imtheking

I'd like to start taking on some DIY projects for my 2003 SL500. (changing breaks, painting calipers etc)

I need to purchase a floor jack and I'm not sure if a basic jack will suffice given the 4300LB weight of our cars- I'm not lifting the entire vehicle, just one side at a time but I don't feel like a jack this size is good enough



I'm thinking I should go with something more like this- a professional mechanics jack

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Don Butts

You are correct. The trolly Jack is more suited to changing a tire on the side of the road. The bigger Jack is easier to use and position under car. It's also much more stable, with less chance of tipping over when extended. I would suggest buying an aluminum one if you can find one in your price range. The steel ones are pretty heavy.

imtheking

Thanks Don-

I'm going with this:

​​​​​​https://www.harborfreight.com/15-Ton...fQ%3D%3D%0D%0A

You think 1.5 tons is enough? 3000LB should be enough

Don Butts

I would go with 3 tons. That's what I have,I on heavy vehicles I can feel the strain. It gets harder to pump up. I think that one would be taxed. Also 3 ton jacks lift higher. Make sure you have good jack stands too.

sivikvtec

If you are only lifting one corner at a time and not supporting the car with jack stands, always keep in mind the jack could fail and come down by itself. NEVER EVER GET UNDER A CAR ONLY SUPPORTED BY A JACK THIS ACTUALLY KILLS PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

imtheking

Thanks- I'm purchasing a 3 ton jack stand for added safety. Honestly, this was more for brake jobs and caliper painting/repainting every once in a while. I wouldn't feel safe getting under a car with a jack and the stands. I just know the last jack I used started to bend when I was jacking up the SL- right there I knew I need a professional grade jack for this car

sean65

This is what I've used to lift the SL500. I had no problem getting this under the rear of the car to lift at the differential.

Jason DeWilde

I use ones from jackpointjackstands.com, worth the investment and safety they are slick.

tonylinc

My indy works full time as a mechanic fixing peoples' cars. He graduated from the US Army after working on "everything they have that has wheels". He gets under the car after lifting and supporting with only one jack. Maybe one reason I'm old is I allow fear to get the upper hand. I won't get up on the roof, and when I get under a car with jacks and jackstands, I still get scared. That's why I hire an indy. I don't know why he wouldn't use jack stands. Crazy!! When he is working on my car I drag them out of the garage, I have two sets. Gravity Sucks!!! There's enough ways to die, other than trusting a hundred dollar floor jack!

sean65

Those are pretty as hell, but man, pricey.

Leej

@sivikvtec I don't mean to repeat what others have said, but I would get a 3 ton jack. A lightweight aluminum jack is definitely nicer than steel (very heavy), but also more expensive.

Also, keep in mind that you may want to jack up the front or back (rather than one side at a time), and this may require a longer reach jack or lower profile (just something to consider).

I raise the front of my car from the front center jack point and then place the jack stands on the front/side jack points. Or raise the rear with a jack at the rear diff (with a thick piece of ply wood), and then put jack stands under the rear/side jack points.

Safety first!

Lee

sean65

Where is the front center jacking point?

George993

Also it's good to have a low profile jack. For example when your ABC fails with a leak, the car gets very low (tires practically touching fender liners) and standard jacks do not fit under the car to raise it (ask me how I know)

matk

This thread might help, but I've never looked or tried myself.

https://www.benzworld.org/threads/sa...-jack.1583784/

Leej

Seems like I remember someone posting pictures of the front jack point, but I couldn't find it. However, I did find where Rudeney answered this question with the following which was very helpful for me, and I have put the care completely on jack stands using this method (although it did make me nervous...). I'll keep looking to see if I can find a picture of the front jack point, but it is a square plastic puck...:

"The easiest way to lift the car is to use a low-profile jack on the center points. The front center jack point is a square plastic puck, protruding from the middle of bottom engine cover. It's best to raise the body with ABC first so your jack clears the bumper. The rear center jack point is just to lift under the differential housing. I lift the front first, then place jack stands under the front side pucks, then lift the rear and place jack stands on the rear side pucks."

Lee

sean65

Just found this, the central jack point doesn’t appear to be too far inside the front bumper