finding/using jack stands for removing all four wheels

[Jay]

Hi. First I'm really new to doing these things, and I don't know the meaning or location of lots of terms or parts of my '66 Bug, ie., terms I've seen in posts.

Basically, my bug's been sitting in my (open but covered) carport in the parking lot of my condo association for ages, and all four tires are not simply flat but mostly shredded. So I need to jack up and support the whole car, somehow remove all the wheels, and take them to the tire store where they'll put on the new ones (I've got on layaway) and balance them for me, too. Then I'll need to reverse the procedure (bring the wheels with new tires on back home, get them back on the car, and lower and remove the jacks). So the car will be on the jacks for a while, at least, that day.

First question: What kind of jacks should I get (to be really safe!) to support the whole car on? (And I'd really like to be able, later on, to use them again to crawl under and fix things, as the car doesn't run!) My first inclination was to try to find, or have cut, and then to use big blocks of wood instead of jack stands, as I'm nevous about metal jack stands, which are basically little columns, right(?), because of possible earthquakes (California!) or anything else that could destabilize the supported car. But I've also read, in other posts, that actual blocks of wood don't work well in place of jack stands when removing (any or all of) the wheels.

So, please, what brand/source of jack stands, including what size, do you veterans recommend, both when for removing all the wheels and leaving my bug 'up' for a while, AND for being able to work under the car at some future date?

Also, please tell me, in terms I can understand (and locations I can find on the car), exactly where to place the jacks and how to jack up the car.

Finally, I don't know that my 'scissor', or lifter, or whatever it's called, is up to lifting up each corner at a time, i.e., high enough to insert the jacks or blocks. (And, of course, again, I'm not sure just where to place it when jacking it up.) So, please, what type or model of jacker or lifter is recommended?

Any help at all is hugely appreciated!

Thanks - Jay

[hercdriver]

I would break all the lug nuts loose while it's on the ground. I'd buy two sets of jack stands and a hydraulic jack from Habor Freight. Jack the front up first (parking brake on and in gear). Support the front with jack stands under the front beam using the lowest settings of the stands. Jack up the rear. Support the rear of the car with jack stands. Remove the wheels. Reinstall in reverse order.

[Digger89L]

If your car still has the jacking points just in front of each rear wheel, and they are not rusted off ...you can jack the whole side of the car up from that point (they are designed to work that way). For example, you could jack up the passenger side and put a jack stand under the front at the outer-most point where the lower tube of the front beam meets the upright that holds the front shock absorber; at the back, place the jack stand under the point where the flat spring plate pivots on its mounting point (roughly directly behind the wheel). DO NOT, under any circumstances, try to place a jack stand under the floor pan, and any other 'flexible' part of the car (fenders, bumpers, etc.).

[Jay]

Thanks so much, hercdriver and Digger89L !
Lots for me to mull over, for sure! Really appreciate the help! - Jay

[Itskyle]

Hi. First I'm really new to doing these things, and I don't know the meaning or location of lots of terms or parts of my '66 Bug, ie., terms I've seen in posts.

Basically, my bug's been sitting in my (open but covered) carport in the parking lot of my condo association for ages, and all four tires are not simply flat but mostly shredded. So I need to jack up and support the whole car, somehow remove all the wheels, and take them to the tire store where they'll put on the new ones (I've got on layaway) and balance them for me, too. Then I'll need to reverse the procedure (bring the wheels with new tires on back home, get them back on the car, and lower and remove the jacks). So the car will be on the jacks for a while, at least, that day.

First question: What kind of jacks should I get (to be really safe!) to support the whole car on? (And I'd really like to be able, later on, to use them again to crawl under and fix things, as the car doesn't run!) My first inclination was to try to find, or have cut, and then to use big blocks of wood instead of jack stands, as I'm nevous about metal jack stands, which are basically little columns, right(?), because of possible earthquakes (California!) or anything else that could destabilize the supported car. But I've also read, in other posts, that actual blocks of wood don't work well in place of jack stands when removing (any or all of) the wheels.

So, please, what brand/source of jack stands, including what size, do you veterans recommend, both when for removing all the wheels and leaving my bug 'up' for a while, AND for being able to work under the car at some future date?

Also, please tell me, in terms I can understand (and locations I can find on the car), exactly where to place the jacks and how to jack up the car.

Finally, I don't know that my 'scissor', or lifter, or whatever it's called, is up to lifting up each corner at a time, i.e., high enough to insert the jacks or blocks. (And, of course, again, I'm not sure just where to place it when jacking it up.) So, please, what type or model of jacker or lifter is recommended?

Any help at all is hugely appreciated!

Thanks - Jay

What kind of turnaround do they have? Could get this done one at a time, and use the spare tire as the jack stand of last resort.

Get yourself some concrete building blocks big and heavy enough to also keep the car from rolling during the jacking up operation. Sure, e brake and tranny have their place, but I always tend to overdue safety on some things.

Good luck!

Kyle

[h~moto]

I would not skimp when it comes to purchasing jack stands. My opinion is that you should get jack stands made in the USA that have a wide base. I would not trust cheap imports. The jack stands that I use I have owned since the `70's so I have no idea what is available at the auto parts store. I would not be surprised if the only thing available is Chinese made. I looked to see what is available on eBay. There is a Hein-Werner brand that appears to be good quality but I am not familiar with this brand. The 3 ton capacity would be the size that is appropriate for Beetles.

If your scissor jack is good quality it should work fine.

Have your car on level pavement. Before jacking the car up, loosen the wheel bolts enough that you won't need a heavy torque to remove the bolts when the car is off the ground. Place the car in first gear and put the emergency brake on. You can use the torsion bar tubes to jack the car up. The following pic show the locations:

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/305076.jpg

Start at one side of the rear. Before lifting the vehicle, chock the front wheel that is on the opposite side. Chock it front and back. Put the scissor jack in position under the torsion tube and crank the jack by hand until it contacts the torsion tube. You can then crank the jack from the rear of the car. The crank handle needs to be long enough that you can crank it without getting under the vehicle. Then place the jack stand under the torsion bar tube and lower the vehicle. The jack stand should be as far from the center of the car as possible. Then repeat the other side. Do not lift the car any higher than what is necessary.
To raise the front you can place the scissor jack centered in the middle of the torsion bar tube and raise the left and right side at the same time. then place the two jack stands under the torsion bar tubes (spaced far apart) and lower the vehicle. It is a good idea to test the steadiness of the car after you have placed the jack stands.
You can also use the large wooden blocks you mentioned. Not to hold the vehicle up but to limit the amount the car would drop in the event of an earthquake or whatever. Place under the car but not in contact with the car.

As Itskyle says, it might be easier to not do all four tires at one time.

By the way, I would not be surprised if the tire store is unable to balance your tires because of the wide 5 bolt pattern of the wheels.

[Jay]

Thank, Kyle, for the advice. I will pay heed! - Jay

[Jay]

h~moto, thanks much for all the info and suggestions on the kinds of jacks, where to place them and the bug, and how exactly to raise it! - Jay