Do you still use your jack points?
 

I found that one of my 85 300D's jack points has rust on surrounding rocker metal.

I posted a picture in a thread in Bodywork forum.

I have not used those jack points for years. I use floor jack and could put bottle jack in car in place of MB jack. Do any of you that own old W123s still use the jack points? They always seem a bit suspect.

I had the front passenger side weld repaired last fall and , and another pic and here is finished repair. The current one is on same side at rear. In two minds whether to have my welding guy fab new piece of plate and weld it in. Based on the front one, the internal structure is likely quite strong and would probably still lift car. But that outside rust needs to be repaired. I could use POR15 to seal rust and then lay up an epoxy/glass surround. Welding would no doubt be best, but hard to justify.

I never have, and also have the same kind of idea as you.

Im intending to cut 4 patches out of the center of the rocker on a parts car, and cut out the jack points and have the patches welded in.

IMO the jack points do absolutely nothing but rust heavily, and this is my plan to eliminate this endless rust problem once and for all. All 4 of mine are getting pretty soft around the hole

Yes. It leaves space open for stands.

I have always used the jack points. never really thought of doing otherwise. Mine are in good shape, and the one that was not good I put all new metal in. made it out of stainless that I formed to fit.

Yes
 

I keep mine sealed with plastic corks and insert a vary large bolt as a lift point.

It's the metal around the tubes that rusts out it seems. The plugs only keep the inside of the tube dry and free of dirt. Not sure why the rocker metal rusts. Maybe water gets under the paint or undercoating where the tube protrudes.

Regarding lifting, I lift on or near the front subframe mounts - there is room for jack and stands. For rear, if I want both sides raised, I lift under diff and then put jack stands at subframe mounts. I wouldn't put jackstands under the rockers on a car of this age ;)

Starting to think that filling jack holes, then fairing in over depression around tubes so rockers are smooth on outside may be an option. That would perhaps solve one rust problem!

47dodge said Did you weld stainless to the steel rockers?

I use mine all the time, I don't trust crawling under the car with just the jack and a tire lifted....but I have used them numerous times, to jack the car up and place a stand under it....even if I just need a lift extra room to see something under the car I use it....I love the jack points, so much nicer then the bumper jack found on may 70s and pre American cars.....now that is a scary way to replace a tire!

X2 I use the original jack in the jacking points but always use chocks and jackstands for insurance.

Always used them when I had a 123; always use them when I lift the 124 and 210. However, I then put a jack stand under the pad and take most of the tension off of the jack. The jack remains in the jacking point as a backup and as a convenient place to "store" it until time to take the car down.

Jeremy

What is "rust"?

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{jealous}

x3 I do the same.

Watch out using plugs. My cousin in Germany (who used to work for Mercedes and has seen a million of them age) warned me that plugs had a tendency to trap moisture and actually cause rust rather than prevent it. Personally, I like the finished look of the factory plugs, so I just try to keep the holes dry and greased.

How many people use them for a tire change? Curious, sounds like lots of people use them to lift to put the car on stands

For that I use a big floor jack, then jack stands like above.

I have a small floor jack, a sheet of aluminum, plus a 4 way tire iron I keep in the trunk for blown tires. Much more effective than the stock jack, and eliminates the potential for the jack rotating in the hole

So far, looks like those in dry climates are more inclined to use the jack points.

Sorry here's a vote from a mildly moist part of Europe =>

I always use my jack points. That's what they are there for.

I think it is a very bad idea to "modify" your car so they are non operational. Whilst you as driver and owner may know about your modification it only takes one chap in the tyre shop or one breakdown assistance bloke or someone trying to steal your wheels to make a mess of your car.

So I say use 'em - and if you loose 'em - fix 'em

Go away. We don't like you.

I thought your car was in bits and up on blocks ;)

I did have a rear jack-point rip out on a very rusty Fintail one time.

So far, despite varying amounts of rust on my W123s, all the jack-points have been solid enough to use - even on the left front of my Euro TD, where I had to fabricate a large patch panel for the surrounding rocker. Of course, I'd never work under there without a jack-stand.
With the worst one on my TD, the inner box-section reinforcment for the jack-tube is still very solid.

Happy Motoring, Mark

One of them is - and guess where the axle stands have been positioned?

The other one actually needs some help in that area too - so that's something I'll be doing on my Sunday afternoon...

Mark, I agree that the jack points are solid even when the rocker metal has rusted. I am sure that even without the rocker metal, the jack points would be strong enough if the tubes haven't rusted out. It seems that the fronts are designed to transfer load from the tube to the A-Pillar. (Mine was fully apart a little while ago ;( ) Not sure how the rear points transfer load, but presumably they too transfer load to the rear door pillar.

I have this idea for a mechanically attached patch that would be screwed or riveted in place and have an indent that picks up the load from the tube. I have this idea that I might have seen something like that, but maybe not?

PS: Seems this not a new idea :o
So far no sign of any commercial jack point patch panels.

Graham: Jack points do not rely on the rocker panel just as you observe. I took my rocker panels completely off once and the car jacked up just fine on the tubes. Jack stands are always a must, whether the jack tubes are good or not as the car can go forward off the jack in some cases.

I would like to see a small square patch with the proper round opening and the indent; say a weld in piece. Keep working on it!

On my TD, I found big blobs of filler hiding a gaping jagged rust-hole next to the left front jack-point. I cleaned it all out, trimmed the rough edges, and sprayed some prservative inside the rocker. Then I riveted some gavanised sheet over the whole area and used a ball-peen hammer to outline the jack-tube so I could accurately cut the hole.
Finally, I covered the whole repair with spray undercoat.
Except for the lack of indenting around the jack-hole, the repair isn't too noticeable. Since then, I've jacked it numerous times to make repairs to the brakes and shifter without any problems.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Yes, I always use mine when using the factory jack. I cover the jack holes with the 201 jack holes. The W123 never came with them but use these same jack holes fine (the jacks are pretty much the same size).

For lifting the car using a floor jack, I use a large 2 x 4 block of wood between the jack cup and vehicle chassis, about the same location as the jack points. The differential itself or the frame behind the oil pan works too with the block of wood on a floor jack.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/7...af6544ba_z.jpg

I use these plugs, supposedly like you said the w123 never came with them but I found mine on a w123 at pnp awhile ago...in the thread the photo came from, he says they are off a w124...
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...-plug_3244.jpg
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/258179-w123-w124-jack-hole-plugs.html

Early W201's and W124's use the same plugs.

The W201's came out earlier than the W124, hence my reference to the W201.

You know the part #?

I have never used the factory jack for any of my W123's. I always use a floor jack and I don't have a good spare for either so if I have a flat the car is getting towed.

That's my post. I have a few plugs available for sale if anyone wants. Should fit 123, early 124, 201, etc.

Jeremy

On my W123s, I often use the factory jack, as I find it's usually easier and more effective to lift the car and set it on jack-stands than the small trolley jack I have.
I use a spare Mercedes jack, that I keep with some of my tools.

A large trolley-jack might work better (in fact, I have one at my parent's home in Virginia Baech)
but it can be a real hassle wrestling with something that big and heavy, especially in confined spaces.

Happy Motoring, Mark

2018990008

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-parts-reference-library/182646-1269971886-rubber-bumper-plug-jack-point-holes-w123-w124-w201.html

I Have a W124 and it has cover plates not plugs. They keep dirt out and dont seem to collect moisture too badly. I have a very nice floor jack but some times i still use my factory jack points as they are very easy to get jack stands under when used with the factory jack. Mercedes jacks are so much nicer and more efficient than what ford/chevy/dodge provide.