using aluminum jack stand pads for pinch welds

[BTL-A4]

My jack stands (Esco 10497) have large pads on them. I've looked for rubber adapter pads for pinch welds, but they are all smaller and do not have a rod on the bottom to seat them on the metal jack stand. I'm concerned about them slipping off.


Has anyone used these type of pads for jack stands for cars with pinch welds:


I'm concerned with it scratching the paint or undercoating. There is usually a plastic piece (like the white piece in the picture) that is on the bottom, but it seems like there needs to be one on the top of the channel on the adapter as well. I'm not sure I want only the bottom of the pinch weld resting on the pad. I want the bottom of the pinch weld AND the top of the rib on the pad to contact the car. I realize this would mean finding an adapter that exactly matches my vehicle.

I could make some of these, but before I do, I want to find out if they are prone to scratching.

Thanks!

 

[mike93lx]

I use them with my quick jack. Seem to work fine on both of my cars, but I haven't looked for scratches.

 

[no704]

Hockey Pucks

 

[BTL-A4]

I'd rather not use hockey pucks because I don't want to have to cut them to make them work.

I'd like to know from anyone that's used these if the aluminum ones will scratch a car.

 

[BTL-A4]

I use them with my quick jack. Seem to work fine on both of my cars, but I haven't looked for scratches.

Thanks. Are the pinch welds under the car in such a place that there really is little or no paint to scratch? Is there any undercoating? Do the pinch welds rest on the edge for you so there is no contact with the aluminum?

 

[ctandc72]

The vehicle in question doesn't have better spots to use jack stands on? Legitimate question - not being a smart ***.

As for those types - I used them a lot on my S550 Mustangs I used to own - but for jacking up not for jack stands - and I stopped that when I installed jacking rails.

 

[mike93lx]

Thanks. Are the pinch welds under the car in such a place that there really is little or no paint to scratch? Is there any undercoating? Do the pinch welds rest on the edge for you so there is no contact with the aluminum?

The pinch welds are painted on my cars. I am pretty sure they contact the plastic block and the ears just locate them. The have magnets which are just barely strong enough to hold them in place while aligning the Jacks.

 

[BTL-A4]

The vehicle in question doesn't have better spots to use jack stands on? Legitimate question - not being a smart ***.

As for those types - I used them a lot on my S550 Mustangs I used to own - but for jacking up not for jack stands - and I stopped that when I installed jacking rails.

No, that's a good question! The owner's manual states that the jacks stands need to be on the pinch welds. The car is jacked up using other structural points on the car. I would be using the adapter pads with my Esco jack stands to hold the car for oil changes, tire rotations, etc.

 

[cmandp]

Personally I just use scraps of 3/4" plywood on top of the Esco cup without the rubber part. It crushes the plywood but the crush locks the pinch weld in place and the plywood in place on the top of the stand.

 

[msharley]

Buy a better car?



What are these pinch points? Of which you speak?

 

[Gozo]

I miss cars with frames. I’ve never used the pinch welds, always go for a control arm or lower shock mount or such. The good thing about unibody construction is that it doesn’t take much of a crunch to total the car. (Said only with a pinch [weld?] of sarcasm.)

 

[rattle_snake]

I use pinch rail adapters at times. Have both the metal one shown and some rubber ones. Usually someone else has already smashed them in. The intent is to load the bottom of the pinch (like the OEM jack), hence the plastic piece only at the bottom. They don't slip off. Pain to line up four at a time.

 

[zkdiesel]

I'd rather not use hockey pucks because I don't want to have to cut them to make them work.

I'd like to know from anyone that's used these if the aluminum ones will scratch a car.

If you want something that’s going to contact the bottom and top of pinch welds, be protective to paint on both surfaces you will be making/modifying something to custom fit your application…….

 

[i4ni]

You could use a softer durometer Urethane and not bother with cutting slots unless you felt the need to. Either way shouldn't damage the paint. Could be counter bored to accept a bolt

 

[i4ni]

y

Buy a better car?



What are these pinch points? Of which you speak?

Pinch rails are the vertical seam on the bottom spot welded portion of like the rocker panels. Kinda goofy jacking point on unibody cars

 

[mm08822]

I'd rather not use hockey pucks because I don't want to have to cut them to make them work.

I'd like to know from anyone that's used these if the aluminum ones will scratch a car.

I think these are the hocky pucks referred to. I use them with my floor jack. Never been a problem.

 

[mm08822]

...

 

[BTL-A4]

I think these are the hocky pucks referred to. I use them with my floor jack. Never been a problem.

Got a link for these? That said, there are tons of these for sale an Amazon. These just look like they would work, though, so I thought I'd ask.

 

[mike93lx]

Got a link for these? That said, there are tons of these for sale an Amazon. These just look like they would work, though, so I thought I'd ask.

I used these for a while. Nothing special, started seeing some damage in the groove from the pinch weld, but they worked.
Fasmov Jack Rubber Pad, 6 Pack Universal Jack Pad Adapter Slotted Frame Rail Protector, Rail Adapter Support Block https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078T72LKC?tag=atomicindus08-20

And the got these. Much nicer
Byenins Large Slotted Universal Magnetic Jack Pad Weld Frame Rail Adapter (2 pcs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081ZZBH26?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BTL-A4]

You could use a softer durometer Urethane and not bother with cutting slots unless you felt the need to. Either way shouldn't damage the paint. Could be counter bored to accept a bolt

I would prefer not to have to cut anything, since it can look sloppy, and I hate the DIY/ghetto "I cut this with a butter knife" look. I thought of machining it with a mill, but I'm not sure that's even possible; I'd have to use harder rubber maybe. Then again, a new, really sharp blade might be just the thing to cut it.

I emailed Esco and they don't sell anything. The told me the ones the stands came with could be used on pinch welds, but I don't agree; the slots are not deep enough.

 

[BTL-A4]

I used these for a while. Nothing special, started seeing some damage in the groove from the pinch weld, but they worked.
Fasmov Jack Rubber Pad, 6 Pack Universal Jack Pad Adapter Slotted Frame Rail Protector, Rail Adapter Support Block https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078T72LKC?tag=atomicindus08-20

And the got these. Much nicer
Byenins Large Slotted Universal Magnetic Jack Pad Weld Frame Rail Adapter (2 pcs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081ZZBH26?tag=atomicindus08-20

I'd rather damage the rubber than the car, so these might work. Thanks!

Do the second ones listed scratch the car at all? They are aluminum. I'll have to measure the pinch welds and see if mine fit.

 

[rattle_snake]

Sometimes the rubber ones will stick to the car, and disappear once driven.

The rubber pads on the lift can work fine themselves. depends on the vehicle.

 

[mm08822]

Oops...sorry, forgot to add that. These are Amazon specials.

 

[dhammond]

I would prefer not to have to cut anything, since it can look sloppy, and I hate the DIY/ghetto "I cut this with a butter knife" look. I thought of machining it with a mill, but I'm not sure that's even possible; I'd have to use harder rubber maybe. Then again, a new, really sharp blade might be just the thing to cut it.

I emailed Esco and they don't sell anything. The told me the ones the stands came with could be used on pinch welds, but I don't agree; the slots are not deep enough.

Made me laugh, cut with a butter knife.
I got some amazon cheapies and used a wood router to trim them down to fit inside the cup of the jacks cradle. This was just free handed but (I think) is better than butter knife results. I should have and could have set up the router table and fence for better results but I guess my point is... if you've got a mill, go for it.
I was using a hunk of 4x4 with a slot cut in it for swapping to winter tires on my wife's car that has pinch welds but it disappeared.

 

[PugetDude]

I would prefer not to have to cut anything, since it can look sloppy, and I hate the DIY/ghetto "I cut this with a butter knife" look. I thought of machining it with a mill, but I'm not sure that's even possible; I'd have to use harder rubber maybe. Then again, a new, really sharp blade might be just the thing to cut it.

I emailed Esco and they don't sell anything. The told me the ones the stands came with could be used on pinch welds, but I don't agree; the slots are not deep enough.

Hockey pucks machine really well. Sharp HSS tool @ high speed. Butter knife won't work.

Bored and counterbored:

Turned to size: