Need guidance on the purchase of a good floor jack. Make, steel versus aluminum, lift rating, etc.

Thanks for the help.

Tim V.

 

Adide from the questions you asked, you need to pay close attention to the jack points on the rocker panels. Use of a floor jack at the locations where your service (trunk) jack is designed to fit will damage the rocker panels.
I made a wooden fixture to fit on my floor jack that appriximates the special mating surface of the service jack thereby preventing damage to the rocker panels. I've seen too many otherwise great cars with buggered up rocker panel seams caused by improper jacking equip. Check it out after you get the floor jack you want.KBO!

 

That is something I had considered and was thinking of fabricating a "seat" out of rubber material so that the jack face does not scar up or dent the rocker panel. Do you know approximately how wide/long the reinforced area of the rocker panel is? Also, any suggestions on the jack to buy?

Thank you for the reply.

Tim V.

 

It doesn't matter what you do at home because once you take it anywhere for service, tires, or alignment, they will use what ever lift they have. And nine times out of ten the tech could care less about anything except getting the car squarley on the supports of their lift.

All it takes is one person who had a bad day or who got in a hurry.

With that said you will end up at some time with a marred rocker.

I know, negative vibes, but the truth.

If I had not already had a jack I would opt for the 1.5 to 2 ton lowprofile racing style jack, with the big pancake plate on top. Because you can get different pads for them.

See Harbor Freight