Bent Jacking Points

jackoh · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:32

Hi all,

changed front pads on my mondeo this morning, used a trolley jack on the 'jacking points' and it seems to have bent them up by about an inch, should this be any cause for concern? can i just beat them down again?

Learnt a lesson to use wood next time, always had really light little cars so I guess inexperience did me over here.

The annoying thing is the bend in the floor is knackering the fuel cap release switch, if I can get the floor down again it should be alright though.

Thanks for any help.

GinG · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:34

Mine are the same on mondeo, dont worry about it, I never have had any problems.

jackoh · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:36

fair do's, what a batty place to put them though!

GinG · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:37

I know, pretty poor design

Lopéz · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:39

Jacking points are designed for the factory jack, which on a Mondeo should "cup" the reinforced lip of the sill and spread the load sideways.
You aren't really supposed to jack a car with a trolley jack on them, the cup on the end of the trolley jack isn't the right shape to spread the load effectively on a factory jacking point.

jackoh · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:40

After doing a bit of reading I realised this! annoying really, its not going to result in any MOT failures or anything though is it?

Lopéz · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:41

No, unless it's seriously weakened/split the metal you should be okay with just whacking the lip straight again. Don't forget to paint over it with something if any of the paint cracks and falls off though.

jackoh · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:44

Thanks lads, any idea on best method to get it straight? Going to take some serious beating I think!

iaind · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:46

Where's the best place to use a trolley jack then?

Lopéz · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:48

Subframe is usually a good spot, if that's a bit awkward then chassis rail box section is generally alright.

jackoh · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:49

i guess in the same place, but with a block of wood to spread the load? I'm still not sure though, theres a sea of crappy plastic trim under most newish cars which blocks a view of anything potentially solid to jack it up on.. I couldn't really see anywhere I would confidently place a pair of axle stands either!

GeX · 16 Jul 2009 at 20:12

could be worse;

^^ that's gonna be expensive to fix!

on my car i only ever use that lip when using the standard jack (to get the car high enough to get a proper jack in). then there is a proper sligtly domed jacking point on the floor roughly inline with the door hinge line. once lifted on that i bung an axle stand on the front wishbone where it pivots on the body.

jackoh · 16 Jul 2009 at 20:18

oh dear.. yeah could be worse haha, will have a go at beating it down tomorrow afternoon, nightmare!

Howard · 16 Jul 2009 at 20:20

Erk, cringe at the thought of the above pic! Yeah jack with a bit of wood on a bit of box section, otherwise diff (if known to be safe) or subframe is what I do

Lopéz · 16 Jul 2009 at 20:27

Yah I jack the Manta on the diff if I need the rear in the air. I have to raise it slightly with the factory Bilstein jack first, otherwise it's much too low to get a trolley jack underneath

Berger · 16 Jul 2009 at 20:31

GeX said:
could be worse;

^^ that's gonna be expensive to fix!

on my car i only ever use that lip when using the standard jack (to get the car high enough to get a proper jack in). then there is a proper sligtly domed jacking point on the floor roughly inline with the door hinge line. once lifted on that i bung an axle stand on the front wishbone where it pivots on the body.

Garages just seem to be tards with Rovers!

Mine was very slightly bent on the sill where someone had obviously tried the same thing and then realise!

Jonny ///M · 16 Jul 2009 at 20:45

My dad did something similar to that rover pic. He clipped a kerb and done the tyre in and because it was dark and raining rushed it. Tried to tell him they are for the standard jack but oh well. I tend to use the front subframe these days.

K.C. Leblanc · 16 Jul 2009 at 21:25

I used to have a Golf that a previous owner had mashed up both jacking points. Never gave me problems with the MOT. It also made me buy a trolley jack, much better then a normal jack. I bought my current car, decided I should stop being such a ***** and keeping a trolley jack in my boot all the time. Next day I had a puncture, ended up walking home to get my trolly jack (the factory jack was too much faf). It's been there ever since.

Mark A · 16 Jul 2009 at 21:33

I ended up bending the jacking point using the standard scissor jack on my Focus. It just didn't slot in properly at all and as the car was lifting it bent the strip of metal slightly.

I went to halfords and got a cheap trolley jack and its much better. I use a block of wood on the box section.

BigglesPiP · 16 Jul 2009 at 22:25

Why bother with all this wood business?

I can get a trolly jack to 3 good jacking points at the front, despite my car not fitting on a 2 post lift properly: