gorillajin

Hi,

I have a ****ty($15) jack and it doesn't lift up high enough for me to work on my car. I am going to get a bigger and better one.
Anyway, where do you put your jack stands? I put one right under the front sub frame and released the jack little bit and car kept sagging so I lifted it up again and stop working on it.

If you guys have pictures or anything, it would be great.

The steering wheel shakes on free when the speed reaches around 60mph, so I checked the steering shock(damper). There is no sign of leaking any fluid....how can I check whether it's bad or not? I tried to move it and the #11 and #46 move little bit.
Is there any way to check whether I have a bad steering damper?

Thank you.

ps2cho

Yeh pull it off and push it in. I replaced mine when I redid my oil pan gasket because I noticed it was weeping fluid when compressed. It's a pretty cheap item to replace if you are not sure.

gorillajin

Thank you for the reply.
I will check it again, but can you tell me where should I put 2 jack stands???

ps2cho

You can either do the main chassis support behind the oil pan, or the two rubber jack points. Never do it under the control arms.

gorillajin

Ok, now I got a new jack and tried it. It's much better than the old one. I put 2 jack stands below the sub frame, then I realized that there was not enough space for me between the stands. I couldn't get to the right below transmission because the stands are too close each other...

epowers777

Put the jack stands on the 2 rubber mounts behind the front tires. Mb got tricky jacking points. I always put jacks on thr rubber mounts and nowhere else. Give the car a huge shake make sure it dont fall off stands. If ur taking tires off put under car behind stands incase it falls. U wont get crushed all the way just half
I should get pics of our locomotives getting jacked up on there jacks now thats crazy!!
pm if u want pics

gorillajin

epowers777, how can you put jack stand on the rubber mount? I use a jack on the mount to lift up the car, then I can't put jack stand on the mount. or am I misunderstanding?
Thank you.

GEDaggett

Use the sub frame spot right on the bolt where the front stabilizing arm connects to the frame. Then the pad is free for the jackstand.
The easiest and safest way for under car access if you don't need to pull the tires is to put it on ramps. If you have a good High lift floor jack you can get the car on most ramps without having to drive it up. Just a thought.

epowers777

I got some ramps and do that to. Theres a cross beam on front of engine (my 300te not sure urs) Thats were I put my jack. Them I put the stands under the rubber mounts. I still havent figured the back yet to do safetly.

gorillajin

gedaggett, thank you for the good advice. I guess I will do that from now on.
The thing is, I can't put my floor jack under the sub frame because it's too short. It doesn't pass oil pan from the front.

ALLDATAdiy INFO

Are you sure it is in the steering system not in the drive system?

GEDaggett

Use the old junky jack to get it high enough using the lift pad on one side. Once the large jack can clear the pans then you can slip it in and use it to go up the rest of the way. It's a redneck remedy but works like a charm.