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  #1  
Old 08-27-2003, 09:39 PM
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Jack stand placement on E320/W210

Can anyone tell me where to properly place a set of jack stands on a W210?

I have a floor jack and jack stands, but the last time it did it I used the MB jack and placed the stands on the rubber pads just below the jack hole. The top of the stands don't mate very well with the rubber pads though. Is there a better way to do it?

Thanks in advance.

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  #2  
Old 08-27-2003, 10:02 PM
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I'd be curious to know too... I use a floor jack and stands and didn't see any obvious place to use the stands. So I made wooden inserts (see photo) to put on top of the stands to work with the rubber pads.

I should have made them out of hardwood, the 2x4 wood I used compresses if the car is on too long, allowing the side panel of the car to contact the wood.

If I run into someone with a machine shop I'd like to have them cut something similar out of a chunk of aluminum or something, ideally with some side panels welded on to keep them from sliding off. Maybe someone here will manufacture some as a mini business venture?

Or maybe just weld a plate of steel permanently onto the top... hmm... actually I have access to an arc welder and some steel. Anybody see any downside to that? Welding wouldn't weaken the stand or something?
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Jack stand placement on E320/W210-jackstand.jpg  
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1992 300E Sedan (Sold)
1999 E320 Wagon (Sold)
1995 E320 Sedan
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Last edited by Benzwood; 08-27-2003 at 10:08 PM.
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  #3  
Old 08-28-2003, 10:58 AM
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Benzwood,

Where'd you get those stands? Brand name?

Thanks,

glenmore
1991 300CE
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  #4  
Old 08-28-2003, 11:35 AM
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Yeah, seems most stands are still designed to receive axle tubes, long after axle tubes have become the exception. Sometimes they do sit nicely under suspension components, but usually not frame fails or bodies.

I typically just place a flat block of sacrificial wood under the rubber pads on the MB, then let my stands crush right into the wood. Not optimal, but realistically they are not prone to slipping when dug in like that.

A nice flat-topped stand with a thick rubber pad would be ideal for most cars these days.
May weld up something someday. Maybe I could market them...
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  #5  
Old 08-28-2003, 12:55 PM
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glenmore, they are LARIN brand, I bought them at Menard's (a big Midwest home-improvement chain). They are a cheap Chinese import, under $20 for the pair if I remember correctly.

It was the last box they had available in several stores I checked... it appeared Menard's was replacing them with the more common ratchet adjustment, which I don't trust, especially on a cheapo stand. I like the through-pin design where I can readily see the pin is engaged.

Other than that, they aren't the greatest... the post wiggles around a bit inside the support tube, and the four legs aren't exactly the same length. I haven't ground down the oversize legs because of the above-mentioned fear... I don't know if the heat would cause the metal to weaken. Is there a metallurgist in the house??
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Last edited by Benzwood; 08-28-2003 at 01:58 PM.
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  #6  
Old 08-28-2003, 01:06 PM
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csnow,

If you build 'em, I'll buy 'em. Unitl then I guess I'll use the "sacrifical wood" method.
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  #7  
Old 08-28-2003, 01:48 PM
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Ok, so I think to myself, this is ridiculous... someone must sell some flat top jack stands.

Took a long time searching, and as I searched, I gathered from my reading that the reason for the V-shaped top is so that the load centers itself.

This is probably especially important in lower-quality stands, where an off-center load would be more likely to topple the stand or snap the top.

But, finally I found some. AC Hydraulic brand, jack stand nirvana... mmmmm....



Ain't cheap, though. Ultimate Garage

A little cheaper here, flat-top version not mentioned but they may carry them. Automotive Service Equipment

The AC Hydraulic jacks seem to get rave reviews as well, at a semi-reasonable price for what looks like very high quality and exceptionally low-profile clearance. Here's one such review.

Aaaaahh.... no problem slippin' this beauty under a front spoiler:


I'm officially suffering from tool envy now!
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Last edited by Benzwood; 08-28-2003 at 02:28 PM.
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Old 08-28-2003, 03:15 PM
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Sweet.

Though I would prefer one with an acme screw design so that it could be set at any height, and not rely on pins or rachets.

Perhaps I could modify a 'house jack' to have a wider base to resist tipping.
Hmmm...

But 20 tons is probably overkill...
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  #9  
Old 08-28-2003, 03:25 PM
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Here's something:



12 tons, 18-28 inches.
18 is pretty high for a minimum, though, and they are $106 per pair.
http://www.edwardsmanufacturing.com/jackstands3.htm
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  #10  
Old 08-28-2003, 04:05 PM
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This guy has made a nice adaptor for his Porsche. That with just a flat top and a rubber pad on it would be pretty good.



http://www.realtime.net/~rentner/Porsche/JackPads/JackPads.html
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  #11  
Old 08-28-2003, 06:59 PM
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Yeah, that adapter is the kind of thing I had in mind (sans thumbscrews... looks like the guy spent some serious time on that bad boy ).

You wouldn't even need a rubber pad, Mercedes supplies that on the car.

Another option might be to make a little steel box, closed on all but one side, that slipped over the top of the support saddle. No tricky machining required to fit the countour of the saddle. Though I suppose the weight of the car would then be supported by the outer edges of the saddle which isn't ideal.
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  #12  
Old 08-28-2003, 10:41 PM
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Was looking around some more and finally found the AC Hydraulics web site, tricky to find for some reason.

Forget all this jack/jackstand stuff... check out the portable auto lift... be the envy of your gearhead friends!

AC Hydraulics Auto Workshop Equipment
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Last edited by Benzwood; 08-28-2003 at 10:46 PM.
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  #13  
Old 08-29-2003, 09:31 AM
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Lift would be sweet. Not exactly in the budget.

I like your 'plain box' idea. I do not think shifting the weight to the outer edges would create a capacity problem. Simpler than what the Porsche guy did.
As long as it fit pretty tight on the sides, it would be very stable.

The only downside here is that it would not be as universal, in terms of fitting on a variety of ratchet jacks. For example, I have several brands and sizes, all with different saddles. Maybe a simple box with open ends, and setscrews on the sides. Like the Porsche guy, but somewhat longer to avoid the fussy contouring.

The rubber top is so that it can be used in other places on the MB, and on other cars.
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  #14  
Old 08-29-2003, 10:34 AM
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Benzwood,

Thanks for the links. I'm not too crazy about the rachet type stands either. The AC ones look nice. And that low profile jack looks very similar to the one sold at COSTCO. This will be the basis for some future thread : "When do I start saving money by DIY?"

glenmore
1991 300CE
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  #15  
Old 08-29-2003, 04:11 PM
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Do you have more details on the Costco jack? If they have the AC Hydraulics jack I'd be very interested to know which model and price. Unfortunately no Costco where I live now, but I'd make a special trip next time I'm in Chicago.

I bought my jack at Sam's Club... it's a massive Michelin branded cheap Chinese import, $65 or something. I had to return the first one when it started auto-lowering now and then. The new one seems better though at first it wouldn't lower all the way without a load. Seems to have broken in now, hoping for the best. Get what ya pay for, I guess.
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Jack stand placement on E320/W210-floorjack.jpg  

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