Should I just buy the Harbor Freight jack?
My jack is dead, I can't even get the miata high enough to get it off the casters I store it on for the winter.
I am torn between buying another low-pro aluminum jack that will actually fit (though with some difficulty) under the front, then using blocks and shit to lift my outback, or just buying the harbor freight 3-ton that will sort of fit under the miata, but should lift the outback. With the 3-ton, how do you lift the car and then get jack stands on the pinch welds? It looks like it would only fit under far enough to lift on the pinch welds, which then makes it difficult to put jack stands there. |
I use the 3 ton on all my cars. I put it on the center of the pinch weld and lift. Then put a stand near the tires.
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The 3-ton is heavy, but is very low profile.
i bought it at $79.99 a few years back FYI |
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If the data on the website is to be believed, the 3 ton jack actually has a lower minimum saddle height than the aluminum one; 2-7/8" vs 3-1/2".
As to technique, I usually follow the instructions in the Mazda shop manual and jack the car from the front and rear, rather than from the sides. https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1457967599 (I've never understood why PacMan seems to do most of Mazda's service work, whereas Honda and Toyota both employ that kid from Pokemon to pose for their shop manuals.) If your car is especially low, get some 6" x 1" x 8' pieces of lumber. Cut 'em down to about 2' lengths, and build a set of tiered ramps several inches thick at the max. Drive the car up onto these (all four wheels), and that'll give you plenty of jacking clearance. |
I also have it and use the method Joe described.
It will reach the front cross member. It actually lifts a bit higher than the standard 3 ton jack. Get it. It's a great Jack. As Brain mentioned it is very heavy, so if you need it to lug around at the track, get the aluminum one. |
You guys are jacking on the pinch welds? Ouch, those things fold like paper unless you're using the stock jack.
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Thanks guys! I don't bring my jack anywhere, so heavy is not a problem.
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Originally Posted by Erat
(Post 1315559)
You guys are jacking on the pinch welds? Ouch, those things fold like paper unless you're using the stock jack.
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dont be dumb and you wont fold the seams.
or buy the silly FM jack things that they target incapable m.net members with... |
Originally Posted by shuiend
(Post 1315547)
I use the 3 ton on all my cars. I put it on the center of the pinch weld and lift. Then put a stand near the tires.
Originally Posted by Joe Perez
(Post 1315551)
As to technique, I usually follow the instructions in the Mazda shop manual and jack the car from the front and rear, rather than from the sides. If your car is especially low, use a set of tiered ramps several inches thick at the max. Drive the car up onto these
Originally Posted by Erat
(Post 1315559)
You guys are jacking on the pinch welds? Ouch, those things fold like paper unless you're using the stock jack.
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This is the jack you want. Bigger, heavier, bit more expensive, but it is the best jack I have ever used.
It has a lower starting height and lifts higher than the 3-Ton and has no trouble with the Miata, Minivan or Outback. With no front lip (and slightly bending the bottom of the bumper) I could get to the front subframe and lift the Miata with the pinchwelds at 3.75"/4". |
Originally Posted by x_25
(Post 1315608)
This is the jack you want. Bigger, heavier, bit more expensive, but it is the best jack I have ever used.
It has a lower starting height and lifts higher than the 3-Ton and has no trouble with the Miata, Minivan or Outback. With no front lip (and slightly bending the bottom of the bumper) I could get to the front subframe and lift the Miata with the pinchwelds at 3.75"/4". |
you'll never go to full lift, and the 3-ton is cheap and low enough for almost everything.
I've had issues with 2-tons struggling with small SUVs. |
Spend the extra money to get one of the larger aluminum jacks with twin cylinders. They're more stable and lift higher. It's a once per decade purchase.
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What Ben said. Spend a little extra now. I bought my current low pro jack well over a decade ago.
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Yeah that 2 ton is the shit you need. Reaches the front sub frame with ease but cant reach the diff if you have the cross brace there and already lifted the front of the car. That bad boy will lift the whole front end of an F250HD. Not one of the light weight trucks, the ones with a fucking iron 460 big block and dana50 in the front.
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Originally Posted by Leafy
(Post 1316401)
Yeah that 2 ton is the shit you need. Reaches the front sub frame with ease but cant reach the diff if you have the cross brace there and already lifted the front of the car. That bad boy will lift the whole front end of an F250HD. Not one of the light weight trucks, the ones with a fucking iron 460 big block and dana50 in the front.
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I bought the 3 ton. Is it normal for it to rise really quick, then when it actually starts lifting the car to slow WAY down? It lifts it fine, but it isn't what I would call "rapid lift" by any stretch.
I bled it per the instructions when I got it (cracked the fill screw, loosened the handle, and pumped it 5 or 6 times), and it's probably normal, it's just different than my last jack I guess. The last one only had one speed, and it was relatively quick I guess. |
Originally Posted by Ben
(Post 1316449)
It won't lift any of the superduty trucks we have here. We use 2 jacks for those.
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