well as bending of it. I have jacked the car at various points along that side seam without any damage. The owners manual shows using the scissor jack close to the ends, but I think that that is because of the capacity of the jack and because it discusses changing a flat tire.

[greggg3]

Thanks, I'm on board, now. This forum is great.

I'm off to Dunham's for some hockey pucks!

[YaYa1320]

Mine are bending a bit also, :thumbup: for hockey puck!!!

[the_boss]

too bad you guys are too far I just trow a bag full of hockey puck last week because they where very dry!!! too dangerous to play hockey but would have been perfect for jacking the car up!

[MUSKOKA800]

Try this...Take a hockey puck, and on a table saw, and cut a grove down the middle.. works great!..

I use it for the jack and also with jack stands.. For the jack stand, you will need the flat top style, not axle stands..

Great idea with the puck. Leave it to a Canuck!
Off to my basement to dig one out...

[guyver408]

Good thread folks - please help clarify a few points. For reference, I have a 2009 Yaris hatchback w/no modifications & standard tires.

I purchased a scissor jack (15" fully extended) since the OEM one seems flimsy.

The front Jack point shown in the manual & in this thread is unreachable & I dont see how anyone can reach it esp on a freeway with a flat. The rear jack point I could not even clear the tires off the ground at full 15" extension.

I'd like to try the side rails everyone is speaking of (for service & even flat tire repair). Can someone take a photo or show in diagram approximate location. The seams folks are speaking about seem very flimsy & I'm concerned are not strong enough (I have a hockey puck ready to go).

I've found alternate frame locations, but am concerned they may not be strong enough.

Has anyone tried the OEM jack on the rear & do their tires clear the floor?

[guyver408]

OK, just found attached thread w/photos

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10146&highlight=jack&page=3

any idea why Yaris manual does not show these points?????

[Cosmonaut]

Good thread folks - please help clarify a few points. For reference, I have a 2009 Yaris hatchback w/no modifications & standard tires.

I purchased a scissor jack (15" fully extended) since the OEM one seems flimsy.

The front Jack point shown in the manual & in this thread is unreachable & I dont see how anyone can reach it esp on a freeway with a flat. The rear jack point I could not even clear the tires off the ground at full 15" extension.

I'd like to try the side rails everyone is speaking of (for service & even flat tire repair). Can someone take a photo or show in diagram approximate location. The seams folks are speaking about seem very flimsy & I'm concerned are not strong enough (I have a hockey puck ready to go).

I've found alternate frame locations, but am concerned they may not be strong enough.

Has anyone tried the OEM jack on the rear & do their tires clear the floor?
i had the same problem using the rear jack point. the tires dont clear. i never found the front point though. have not yet tried the OEM jack though.

[CTScott]

The OEM jack is only for lifting from the sides, one wheel at a time. The front and rear jack points are for lifting the car with a floor jack. Because of the position of the rear point, a 20" lift jack is required to get the rear tires off of the ground. The front lift point is more than 30" under the car, so an extended reach jack is required to lift from that point, unless you put it on ramps first to give the necessary clearance to be able to pump the jack.

[nemelek]

The front lift point is more than 30" under the car, so an extended reach jack is required to lift from that point, unless you put it on ramps first to give the necessary clearance to be able to pump the jack.

I agree. The front jack point is hard to lift even with a small 2 ton tack.

[guyver408]

Any idea why the manual does not show how to use the OEM jack with the side lift points? Did I miss something?

[CTScott]

Any idea why the manual does not show how to use the OEM jack with the side lift points? Did I miss something?

Look at the section called "If you have a flat tire."

[guyver408]

Whoops - I guess I should read the entire manual. That's embarrassing!

I think I'm beginning to rely more on this fantastic forum than my own brain.

[JonS]

So, who makes a good floor jack with enough lift but is still easy on the wallet?

Thanks,
Jon

[CTScott]

So, who makes a good floor jack with enough lift but is still easy on the wallet?

Thanks,
Jon

I like Torin and Arcan jacks for reasonably priced ($150-$250 range) jacks with good reputations. Sears carries a few Craftsman models that would work, but if you read the reviews on them, they seem to very problematic.

[SilverBack]

Damn wish I had checked this thread this morning. I just rotated my tires and in the process put a giant hole in the frame where one of those big rubber tabs used to be :redface:. The plus side is that the tab fits snugly on the contact point of the floor jack for future use, so it hasn't gone to waste.

I like Torin and Arcan jacks for reasonably priced ($150-$250 range) jacks with good reputations. Sears carries a few Craftsman models that would work, but if you read the reviews on them, they seem to very problematic.

You can get a 2.5 ton Duralast at AutoZone for only $50. Been using one with 2-ton stands for 7 months and still no problems.

[frog13]

Is the Duralast stand "Made in China"?:eyebulge:

[esse10]

Damn wish I had checked this thread this morning. I just rotated my tires and in the process put a giant hole in the frame where one of those big rubber tabs used to be :redface:. The plus side is that the tab fits snugly on the contact point of the floor jack for future use, so it hasn't gone to waste.



You can get a 2.5 ton Duralast at AutoZone for only $50. Been using one with 2-ton stands for 7 months and still no problems.

x2 on that Duralast I have one also and been using it for 3 years now with no issues. You should always have a couple of floor jacks and atleast 4 jackstands. "THE MORE THE MERRIER" :headbang:

[tmontague]

EDIT* posted this in th wrong thread, i'll re post. Wow...thread necro...

I finally got around to modifying modifying hockey push with an angle grinder. I'm lowered so I cannot aces the front lift point.

I usually jack my car up about twice a month so the pinch welds are not adequate for that.

I now lift at the pinch welds using a puck and then place my jack stands under my control arms for the front (, close to the subframe , possible). For the rear I place the axle on jack stands this way there is no weight on the pinch welds.

Worked well this past weekend with no issues.