Car - Jack Stand points

RobotXander

RobotXander

RobotXander

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Joined
3 Mar 2010
Posts
1,694
Location
Highlands, Scotland
Hi guys,

planning on replacing the pads and disc's (Front) on my Astra H this week and just wanted to check something.
Jacking the car up is no prob as I've done that in the past to change the wheel - but I've never put it on a jack stand before.
I've bought the halfords stands, along with a rubber insert for each and was planning on sticking them under the front sub frame, just one side at a time.

Anyone with any experience on this? I assume this location will be ok for the hour or two I will be working on the car?
Rear wheel's will have chock's as well to keep it still etc
 
Why do you think you need rear chocs is your handbrake broken or something?
Your manual will tell you where to put the stands. But generally something solid is always available with a quick look under.
 
Chuck your front wheels under the car once it's up on the stands if you're planning on being under there. Better safe than sorry.
 
Nothing wrong with using chocks and being safe, handbrakes can fail and its not worth the risk. Tyres under the car is a good suggestion too and something I always do. Using the subframe locations is also perfectly fine, its where I put my stands most frequently.
 
Excellent, thanks guys.
I've worked under my car in the past and have always had chocks so always used them - nothing wrong with the handbrake, just out of habit really. Good tip on using the wheel as a backup though.

The only thing I havent bought yet is a trolley jack. The scissor one that came with the car is fine for me
 
robj20 said:
Why do you think you need rear chocs is your handbrake broken or something?
Your manual will tell you where to put the stands. But generally something solid is always available with a quick look under.
Click to expand...

The manual shows me the jack points - which are quite obvious, but makes no mention of stand locations.
Info from google is pretty inconsistent, and because I'm jacking the car using the scissor jack - that location wont be free for the stands, so assume the sub frame will be ok :)
 
Cookeh said:
Tyres under the car is a good suggestion too and something I always do
Click to expand...
agree - always.

most people don't have concrete drives, just tarmac or paving that don't give reliable/level surface for jack-stands, so have used plywood flats too.

does an astra need a good quality allen drive to get the calliper off ?
 
Cookeh said:
Nothing wrong with using chocks and being safe, handbrakes can fail and its not worth the risk. Tyres under the car is a good suggestion too and something I always do. Using the subframe locations is also perfectly fine, its where I put my stands most frequently.
Click to expand...
I read just thinking the other day the amount of cars rolling down hills due to handbrake failure is getting ridiculous. Lol
 
I just put my stand where the bottom arm meets the subframe when doing the brakes on mine.

7mm allen key to loosen the sliders and a 17mm spanner on the carrier bolts iirc.
 
Yes, it's a 7mm Allen key and a 17mm spanner. I have both fittings for my torque wrench.

Question, Jonny - is it worth putting some medium strength thread lock on when re assembling?
I have ceratec grease for the pads and bought some thead lock at the same time

Appreciate he feedback all
 
I tend to chock wheels and put the wheels under the car too.

I've never bothered with threadlock.

I stick copper slip on my carrier bolts though and wire brush the **** out of the carrier.
 
UPDATE:

All went very well up until I had to take the disc's off!
Jacked the car up and got it onto the stands - both wheels off - inspect the brakes, all tools ready and then...time to remove the small torx head screw holding the discs on to the hub. No go - they are completely seized.
I must have spent at least 3 hours trying to get one of them to budge. Two hammer method, tap with a centre punch, bit of heat - nothing.
Local garage is going to remove them for me when they are installing a new exhaust on Friday - so I suspect they will be drilled out. I can then finish the brakes on Sunday.

At least I am comfortable with jacking the car, and I learned how to use my torque wrench when putting the wheels back on - but scuppered by a tiny bolt in the end.
 
No, the small disc retaining screws.
They essentially hold the disc in place if you are replacing the pads.
They serve a function but aren’t essential

Edit: not all cars have them
 
I remember that time when doing my MK4 Golf brakes... once it's out don't bother putting another in it's place. the screws sole purpose is to hold the disc in place to make putting the wheel back on easier...
 
Put it back in. Use a new part so it won't be seized and pop a bit of coppaslip on it to prevent is seizing again. It does serve a purpose and there is no point in not putting it back because if sheer laziness.

Fantastic news though about feeling comfortable. Brakes are a very good starting point for getting more into DIY on your cars, as they're relatively simplistic (frozen bolts aside!)
 
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