Anyone have pics of where to put jack stands? - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

mvaldes · 06-11-2009, 09:03 PM

I'm thinking of painting my calipers and possibly the rear drums as well. With my trusty floor jack and hockey puck it's easy to get the car up and the wheel off. But, what then? Where can I put the jack stand so I can remove the floor jack and take off the next wheel?

Suggestions, tips, things to avoid

, guidance (spiritual

and technical

both welcomed), and particularly pictures of where to put the stands will be greatly appreciated.
TIA, Michael

Dunerunner · 06-11-2009, 09:16 PM

There is a photo here but I think it is of a Roadster.

Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia

dink74 · 06-12-2009, 03:05 AM

I the round pockets at either end of the doors. This is the jack/lift/support points on the car.

Dink

**JPaul** · 06-12-2009, 04:21 AM

FYI, in a sticky

Quote:

Smart Car Operation and Maintenance > Smart Car Technical > Smart Car Operation and Maintenance
FAQs/DIY: OPEN to see easy solutions to most common issues

under
"How to Jack Up Your Smart Properly"
you can find the link
Jacking points
and many easy DIY tips...
It has guidance and pictures just for you.

mvaldes · 06-12-2009, 08:38 AM

Thanks all.. I know where the jack points are and use them when I change from snow tires to summer tires. What I don't know is where to put the jack stand when the jack point is occupied by the floor jack. I'd like to jack up one side, put in a stand, remove the jack and go to the other side and use the jack point there to lift the car, put in a jack stand, remove the floor jack, repeat for the rear.
I've read the Jacking Point thread that JPaul listed and the jack stand question is raised, but not really answered there.
In Dunerunner's Evilution link it looks like Kane places the jack stands under the DeDion tubes in the rear which should work on the fortwo as well. (BTW the new link is http://www.evilution.co.uk /index.php?id=3680) So that still leaves me with the question of where to put them in the front. (I confess I really didn't understand Randy Zimmer's placement note.) Anyone able to clarify that?

**JPaul** · 06-12-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvaldes

... I'd like to jack up one side, put in a stand, remove the jack and go to the other side and use the jack point there to lift the car, put in a jack stand, remove the floor jack ... where to put them in the front...

Just a thought: do the locations where the exhibit exoskeleton stand help? I haven't looked under mine, but maybe it'll give you a clue.

See just a left of the "s" from our site's logo...

mvaldes · 06-12-2009, 04:30 PM

Thanks JPaul, that's a good idea. When it finally stops raining, I'll crawl under and take a peek. I just hope it's not hidden under plastic!

Took a look - It's under the plastic somewhere so I'm still looking for suggestions.

**JPaul** · 06-12-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvaldes

...
Took a look - It's under the plastic somewhere so I'm still looking for suggestions.

Rats!

Brabus · 06-12-2009, 09:17 PM

I just assumed there weren't such points. If you lift up the rear a foot or so off the ground, the front lifts up about 2 or 3 inches less than the rear, so then you can put a floor stand on the front, then lower the rear and repeat on the other side.

But maybe there is an easier way.

My jack is a 3 ton jack, so it doesn't fit under the front jack points anyway unless I use a crank car jack to lift the rear a little so that it in turn lifts the front a little for me to slide the 3 ton jack under the front of the Smart's jack point. Lifting the rear automatically lifts the front, which I've never seen happen on any other car, which I think is really nice. I mean a lot of cars don't have good secondary places to lift the car with a floor jack to then in turn slide a stands under.

What I don't understand is why they put plastic under the lift points, but maybe that is to minimize the jack from scratching the metal thus minimizing corrosion. Unless you're very careful using a special Jack, that plastic is going to get rather damaged the more the car is lifted. But I guess it's just plastic under the car.

I wish they made Smart car size lifts. I'd get one for my garage if they did.

Here's my garage btw, jk

Or you could get one of these.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvaldes

Thanks all.. I know where the jack points are and use them when I change from snow tires to summer tires. What I don't know is where to put the jack stand when the jack point is occupied by the floor jack. I'd like to jack up one side, put in a stand, remove the jack and go to the other side and use the jack point there to lift the car, put in a jack stand, remove the floor jack, repeat for the rear.
I've read the Jacking Point thread that JPaul listed and the jack stand question is raised, but not really answered there.
In Dunerunner's Evilution link it looks like Kane places the jack stands under the DeDion tubes in the rear which should work on the fortwo as well. (BTW the new link is http://www.evilution.co.uk /index.php?id=3680) So that still leaves me with the question of where to put them in the front. (I confess
I really didn't understand Randy Zimmer's placement note.) Anyone able to clarify that?

The Rigger · 06-12-2009, 09:34 PM

Any reason you couldn't put the jack under the shock mount instead of the jack point to lift the car? That's worked for me on other cars.

Lord knows it ought to be strong enough...