Opinions on a good floor jack...
 

Looking to spend $200 tops for a floor jack and stands. I don't care how heavy it is, but I need something low profile for these darn cut springs :-x

I'd prefer pick-up because I would need to use it tomorrow for drive shaft and spring removal. I saw that Sears has this:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ku=00950168000

Is that overkill for a thirdgen?

Did you check out the Hillsborough Lowe's for their garage kits?

I have not checked anything out yet, but that was going to be my first stop. Whats the minimum weight I need? 2 tons?

That is probably the bare minimum. I have a 2 ton Torin trolley jack that I hate because the handle is short (so less leverage) and the cylinder is small so it takes a fair amount of pumps to get the car up.

I'd go with a 3 ton jack for one that's not a PITA to use.

Not on their website, but here's the one I got last summer for $149 on sale (normally $199):

http://www.lowes.com/pd_89476-33680-...ductId=1111715

It was a good deal. Still an imported jack but seems to do OK. It is NOT a low profile like you want, but I skipped on that because the jack height is not an issue with my T/A, it's the fact that the handle can't pump with the jack under the car.

Most 3 ton jacks have a minimum saddle height of 5 inches. No way my IROC is 5 inches right now...

Will be less of an issue once I put new springs on. The racing jacks seem better for saddle height (closer to 3.5 inches) but I don't need a lightweight jack or a jack that goes to full extension in 3 pumps. Are those racing jacks really insensitive? Like it would be a PITA to move it up just a hair?

you may be forced to drive the car up on some low slung ramps to get a jack under it. I have some low homemade wooden ones for that very purpose.

time for springs lol

Yea it's definitely time for springs. I'm taking the Eibach springs out of the GTA and putting them into the IROC.

Has anyone ever used a racing jack? Are they difficult to move in small increments because of the quick full extension pump?

Have (had?) one at the shop. A Craftsman. Not hard to move in small increments. It's fast until it hits certain resistance.

I would not recommend a Craftsman though. Was real nice until it blew the cylinder. Used it maybe 5 times.

Nice.




I'll likely build some ramps from wood:

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...mpsdiagram.jpg

(Thanks to Stephen from thirdgen.org)


Then I can use a normal 4 or 5 inch 3 ton jack. I just have to get the wood, a saw and the jack now...

I bought a 4 ton low profile Craftmans professional jack which has served me very well. My other 2 ton aluminum or w/e else would end up failing within a season. The 4-ton fits under my bird and without an issue and just simply works. Takes a good amount of pumps to get something lifted but thats OK.

I bought the same one you have from Lowes WBT

Decent price?

"Lowes every day low price: $125"

In addition to a long reach, low profile jack I have this Torin: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...6598_200326598

It's served me for a few years now and I got it pretty cheap at Walmart without those stands. It's heavy as heck and certainly is losing some of its strength, but its still got some life in it and it has certainly paid its dues. I would buy again.

You might also try Harbor Freight Tools, they have a price on a three ton aluminum low profile jack for around $60.00. I have one and it works very well. It takes about 4 pumps and looks like a NASCAR model. They have a store right off of Route 1 in Woodbridge.

I picked up a 2.5 ton aluminum and steel jack from Zone last year. Not bad, twin piston, picked it up for 130ish around there?

No, once there's weight on them, they are workable.

Get a 2 post lift! Floor jacks are over rated.

Until the power goes out during a freak snowstorm in October, leaving your Trans Am stuck in the air.

Come on Bill, like that could ever happen!:mrgreen:

Nope, never.

"Huh. Why did the radio just shut off. Wait, the lights are off too? Oh #*($@."

Thats just poor planning, and crappy luck. lol.

The ones I've used are a "pressure release to lower" system, no power needed with those ;-)

That's what we've got. Thing is that you have to bump it up off the safety latches before you can pressure release.

They all are pressure release but you need to power up to release the safty locks.

true, but i never left cars up long enough to really drop them on the safety latches anyway. Depending on the height (usually right after the latch click) where i stopped lifting the car, i could sometimes just pull the releases without raising up.