Hi everyone,

Put my car on jack stands today to get under car and have a look/see at my suspension as I am going to begin replacing most of the rubber components, ball joints, struts/mounts,etc.

Not that happy with the ?jack pods (black plastic pads located under jacking points) as a place to put the stands. The pads are slippery and I was nervous the whole time I was underneath the car and thats before I start reefing on rusty nuts.

Is there an alternate place to put jack stands and would anyone happen to have some pictures,or, if someone is planning on putting their car on jack stands in the not to distant future, would it be possible to take a picture or two to add to this thread?

My jack stands are heavy duty but that doesn't really matter if the weakest link is the point-of-contact.

Thanks

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1995 E300 Diesel

I always put them under the subframe on the front. This is a largish section and easy to hit but it is relatively thin metal so I use a piece of plywood between the jack stand and the frame to soften it. On the rear i use the suspension attachment point about a foot or so in front of the rear wheels. It is stronger and does not need any protection. You can also support from the suspension near the wheels but I like to have them free so they can be worked on. This is for a 123 body.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

ok.
everywhere the control arms attach to the body there is steel plates welded... that is the only place I'm satisfied setting on jack stands...

the plastic is NOT good!!!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

In front you can try the frame rails inboard of the lifting pads just aft of where the rails turn up along the firewall. You can also try the narrow horizontal section of the crossmember but it will be awkward to lift.

This is what gsxr did in the rear -



Can you buy or fabricate jack stand pads that are cupped all the way around like floor jack pads?

Sixto
87 300D

When I was going to drop the complete rear suspention on the 123 to replace the Sub Frame bushing and Trail Arm bushings, there really isn`t any place to mount a stand. everything is sheet metal under the car, and I didn`t want to bend something.

So I called Roy (Whunter) and asked what he does in this situation. he said he uses some rods that slip into the jack points and sets them on the jack stands.

I went to a welding fab shop, and we used some 3/4" bar stock, slipped it all the way into the jack holes. then cut it off about 4 or so inches out from the hole or body. made a 15deg bend and the out side edge of the jack hole, so they are level. then welded a flat piece on the end.


I have used these for a few different projects and works good. jack up the car, place the rods into the holes, set jack stands under the rods, and lower the car down onto them.
Be sure to block the front wheels.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I typically use the jack pads when supporting my W124 and have not had problems. I often use a small (2x2) piece of plywood as a cushion between the top of the jackstand and the jack pad.



If your pads are slippery they should be cleaned or replaced. If I am really wrenching hard on something I can back up the jackstand by leaving the car's jack in place with a little bit of tension (95% of the weight still on the jackstand) or use a pile of short planks just ahead or behind the jackstand.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I am wondering why not just weld the rods to the top of some jack stands and be done with it. Basically it should be welded to some sort of stand that will straddle a floor jack, because the pad is right under the lift point of course. This is one area where the Germans were not thinking straight. Never put the primary and secondary jack points in the exact same location on the rocker panel.

Incidentally, anyone ever weld a rocker panel into a 124 or 123? Just wondering how these are typically marked and cut, and how much of a pain it is to weld the jack point into the new rocker.