Jacking 2008 Viper ACR?

[viperprowler1]

Guys...need some assistance here. I can't lift the ACR from the front and back using a floor jack like I used to with non-ACR Vipers in the past due to the extensive aero pans under the car so I have just been raising one side at a time and putting jack stands under it while working on tires, wheels, etc. My question is, can I lift one side, place it on jack stands and "Safely" go to the other side, raise it and put jack stands on that side without the first set of jacks tipping or sliding or otherwise moving in such a way to be dangerous to me or the car, etc.? I want the car to sit on the suspension and not the frame so that the suspension is always at ride height and not with the suspension "hanging". Then I can remove all the tires/wheels and store them in the cellar, etc. I'm talking about winter storage here. I'm confident there are many of you out there that have already faced this situation and solved it so I don't have to "reinvent the wheel". Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions. Mike

 

[rw99]

IMO, for simple wheel swaps and shock adjustments, just keep doing the car one side at a time with stands as your back-up.

Rich

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

Even putting stands under the "arms" will not compress the suspension that much because of leverage. Letting it hang is no big deal and frankly I would not set the stands on the aluminum arms on my car. I have jacked up the whole side from the rear point and used stands, but it is very nerve racking and I cannot assure you that something bad would never happen. We have done this with race cars for years at the track though.

I have also put stands under the front and then jacked the rear from the rear frame rail to do the rear stands, the Viper is stiff so lifting the rear this way is easier then one side at a time IMO.

 

[viperprowler1]

Mark...regarding your last sentence...how do you lift the front in order to put it on stands prior to lifting the rear from the side? Being an ACR, you don't have an exposed front crossmember to lift from. And...assuming it can be done...are you saying once the front is in the air, you can lift the entire rear of the car from just one side to put the rear stands in? This is too important to not understand clearly what you are suggesting. Of course, it could be I am a little thick at my advanced age (LOL).

Even putting stands under the "arms" will not compress the suspension that much because of leverage. Letting it hang is no big deal and frankly I would not set the stands on the aluminum arms on my car. I have jacked up the whole side from the rear point and used stands, but it is very nerve racking and I cannot assure you that something bad would never happen. We have done this with race cars for years at the track though.

I have also put stands under the front and then jacked the rear from the rear frame rail to do the rear stands, the Viper is stiff so lifting the rear this way is easier then one side at a time IMO.

 

[viperprowler1]

Rich...I couldn't agree more....except I am specifically asking about all four corners off the ground for winter storage.

IMO, for simple wheel swaps and shock adjustments, just keep doing the car one side at a time with stands as your back-up.

Rich

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

You can use the rear jacking pad (angle iron piece in front of the rear wheels on each side) to lift the entire side and place a stand under the front pad, lower and repeat for the other side. Then yes you can lift the rear from behind the car with a long low profile jack with padded jack plate or a piece of wood on it so you don't damage the belly pan where it attach's to the rear frame rail (this is closer to the center of the car then the rear side place).

Mark...regarding your last sentence...how do you lift the front in order to put it on stands prior to lifting the rear from the side? Being an ACR, you don't have an exposed front cross member to lift from. And...assuming it can be done...are you saying once the front is in the air, you can lift the entire rear of the car from just one side to put the rear stands in? This is too important to not understand clearly what you are suggesting. Of course, it could be I am a little thick at my advanced age (LOL).

 

[TrackAire]

Guys...need some assistance here. I can't lift the ACR from the front and back using a floor jack like I used to with non-ACR Vipers in the past due to the extensive aero pans under the car so I have just been raising one side at a time and putting jack stands under it while working on tires, wheels, etc. My question is, can I lift one side, place it on jack stands and "Safely" go to the other side, raise it and put jack stands on that side without the first set of jacks tipping or sliding or otherwise moving in such a way to be dangerous to me or the car, etc.? I want the car to sit on the suspension and not the frame so that the suspension is always at ride height and not with the suspension "hanging". Then I can remove all the tires/wheels and store them in the cellar, etc. I'm talking about winter storage here. I'm confident there are many of you out there that have already faced this situation and solved it so I don't have to "reinvent the wheel". Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions. Mike

Mike,

What I use in the shop, on my four post lift and at the track are 4 scissor jacks. You can buy them at walmart for about $25.00 each. They go by the name "Black Jack" and are made by Torin. They come with a handle that you turn to raise and lower the jack...throw it way. The part of the jack you turn accepts a 1" socket. I use a Makita rechargeable drill on low gear setting to raise the jack. My car is very low so I have to drive my front tire onto a 1/2" think pad to get the jacks under the front "V" jacking points. If your car is close to stock height, you probably won't need any type of pad under the front tire. The rear is no problem.

I start on one side, jack up the car about an inch and go to the other side jack it up an inch and back and forth. By doing it this way, the car stays very level regardless of the height, and to me level means stability and safety. From start to finish I can have all four tires off the ground in less than 5 minutes with no sweat or effort since the drill is doing all the work. Once the car is up to the height I want, I put 4 lightweight jack stands on frame points just in case the "big one" hits while the wheels are off.

Since the Viper is so stiff, I don't recommend jacking up one side high enough to get jack stands under it and then the other....with todays jack stands being so flimsy and narrow at the base, I would worry that the car might slid sideways since the jack stand might flop over. Feel free to ask questions.

Cheers,
George

 

[gb66gth]

I just did it this past weekend.
I used two floor jacks and llifted the front first, (jack each side a bit then go to the other and jack it a bit then back to the first side), put my jack stands in place, then the rear and put the jack stands in place.
Just make sure your e-brake is engaged and/or the car is in gear.

 

[Steve M]

I have a rubber pad on my floor jack, so I just put it directly under one of the fastener heads that holds the belly pan in place from the back...that'll get the entire rear up in the air, allowing you to put jack stands under the rear triangle lift points. I then go to the front triangle lift point (doesn't matter which side), and from that single point you can lift the entire front of the car in the air and put jack stands under the frame rails towards the center of the car (very easy to see since the belly pan doesn't cover that area).

There are plenty of ways to skin this cat, although I highly recommend getting a rubber pad of some sort for your floor jack to give you plenty of non-marring options for lifting the car in the air.

 

[rw99]

Rich...I couldn't agree more....except I am specifically asking about all four corners off the ground for winter storage.

Gotcha... I've been too long in California and have blocked out all memory of "winter". ;-)

Such a shame to have to leave the car up with no shoes...


Rich

 

[past ohio]

Don't raise the bridge, lower the river....make one ( 1 1/2 in higher) or two (gets you 3 inches) 12 in wide boards and about 10 feet long, drive up on the boards first, this makes it easier to get the jack under and where you want it..if you uses 2 boards nail then together so they don't come apart as the car goes up on the boards....my $.02

 

[viperprowler1]

Just put my ACR up on jack stands. Drove up on mini-ramps, one jack on each jacking point in front and put it down on jack stands. Went to the rear and used two jacks again parallel to the car so the jacks could roll forward slightly as it was being lifted negating any chance of tipping of the front jack stands and then placed two jack stands on an appropriate rear frame junction. Even used my new Harbor Freight 3 ton rapid lift jack under each tire to carry the weight of the wheel/tire combo as I removed them thus saving my back. Took my time, was careful and it went well. Even remembered to loosen the lug nuts prior to lifting the car. All in all, a very satisfying experience.

I just did it this past weekend.
I used two floor jacks and llifted the front first, (jack each side a bit then go to the other and jack it a bit then back to the first side), put my jack stands in place, then the rear and put the jack stands in place.
Just make sure your e-brake is engaged and/or the car is in gear.

 

[Brian E]

Not sure what jack stands you are using, but I highly recomend the Esco 10498. They have a flat top rubber pad and each of the legs have a circular pad to provide stability on any surface. I don't believe I am allowed to post the link to them, but if you pm me I will send it to you. (I am Not affiliated with them in any way)

 

[rw99]

Not sure what jack stands you are using, but I highly recomend the Esco 10498. They have a flat top rubber pad and each of the legs have a circular pad to provide stability on any surface. I don't believe I am allowed to post the link to them, but if you pm me I will send it to you. (I am Not affiliated with them in any way)

Those are frickin' sweet stands, lift is 13-21" Kinda spendy, though. I found 'em for $119 for a pair

Thanks for posting.


Rich