[swedgemon]

On my 3 previous VW Jettas use of a floor jack had caused at least one mutilated jacking point on each Jetta. Make a "jacking pad" from a 4" piece of 3 X 1 1/2 channel iron and a 4" piece of pine 2X3. Trim the sides of the pine to fit the channel, then glue the pine into the channel iron and cut (safely) a 3/8 X 1 1/4 groove in the pine. Make 2 if you use 2 floor jacks...use jack stands if you are working under the vehicle. Work safely !! Carry one in your trunk if you are using a Wally-World scissors jack.

 

[obermd]

Also ensure you're using the designated jack points. The car is lifted by these points during assembly so we know they're strong enough to support the weight of the car without damage to the body.

 

[Patman]

If I don't go under an A arm or back shock point I will jack just in front of the rear wheel(just about where the door closes about 3 inches in or right behind the front wheel about at the vertical door seam(hinge area about 3 inches in) never had a problem on any of my cars. My only body damage on the rocker panel was caused by landing on a boulder LOL. Never used a scissor jack

 

[LiveTrash]

Also ensure you're using the designated jack points. The car is lifted by these points during assembly so we know they're strong enough to support the weight of the car without damage to the body.

Even using the indicated points I found my jack still bent and damaged the pinch welds. I do the same thing as OP. I have a block of wood I use when jackin' her up.

 

[Blancmange]

Even using the indicated points I found my jack still bent and damaged the pinch welds. I do the same thing as OP. I have a block of wood I use when jackin' her up.

Yup me too. Block of wood between the jack and pinch weld.

 

[a2chris]

What is that gunk to the right of the pinch weld?

 

[swedgemon]

That gunk, my friend, is Iowa gravel road when it rains or thaws...I used to call it mud, but since moving here 6 years ago, living a mile back a gravel road, I have learned to live with mud or heavy dust. There are only about 6 days a year when the road surface is neither. In the referenced photo, I had just pressure-washed most of the mud off my CTD...there was still plenty of mud sticking to everything beneath. Made changing the transmission fluid kinda nasty.
When it's dry the prevailing winds take road dust right across my solar collectors (I'm off-grid)...when too much dust gathers I have to wash the panels...have to rake snow off them in the winter.

 

[dhpnet]

Awesome idea. Thanks for sharing. I am on ebay now looking for a piece of channel iron.

I got a rubber jack pad on ebay, but the rubber compresses too much and it seems unsafe to me. It's strange that GM didn't design a simple jack point under the car for standard floor jacks. It's impossible to find a floor jack that can work with the jack points on the seams. I think this is a huge safety issue.

 

[dhpnet]

Make a "jacking pad" from a 4" piece of 3 X 1 1/2 channel iron and a 4" piece of pine 2X3. Trim the sides of the pine to fit the channel, then glue the pine into the channel iron and cut (safely) a 3/8 X 1 1/4 groove in the pine.

Do you know how heavy the metal is? Most sellers on ebay list the metal thickness in pounds per foot. Also, what type of glue did you use?

 

[Merc6]

Also ensure you're using the designated jack points. The car is lifted by these points during assembly so we know they're strong enough to support the weight of the car without damage to the body.

Same for me but I quickly tossed jack stands under it. The ATS seems to be fragile at the jack points from the GM TechLink and few of the forum/dealer mishap posts.

 

[swedgemon]

dhpnet, just stop by a local welding shop or metal fabricator...they will likely GIVE you a short section of channel. I'm a blacksmith on occasion, so I have several buckets of scrap from projects - they will, too. I don't know the weight of the pieces I used, but the web thickness is about 1/8". I used GorrillaGlue, clamped it in place overnite, then used 2-part epoxy to fill in along the edges of the 2X3...keep it simple.

 

[MP81]

I carved a similar groove (perhaps narrower) out of a $3 hockey puck. Those things are borderline indestructible, and it works great (and is round, so it fits on the rubber jack pad on my jack perfectly).

The only time I had an issue was jacking up my brother's Buick - but considering the rocker itself began to collapse, that was not an issue with the jack pad, but rather, rust.

 

[diesel]

I've mutilated something under my car by improperly jacking it up. It was underneath. It looked strong enough to support the weight of the car but it wasn't. I am not sure what component it was.

 

[a2chris]

Just use this, it is universal.

 

[Blasirl]

Just a few items I ran across...

Jacking a 2013 Cruze

Cruze Jack Point pictures

 

[EricSmit]

Just use this, it is universal. View attachment 218322

That's amazing.

 

[diesel]

Just use this, it is universal. View attachment 218322

I could use one of those!

 

[pandrad61]

I carved a similar groove (perhaps narrower) out of a $3 hockey puck. Those things are borderline indestructible, and it works great (and is round, so it fits on the rubber jack pad on my jack perfectly).

The only time I had an issue was jacking up my brother's Buick - but considering the rocker itself began to collapse, that was not an issue with the jack pad, but rather, rust.

they also make for great lift kit pucks on jeeps lol

 

[dhpnet]

I carved a similar groove (perhaps narrower) out of a $3 hockey puck. Those things are borderline indestructible, and it works great (and is round, so it fits on the rubber jack pad on my jack perfectly).

I have a hockey puck too, but they are not thick enough to cover the entire weld flange. They work better on cars with smaller flanges.

 

[dhpnet]

dhpnet, just stop by a local welding shop or metal fabricator...they will likely GIVE you a short section of channel. I'm a blacksmith on occasion, so I have several buckets of scrap from projects - they will, too. I don't know the weight of the pieces I used, but the web thickness is about 1/8". I used GorrillaGlue, clamped it in place overnite, then used 2-part epoxy to fill in along the edges of the 2X3...keep it simple.

I wish I knew where to find a welding shop or metal fabricator. I will have to do some research. My guess is that I would probably have to drive to the East Bay, which would require paying a $6 bridge toll and gas -- and time researching.

I messaged this eBay seller. He said he will cut it in half if I send him a message when I buy it, so it would only be $12.55 for two 6" pieces. Not a bad price and would save me the hassle of trying to find a shop.
3" 4.1# per ft. Channel Iron, Mild Steel 1 pieces 12" A-36 UPS Shipping Alro | eBay