where is the unibody structure?
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Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 712
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From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
where is the unibody structure?
i've always put stands under the pinch rail but i was wondering where is the actual unibody structure to put the stands on?
im gunna do the lower control arms again.
i dont have air tools now
i dont remember if i used a t45 right angle torque wrench before i do i one?
how would i torque the ball joint nut with no clearance? i have the torque specs it says torque to 24 lbs then tighten 120 degrees.
im gunna do the lower control arms again.
i dont have air tools now
i dont remember if i used a t45 right angle torque wrench before i do i one?
how would i torque the ball joint nut with no clearance? i have the torque specs it says torque to 24 lbs then tighten 120 degrees.
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Sammy,
Step away from the tool box.
Before you hurt yourself.
Step away from the tool box.
Before you hurt yourself.
i've always put stands under the pinch rail but i was wondering where is the actual unibody structure to put the stands on?
im gunna do the lower control arms again.
i dont have air tools now
i dont remember if i used a t45 right angle torque wrench before i do i one?
how would i torque the ball joint nut with no clearance? i have the torque specs it says torque to 24 lbs then tighten 120 degrees.
im gunna do the lower control arms again.
i dont have air tools now
i dont remember if i used a t45 right angle torque wrench before i do i one?
how would i torque the ball joint nut with no clearance? i have the torque specs it says torque to 24 lbs then tighten 120 degrees.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
A unibody structure relates to a vehicle that has no separate chassis. Lift the car at the clearly marked & reinforced jacking points X 4.
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From: Orange County
2005 C Wagon (No snickering please!)
To properly use jack stands you need to modify the stands with a block that looks like a Twinkie (coming back soon.) The stands should always be used as a pair. Never 1, 3, or 4 and with chocks for the wheels on the ground.
There is a company that makes modified stands or just the Twinkies for W203.
http://www.reverselogic.us/shop.html...0&sort=nameAsc
There is a company that makes modified stands or just the Twinkies for W203.
http://www.reverselogic.us/shop.html...0&sort=nameAsc
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 712
Likes: 2
From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
To properly use jack stands you need to modify the stands with a block that looks like a Twinkie (coming back soon.) The stands should always be used as a pair. Never 1, 3, or 4 and with chocks for the wheels on the ground.
There is a company that makes modified stands or just the Twinkies for W203.
http://www.reverselogic.us/shop.html...0&sort=nameAsc
There is a company that makes modified stands or just the Twinkies for W203.
http://www.reverselogic.us/shop.html...0&sort=nameAsc
you cant do it for total obvious reasons thats why people jack up the car using the jacking point on the side and using jack stands at the pinch rail. that is why im asking for the actual unibody frame.
how do i get a torque wrench to the lower ball joint???
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
You can jack up the front under the engine - there is a jack point in the middle. Then set the stands - with an appropriate set of blocks - at the jack points behind the front wheels. Then jack up the rear at the diff. and set the jack stands - with appropriate blocks - at the jack points in front of the rear wheels.
Keep in mind that the car is potentially less stable on four stands. You may elect to drive the end of the car you're not going to be working on on ramps and jack the other side and use stands.
Obviously make sure the car is stable before you crawl under it. If I can find a place for it, sometimes I'll put a jack under a hard place as an extra precaution.
Good luck & be safe!
As Glyn says, basically the entire car is the uni-body. That allows for less "structure" in the form of a frame that older cars often had. Simply put, the strength is derived from the overall shape and size of the body which affords a much more stiff yet lighter chassis (it allows for thinner steel than a frame would require). The concept is the same as a in racing car monocoque construction. As you've noticed, that also requires that some hard points need to be "added" so that you can jack up the car without bending or denting the uni-body (also called unit body).
Keep in mind that the car is potentially less stable on four stands. You may elect to drive the end of the car you're not going to be working on on ramps and jack the other side and use stands.
Obviously make sure the car is stable before you crawl under it. If I can find a place for it, sometimes I'll put a jack under a hard place as an extra precaution.
Good luck & be safe!
As Glyn says, basically the entire car is the uni-body. That allows for less "structure" in the form of a frame that older cars often had. Simply put, the strength is derived from the overall shape and size of the body which affords a much more stiff yet lighter chassis (it allows for thinner steel than a frame would require). The concept is the same as a in racing car monocoque construction. As you've noticed, that also requires that some hard points need to be "added" so that you can jack up the car without bending or denting the uni-body (also called unit body).
Last edited by ncmudbug; Apr 10, 2013 at 10:57 PM. Reason: expounding on Glyn's point about unit body
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
+1^ You can lift the front of the car at the crossmember with a suitable load spreading block. The rear is more complex if you don't use the side jacking points. You can lift under the diff with a suitable block as protection.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
mmk i thought your supposed to jack up a point then put the stand closest as possible to the jack.
how do u actually torque the lower balljoint to spec??
how do u actually torque the lower balljoint to spec??
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
I would not trust the area around a jack point to hold up the car. If you follow my instructions, you won't have to. 
I don't know about the ball joint, but if it's like others I've seen, there is a nut on the end of a tapered shaft. The tapered shaft locks in the upright (or whatever it is bolted to) tight enough so that the nut can be torqued. Does that sound like what you have?
I don't know about the ball joint, but if it's like others I've seen, there is a nut on the end of a tapered shaft. The tapered shaft locks in the upright (or whatever it is bolted to) tight enough so that the nut can be torqued. Does that sound like what you have?
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
Given your lack of understanding of basic physics (and not to mention the inability to do a search on a topic that's been covered zillions of times), the easiest way for you to torque the lower ball joint is to pay someone else to do it.
ncmudbug gave you the perfect answer, yet you still question it.
ncmudbug gave you the perfect answer, yet you still question it.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 712
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From: chicago
2005 c230 kompressor 2003 s500 94 wrangler
i did do a search. i wouldnt have posted if i found it. people have asked with no answers
ok no i dont understand what he said since that doesnt solve how to fit a torque wrench on a balljoint with no clearance
why cant u just tell us then instead of paying someone?
ok no i dont understand what he said since that doesnt solve how to fit a torque wrench on a balljoint with no clearance
why cant u just tell us then instead of paying someone?
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
The areas around the jacking points are reinforced to take the typical two post hoist crossed spreader bars padded feet. - no issue.
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From: Raleigh, NC
2005 C230K, 2019 Honda CR-V, '74 Lotus Europa
i did do a search. i wouldnt have posted if i found it. people have asked with no answers
ok no i dont understand what he said since that doesnt solve how to fit a torque wrench on a balljoint with no clearance
why cant u just tell us then instead of paying someone?
ok no i dont understand what he said since that doesnt solve how to fit a torque wrench on a balljoint with no clearance
why cant u just tell us then instead of paying someone?
Torque values are sometimes listed as boilerplate in that a bolt of a certain size will be listed as requiring a certain torque (some bolts require a particular tension but they are not usually mounting-type bolts or nuts like on a ball-joint). In most cases where there is not a piece that can warp, the torque values are guidelines rather than absolute necessities. You obviously want to make a good effort to make sure the nut is tight and in this case, you probably can't turn it too tight.
