I tried searching for a similar post, but had no luck...
I have heard three or four different methods for how to raise my car completely off the ground, but they each seem to come with their own hazards. Can any of you guys suggest a step-by-step process for getting my car onto 4 jackstands?
I suppose another related question is: for a DIY SSK upgrade, will I have enough space to work if I just lift the front end and chock the rear wheels? Will there be enough space if I just use my Rhino ramps? I haven't done too much work yet on sensitive parts of my car, so I'm a little apprehensive about doing this SSK work and want to make sure that I have everything I need before getting into it.
Rhino ramps are a PITA to try to move around if you are on a creeper.
To lift my car, I use the stock jack to lift one side high enough to slide my floor jack under the bumper cover and lift at the x-member in front of oil pan.
(You could, as I sometimes do, take off the front bumper. Gives you loads of room to work from the front)
Then I place one jack stand on either side at lift points/pads.
An easier way would be to buy a jack pad that fits into the stock lift recesses in the side skirts and place a stand there after lifting with floor jack. Then no need to use front subframe.
In the rear, I use the diff carrier to lift and place stands at rear lift points.
I don't get under my car without having the floor jack as a secondary support. So Cal rocks and rolls at times.
I don't get under my car without having the floor jack as a secondary support. So Cal rocks and rolls at times.
Ha, I never thought about that before....
I use my cheap 2 ton on one side to lift it enough to get the big jack under the front of the car. Jack that up and throw 2 jackstands under the pucks. Go to the back, lift by the diff carrier and then throw 2 more jackstands under the pucks.
Okay. So it sounds like the best thing to do is to lift by the rear differential. I should be able to find that. I better not guess wrong.
I hadn't thought about just taking off the front bumper to increase my work space...I will be repairing my impact absorbers at the same time I put in the SSK probably. Should all work out well.
Thanks for the reply!
Here's a resource I used when I first started working on my BMW.
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/all/tools/all_jacking_and_supporting_your_car.html
This link was found from:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/bmw_e36.html
Also go to the E36 3-series forum and you'll find a parked thread on a whole bunch of E36 DIY how-to's.
You can definitely do the short shift kit installation while your car is on the rhino ramps. But you probably shouldn't use a creeper. You need the extra 2-3 inches to maneuver your arms around the tranny.
If you need to put the car up on 4 jack stands...
I usually drive up on my ramps, then lift the whole front of the car using the jack point that is described in the first link above. Then I put jack stands at the locations also specified in the first link.
You don't have to use the ramps to get the jacking started. You can just drive one side of the car up onto a few pieces of scrap wood or something. Whatever it takes to get the jack under the point where it needs to be.
Then I jack up the rear of the car using the position specified in the first link, then put jack stands in place to get the car completely off the ground.
*Always* take your time and make sure everything is in good position and stable!!!
I usually position the jack under one of the jack points for extra insurance, if I can work around it. If not, I'll try to position it near the subframe rails so that if the car falls off the jack stands, I would have *some* clearance to get out from under the car.
Okay. So it sounds like the best thing to do is to lift by the rear differential. I should be able to find that. I better not guess wrong.
Make sure it's the diff carrier not the actual differential. There's a good picture of it in the unofficial links above.
Ah...differential carrier...thanks for the clarification. And thanks for the great info, snk. I'll attack at least a part of this this weekend.
Safety first, for sure! That's why I came to you knowledgeable folks before I tried this on my own.
Ah...differential carrier...thanks for the clarification. And thanks for the great info, snk. I'll attack at least a part of this this weekend.
Safety first, for sure! That's why I came to you knowledgeable folks before I tried this on my own.
Good luck! The SSK install might give you a little grief here and there, just because you won't be able to see a lot of the parts up there and you'll have to feel around for them, but be patient and be persistent.
