Air Marshall Eldritch

I went to swap out the wheels the other day and my mind wasn't focused on the job. I use a floor jack on the lift points behind the side skirt instead of the flimsy MB jack. Normally, I loosen the nuts very carefully, which is always a nail-biter, as anyone here experienced with a sheared off lug bolt can attest. Then I jack up the corner and finish taking out the lugs in the air.
For some reason while doing the second tire, I pushed the jack under the side skirt (in full down position), but not all the way in to the proper jack point, and started loosening the nuts. But this time I just kept on going. Guess what happened when the fifth nut was removed.


Bam! wheel flips off and the body comes right down. The only thing keeping the bottom of the body from crushing my leg was the jack squashed under the skirt. So now I had to raise the car high enough to put the new wheel on by using the skirt as the jack point. Surprisingly, the skirt bore the full weight of the car with only a slight bending, which bounced right back into shape when I let it down a few minutes later. Double luck.

So I guess my point is, when you are sitting under 2 tons of metal, pay attention.

ohlord

is ----Jack Stands----
never trust the single jack when you are going to be anyplace under the Benz.

You were very lucky

Air Marshall Eldritch

I don't think my jack can go high enough to even get the stands underneath.

What is a safe spot to use the jack so that the stand can be placed under the real jack point (without using the OEM jack)?

EdzBenz

Ditto.

Quadcammer

front and rear subframe work for me, although I usually just put the rear on ramps.

vinceC

There is a plastic "button" under the front subframe, in the center, under the steering rack. It is the lifting point for the front. The rear is lifted by putting the jack under the differential.