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I've been working on the car, and the move I remove, the more I find there are less safe locations to put jack stands. The frame doesn't seem like it like it at all, but I want to put jack stands on all 4 corners eventually, removing some of the suspension components, but I want it to be stable and most importantly, SAFE, that I can go under the car. Anyone got any recommendations?

you could put a piece of plywood b/n the rails and the stand to increase the surface area. In the rear, the housings for the front end of the trailing arms is safe, anywhere on the front crossmemeber should be okay.... just not on the swaybars.

Will that be in the way of removing my trailing arms?

Front crossmember is out, so can't use that.

well, it COULD cause issues.

the "bolt" on the out side of the car, meaning not towards the centre of the vehicle... is fastened to that bracket, so you shouldn't have to pay it any heed. Although, mine broke and I needed to bash around in there a lot. so, if that bolt behaves, which is likely if you don't live here, then you'd be perfect.


If the tiedown hooks can hold lots of pressure in the downward direction, I would imagine there is a chance they (or what they are fastened to) could hold the upwards pressure too.

I put my jack stands just forward of the training arms and just aft of the front suspension, basically on the same structure and location opposit of the the rear. I doubled them up because I'm paranoid. i did my engine swap like that. I did at one point have them on the front structure beneath the rad on that box beam but you need to use a board or you'll crush the structure a little untill it settles. Another way I did it was over head block and tackel with a chain around the bumpers but you need to remove the skin to do that.

I had my car on 4-5 jackstands for 5 months. I can take pics of the locations if you'd like. Don't use plywood, use 2x4's on the frame rails. It will distribute the load well enough where it won't damage anything. Front ones go just behind the arms on the bend in the frame I believe. back 2 go on the frame w/ 2x4's and then you can put a 3rd in the back by the middle of the swaybar area just as another safety one.

The manual tells me to throw the jacks onto the frame...

On older cars the frame rails arent in the best condition due to rust, etc. Putting a jack on the frame rail can and will bend it - just depends on the extent. 2x4 prevents this

I was thinking 2x4 and then stability, and figured some 1/2" plywood would do just as nice...

All other listed locations are good too, in my books. (especially one just infront of trailing bracket, d'oh.)

Just remembered, I had a Hindu mystic levitate my car a few years ago and I got another one to join him. Kinda like using extra jack stands if you know what I mean. Ommmm

Side Bar: Ghandi was a well know Hindu who as a result of his desire to walk bare foot had a pretty impressive set of calouses on his feet and because of his light diet was pretty skinny. This also resulted in a bad case of bad breath. Hense he was know to be a,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,wait for it.
Super caloused fragile mystic hexed by halotosis. Ta Da!

Unless youre using 3/4" plywood I wouldn't - I guess some perfect condition 1/2 might work but ive seen that stuff split on concentrated point loads. I guess the mx3 isn't that heavy though.

nor is your usual jack stand a "concentrated point"