Pinch Seam lifting pucks, yes or no?

[Airfix]

I just installed a 2 post hydraulic car lift in my garage. I wanted people's opinion on lifting an Audi or any car using the pinch seam is lifting using pucks with a seam recess better or worse than lifting with the pinch seam directly resting on the car lift lifting pad.

It seems there are two schools of thought.

1) Use lifting pucks to protect the pinch seam from damage effectively lifting by the material immediately adjacent to the pinch seam.

2) Don't use pucks because the pinch seam itself is stronger than the material either side of it. The thought is the jack that comes with the car has a recess for the pinch seam but it's shallower than the seam so the load is carried directly on the seam and not by the material adjacent to the seam.

What are your thoughts, pucks or no pucks?

Airfix

 

[laser3kw]

yes, pinch seem pucks - always.
don't take a chance. While they may have great vertical column strength, a small side load can fold them sideways.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Never use them on our lifts, never seen one used in a shop setting.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I use the rubber pucks. I had a seam bend over without them.

 

[99driver]

I've never liked lifting on the pinch seams. For VAG cars I like something like these: Here.

 

[Showkey]

Always.........Lift blocks on jack or lift on the reinforced area of the pinch weld that is designed as a lifting point.

 

[CraigStu]

At home in my garage w/ a floor jack I like the pucks. The round pad on the jack is usually a lot wider than the reinforced area of the pinch weld and the usual rubber pad in the center compresses. So the outer edges of the round jack pad generally are contacting the less strong area and it gets bent over eventually. But 20+ years as a Lexus dealer tech we never used them w/ our 2 post lifts. We seldom lifted at the pinch welds though. There is nearly always a subframe or other stronger place to lift the car.

 

[rattle_snake]

In some cases the pinch is the only way. If it's your own car, and you don't want the rails mangled, use a properly designed puck.

 

[BonzoHansen]

i need a set to use with my quick jack. not sure if i will use theirs or other ones

 

[White Shadow]

I have a set of pucks for my new Audi that fits perfectly, meaning that the depth of the slot in the puck matches perfectly with the height of the pinch weld.

Here's the set that I purchased. Looks like they aren't available at the moment, but they do have the full dimensions if you want to try to find a similar set. These work perfectly on Audi pinch welds.

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07QYRV7WQ/

 

[Dragfluid]

In my 48 years, have not used pucks on anything other than newer Vettes. Have never seen a reason to and if the pinch weld folds over, so what? It's still welded and does not affect the strength.

There's more important things to worry about.

 

[White Shadow]

In my 48 years, have not used pucks on anything other than newer Vettes. Have never seen a reason to and if the pinch weld folds over, so what? It's still welded and does not affect the strength.

There's more important things to worry about.

Obviously, the line of thinking here is for people who work on and care about their own cars. There's no good reason to not smash your pinch welds when it's so easily avoidable. It's part of my basic car care practices.

 

[gregs]

Surely not the correct method, but I made some pucks for one of my vehicles using some oak boards. I cut slots across the grain to the appropriate depth and marked them for the vehicle.

 

[firebirdparts]

It depends. The flat part of the rocker may or may not be better support. If there is a spot there clearly designed for support, then I think it's pretty dumb not to use it. Unfortunately they don't necessarily telegraph that clearly.

I've only smashed one rocker panel ever, but I am still kind of put out about it.

I make my own lift blocks.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Mine is a big chunk of PT 4x6 with a wide deep groove. Works well.

 

[Strouty]

I just use a BFH and flatten the area where the lift pads jack is going, then I never have to worry about it again.

 

[twistedstang]

In my 48 years, have not used pucks on anything other than newer Vettes. Have never seen a reason to and if the pinch weld folds over, so what? It's still welded and does not affect the strength.

There's more important things to worry about.

Sorry, I'd be pissed if someone mangled the pinch seam on one of my toys or my daily driver. It looks like ****, creates a spot for salt and muck to gather and create rust, and shows a general lack of giving a ****.

 

[jkeyser14]

Use the pucks. I had a shop bend the seam on my 300zx. There's no reason not to spend the extra 5 seconds to use lift blocks. You can even just use wood blocks with a groove cut.

 

[jabberwoki]

Mine is a big chunk of PT 4x6 with a wide deep groove. Works well.

Perfect..... close the thread.

 

[Jeepster04]

Just curious, anyone have pics of what youre talking about?

Ive only ever lifted from dedicated areas on pinch welds, so idk what this puck would do.

 

[mattbal]

Audi has a specific slot, not necessarily the pinch weld.

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/product/pf3-1660-audi-jack-pad-adapter-3802

https://www.walmart.com/ip/3-Pack-U...6273&affiliates_ad_id=612734&campaign_id=9383

Here are some linke to a couple of options. You would think I would be able to post a picture of the one i use but... I cant

 

[like2wheel]

Sorry, I'd be pissed if someone mangled the pinch seam on one of my toys or my daily driver. It looks like ****, creates a spot for salt and muck to gather and create rust, and shows a general lack of giving a ****.

Not to mention the paint at the fold does not go along for the ride, so you likely have some bare metal to accelerate the process.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Just curious, anyone have pics of what youre talking about?

Ive only ever lifted from dedicated areas on pinch welds, so idk what this puck would do.

If you have a good sized one, and you position it correctly, you can pick up one whole side of a car just like they do in NASCAR ! Makes rotating the tire easier/quicker.

 

[Dragfluid]

Sorry, I'd be pissed if someone mangled the pinch seam on one of my toys or my daily driver. It looks like ****, creates a spot for salt and muck to gather and create rust, and shows a general lack of giving a ****.

Yea, ok.

 

[gregs]

Use the pucks. I had a shop bend the seam on my 300zx. There's no reason not to spend the extra 5 seconds to use lift blocks. You can even just use wood blocks with a groove cut.

Same vehicle I made my wooden blocks/pucks for. The lift points are marked on the body seam.