On 7 May 2005 12:35:49 -0700, "Kin" > wrote:

>Does anybody know where the Jack Points are for 1990 Acura Legend 4
>doors? I know the 4 points under the 4 doors but I need to jack up the
>car and put jack stands on those points. Thus I need to jack on on
>another spot using a hydraulic jack. Actually in general how do the
>Mechanics find out what are the points to jack up the car?

You look for thick metal that can take the pressure. In general that
means suspension components like lower suspension arms, trailing arms
etc, or subframes. If you look behind the plastic splash shrouds under
the front of the car you will usually see a subframe to which the
engine mounts are bolted. This in turn is bolted to the bodywork with
rubber shockmounts. There is usually another at the back to take the
rear suspension members. Both are made of strong enough metal to take
a jack. Morover you can trust them long after the car's doorsills are
so rusted out the recommended jacking points can't be trusted. Don't
trust the jacking points on a 15 year-old car too much unless the car
has never seen a salty road. I've seen many a jack get a car eight or
nine inches up and then punch right through rusted metal so the car
came rapidly right back down!


Which jackpoint you use depends on what you're doing. For instance you
don't want a jackstand under a suspension arm if you want the wheel
right down out of the wheel well. On the other hand if you have a
floor jack and want to get a tire up off the ground without having to
jack everything way up in the air, then right under the lower ball
joint is a good place. Or under the extreme end of the lower
suspension arm.

With light cars a floor jack on the subframe right under the radiator
will take both front wheels off the ground.

Never get under the car if there's only a jack holding it up. Use
blocks or jackstands and chock the wheels. If you're not on pavement
put a piece of plywood under the jackstands so they don't sink into
the ground.