Lifting front jack point from the side

[troymcclure]

The Honda Fit has a front-center jack point way back behind the engine on the crossmember. I’m not aware of any jacks <$800 that can access it from the front.

Many people have gone in from the side with a low profile jack just fine and my jack can fit this way. The handle has enough room for full movement in the wheel well.

Would you lift the car like this? The jack can roll forward as it rises so I’m not worried about it becoming imbalanced in that direction. I’m more worried that as the front of the vehicle is lifted and angles up, the lift point moves toward the rear of the vehicle ever so slightly and the jack’s wheels can’t shift in that direction.

 

[troymcclure]

FWIW, thought about ramps to get the jack under from the front but don’t have much storage space so trying to avoid buying those.

 

[D60]

This is a minor problem even jacking pinch welds or framerails from the side.

I think the answer is that it's fine provided you realize the limitations. Watch the jack for instability, be aware of your surface (if you were in gravel or dirt) and don't even get close to getting your body under there unless the weight is safely transferred to jackstands.

Bigger, heavier jacks always fare better than small floor jacks because they more effectively resist racking and tend to have a wider footprint.

Can you go under a control arm from the front?

 

[KevinMalone]

I’m not aware of any jacks <$800 that can access it from the front.

What about the Daytona long reach low profile jack?

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton...l-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-black-64781.html

 

[Jetronic]

The Honda Fit has a front-center jack point way back behind the engine on the crossmember. I’m not aware of any jacks <$800 that can access it from the front.

Many people have gone in from the side with a low profile jack just fine and my jack can fit this way. The handle has enough room for full movement in the wheel well.

Would you lift the car like this? The jack can roll forward as it rises so I’m not worried about it becoming imbalanced in that direction. I’m more worried that as the front of the vehicle is lifted and angles up, the lift point moves toward the rear of the vehicle ever so slightly and the jack’s wheels can’t shift in that direction.

View attachment 278837

if you are concerne about the lift point moving back, make sure the rear wheels can roll forward. apply the brak when the vehicle is sup and supported.

 

[siriusc1024]

I come in on the side and jack up on the head of one of the subframe bolts. No paint to scratch, no bending parts, and the bolt constrains the lift point inside the cup.

 

[eljefino]

If you do the trig the shift should be around 1/4 inch. As long as you have slop in the saddle-to-car interface it can shift that much and be fine. I would not, in this instance, "catch" the flange of the saddle on anything unmovable on the car lest it tilt the jack as you fear. From the picture you look good, from the text I know you're careful.

 

[brages]

What about the Daytona long reach low profile jack?

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton...l-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-black-64781.html

I just bought this one... on my 2019 Accord, it can just barely reach the front jack point, which is slightly aft of the wheels, I think. It's enough of a reach that the handle motion is limited to only a few inches, but it's enough that you could lift that way. I'll still use ramps to get the front started, though.

I think you are good coming in from the side, as long as you can get a good place for jack stands. There is a special jack that is designed to lift around jack stands, might be worth considering, although I'd rather not have to jack 4X to completely lift a car.

 

[troymcclure]

This is a minor problem even jacking pinch welds or framerails from the side.

I think the answer is that it's fine provided you realize the limitations. Watch the jack for instability, be aware of your surface (if you were in gravel or dirt) and don't even get close to getting your body under there unless the weight is safely transferred to jackstands.

Bigger, heavier jacks always fare better than small floor jacks because they more effectively resist racking and tend to have a wider footprint.

Can you go under a control arm from the front?

Hadn’t considered the control arm - felt more comfortable using the jack points listed in the FSM but good backup.

What about the Daytona long reach low profile jack?

View attachment 278846

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton...l-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-black-64781.html

Sadly too tall and still not long enough of a reach - needs to be about 5 inches max to squeeze in.


This is the bad boy Honda recommends for the Fit.
https://honda.snapon.com/HondaAcura/Catalog/Product?id=KLS359775


Thanks for the advice everybody. Went in to do the brakes today and I was super attentive to the movements and it worked out great. Confident it is a secure approach to keep using.