Jack stand placement - HELP WANTED

Jun 13, 2002 | 04:58 PM

sportlichE430

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Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 264

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From: oak brook, il

Jack stand placement - HELP WANTED

The wife and kids are out of town this wknd. so I want to take off the wheels and clean the calipers and paint 'em red with the G2 kit I bought from carstyling.com (per KevE55 recommendation).

Anybody know where the best spots to put jack stands on an E430 is?

Jan 2, 2006 | 08:05 PM

JLLG

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Joined: Jan 2004

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From: Michigan

1997 E320 2000 ML430

I tried searching this and other forums with no success and this post has the right question but no answers. So does anyone have any advice for DIY jacking and placing jackstands? I plan on jacking on the jack points (rubber circles seen from the side) but need advice for safe jack stand placement. I have the AC jack stands which are flat and have a rubber pads.

Jan 3, 2006 | 12:40 AM

purplegrog

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Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 178

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From: Austin, TX

2012 C250

Have you considered using the bilstein jack that came with the car to jack up the car, then place the jack stands under the jack points? That's what I usually do when I jack up the car.

Jan 3, 2006 | 09:29 AM

JLLG

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Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 86

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From: Michigan

1997 E320 2000 ML430

I have used the included car jack in the past but that is not as stable or fast as a floor jack. Also, if you put the entire car up on jack stands starting with the front using the included jack, both rear tires end up off ground when jacking on the first side in the back. That just does not seem safe to me.

Jan 25, 2006 | 10:43 AM

JLLG

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Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 86

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From: Michigan

1997 E320 2000 ML430

Bump

Jan 25, 2006 | 02:09 PM

tony

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Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 152

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There are some round rubber pads just under the stock jack openings on my E420. That's where I put my jackstands when working on the car. I also keep the floor jack just under the front center jack pad or the rear differential in case the car decides to slip off of the stands.

Jan 25, 2006 | 02:21 PM

JLLG

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Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 86

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From: Michigan

1997 E320 2000 ML430

Thanks for the reply. I assume you jack up the entire front then the entire rear. I have read more than one place that jacking on the rear differential is not good, have you? What is the front center jack pad you are referring to (I have a 97 E320)?

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Jan 29, 2006 | 04:43 PM

tony

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Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 152

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If you look under the front of your car you will see a round puck-like device about two feet from the front, right in the centerline of the car. That is your front lift point for a floor jack.. Jack it up, put your stands under the side rubber jack pads, and then move to the rear. I have used the diff as the jacking point and I think you will be fine to jack it up and immediately put the car on stands. Some cars such as my BMW M3 should not be jacked by the differential and they have a brace in front of the differential that should be used to jack up the rear. I haven't really noticed if the Benz has a cross brace ahead of the diff, but I've been using the diff for a long time with no problems.