I have front end up on stands at the cowl.Can I safely open the door to get to the brake pedal? There is no suspension in it now so I really can't let it down.
Open door while up on jackstands?
grandsport
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
Joined
·
12,951 Posts
I have front end up on stands at the cowl.Can I safely open the door to get to the brake pedal? There is no suspension in it now so I really can't let it down.
It shouldn't be a problem.Just make sure your rear tires are blocked,so it doesn't roll back.
www.howardsbackyardautobody.com :beers:
www.howardsbackyardautobody.com :beers:
The front of the rails may be drooping, when you open the door make sure it's not hitting on the bottom of the fender. If it is jack up on the front of the rails slightly. You should be ok though, open and close door gently and slowly, it also may misalign the latch. Mike
Joined
·
12,323 Posts
Before you do, put a jack under the center of the front crossmember (under the engine), and jack it up enough to take the flex out of the frame. Not enough to take the car weight off the jackstands, just enough to remove frame flex. The weight of the engine is enough to flex the frame which pulls the front of the fenders down. If you don't you have a good chance of the front of the door rubbing on the fender. I've seen the result of that more than once with chipped paint on the edge of the door and/or fender. Even after jacking, open the door very slowly. BTW I like to put a short piece of 2x4 on the jack pad with a small piece of carpet on that to keep from scratching the frame.
Joined
·
12,951 Posts
I have been keeping a jack under the cross member the whole time,so it sounds like I'm good to go. Thanks.
Joined
·
12,323 Posts
Just be sure the jack is putting enough pressure on the frame to take the flex out of it.
Joined
·
12,951 Posts
Joined
·
12,951 Posts
No worries this way.Covering the edges of the doors and fenders with a bit of painters tape never hurts either.....
http://chevelleforum.org/picture.php?albumid=69&pictureid=960
Covering the edge of the fender in this case would do no good. It's not the fender edge, but rather the inner lip that the lead edge of the door rubs against. You don't know that you've lost paint on the door until you close it.Covering the edges of the doors and fenders with a bit of painters tape never hurts either.....
Joined
·
12,323 Posts
That's true.
Why didn't ya say the front end was off
Joined
·
10,919 Posts
I was gonna say, I think the fenders are off.... which makes it all moot.
He likes giving us something to do, since it's snowy and cold outsideI was gonna say, I think the fenders are off.... which makes it all moot.
Joined
·
12,951 Posts
Glad I could be of assistance.He likes giving us something to do, since it's snowy and cold outside
Joined
·
12,951 Posts
As said many times here,no question is stupid. If I'm not sure of anything and I mean anything,I'll ask first.
I agree, no stupid questions. It's amazing how much these cars flex.Just watch a few high powered cars at the dragstrip that must not be set up right, they twist like pretzels. Be real careful if you happen to have a convert.
I am replacing an AC pump on my daughters Sunfire, I jacked it up by the rocker in the front and the rear tire came up too. These unibodys are pretty stout, verses a full frame.
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
