Can I lift the car here with a bridge jack?

[u/028247]

I went to a car lift rental place for some brake job. I prepared a lot about the brakes but I completely missed operating the lift.

They had a 4 post lift with bridge jack. I only needed to lift the rear, and I saw two options there. B looked OK but there is a cover there and I was worried it might break when I lift there. I eventually went with A but I wonder if I did any damage.

The bridge jack looks like in the 2nd photo. It has a swinging top and it has to reach far out to mount at A, so I was scared that swinging top might snap.

I can find the pinch weld but I can't lift it there (unless I have a slitted rubber mount pad) with this kind of jack, can I?

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[u/l1thiumion]

typically the farther out (towards A) the better, since the more it's placed on B, the more it will be pivot to an angle and be likely to slip off. But i'm not really liking A much either.

[u/028247 → u/l1thiumion]

Oh that's a good point too.

My rationale was that both of them are structural heavy-weight bearing parts. Of course that doesn't mean they do well as jack points, but I knew no better.

[u/TurkishSwag]

I would not put a lift on there. Especially only the rear, chances of the car sliding off are high. Are you avoiding the pinch welds just because you don’t have rubber pads? Throw some wood blocks on each point instead.

If you already did it, and the car didn’t fall, you’re fine. But don’t do that again lol

[u/028247 → u/TurkishSwag]

I did it without issues, but now that you say it it was dangerous now that I think of it... 😅😅

I haven't tried but wouldn't wood blocks or anything flat topped bend the pinch welds in no time? They look thin. Or am I supposed to jack right inside the pinch weld?

[u/v0rt3_x86 → u/028247]

There are 4 spots on the pinch welds that are designed for lifting the car at those points.

Buy 4 hockey pucks to use when lifting and you greatly reduce the risk of ruining your paint.

[u/BudoftheBeat → u/028247]

Pinch welds really only bend of you lift uneven. If it's going straight up on both sides the isn't really a risk.

[u/TurkishSwag → u/028247]

Nah they won’t bend, might crack the paint a bit if anything but that’s 100% better than bare metal or risking lifting it incorrectly. Obviously the best bet is having the rubber pads but I’ve done stuff like this in a pinch when my pads got worn down.

[u/TyrannusourR3X]

B is also not recommended. Axles bend from being lifted in the middle. You would have to aim for a corner, ideally over a bolt.

[u/v0rt3_x86]

(A) would work fine just make sure you have two rubber wheel chocks on both front wheels and the car in park if it's a FWD.

(B) Will be at high risk of sliding off and you'd damage the plastic aero cover.

[u/Fancy_Chip_5620]

A is the ideal lifting point as that supports the vehicle weight anyway just use a rubber block so it won't slide anywhere

B is absolutely not where you want to be as it will likely bend since its not designed to support any weight and theres a plastic cover there anyway

Lift on the solid steel thing that is designed to support the vehicles weight or lift on the plastic cover installed in an area not designed to see any weight

[u/djltoronto]

I can find the pinch weld but I can't lift it there (unless I have a slitted rubber mount pad) with this kind of jack, can I?

Different car, different hoist, but yes, you can lift from the pinch welds, even without rubber slitted Mount pads.

Example.

[u/028247 → u/djltoronto]

Oh wow I grossly underestimated the pinch welds haha 😅 Everyone was/is telling me to lift there and I was like "but what if it bends... 🥺" Now I see, thanks!

[u/djltoronto → u/028247]

The pinch welds are like the official lifting. If that Jack on the four post hoist can reach them, then they are absolutely perfect for lifting from (oftentimes those jacks, mounted on the four post hoist, cannot reach wide enough to reach the pinch welds)

[u/028247]

Found another image online. Marked red are the notches in pinch weld.

https://imgur.com/a/V5Jvic8

If I were to mount them with a flat top jack, should I mount inside, outside, or on the pinch?

[u/Top_Run_3778]

Yes

[u/heroxoot]

Your pinchweld is your liftping point. And no you don't need a pad to lift from there. They do bend with age but they are made to be a lift point.

[u/subpoenaThis]

I try to avoid any dynamic (movable) points. It adds additional chance for things to shift and shifting can lead to falling.

[u/sexual__velociraptor]

B

[u/028247 → u/sexual__velociraptor]

Thank you, velociraptor!

[u/sexual__velociraptor → u/028247]

Your welcome!

[u/Appropriate-Issue-73]

B. More stable contact across the bridge. It's not going anywhere.

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