Weighting Suspension w/ Jackstands

[Nebkhat]

It appears that I do not have sufficient privileges to post in the DIY area so I'm posting this information here.

Weighting Suspension w/ Jackstands

I hope this information is helpful to those needing (or preferring) to weight their suspension using jackstands. I apologize in advanced if this information is located elsewhere.

This weekend I installed a Progress RSB, purchased at an amazing deal, from Excellerate. After stating my intent to use jackstands to weight the suspension, I received a few inquiries. I do not own a set of ramps nor did I intend on acquiring any. Ramps are safer by far, but reduce the working space. I have performed suspension work on Jeeps and Dubs in the past, always using jackstands.
The pictures below are of an FA1. FG's and FA5's may differ.

Now for the disclaimer....
Use this information at your on risk. I will not be held accountable if damage, injury, or death occur. Working under a vehicle is dangerous and safety should always be your first priority. This information is meant to serve as a guide and may not account for every variable. These are not step by step procedures. If you intend to use this information, read it entirely before attempting the procedure. If anything is unclear, or you are unsure, use ramps.

A note on wheel chocks. To prevent the vehicle from shifting on the jackstands, DO NOT chock the front wheels until AFTER it is resting on both jackstands. You want the front of the vehicle to shift forward while lowering the rear. If your front wheels are chocked the vehicle will shift to the rear and may fall off of the jackstands. For added safety, a second set of jackstands can be used just aft of the jacking tabs. While lowering the vehicle on the second stand (other side), watch BOTH stands and do it slowly! Again use jackstands at your own risk!

I recommend removing the wheels. Pictured here is a stock 16”wheel. As you can see there is very little clearance with the wheels installed.



If a picture is worth 1000 words this one would overdue it. The perfect location for the jackstands.



The inside passenger side.



View of both stands weighted.



Passenger side wheel well. The jackstand is in the lower part of the picture. The shinny bit is the new support bracket used on non-Si models.



I had to use the trailing arm while removing the second jackstand. My floor jack would not raise the vehicle enough to slide the stand out from underneath the arm. I raised the suspension off of the jackstand in the area pictured below; the jack is still weighted. The jackstand pictured was used for safety in the event the jack slid up the arm.



I hope this information is useful for someone; if not I apologize for wasting your time. Be safe!

Neb,

[Bryan 07'CoupeEX]

Why do you weight the suspension?

[soxfan]

I've done this before myself. the suspension has to be under load when you install the rear bar, otherwise the bar won't have equal roll resistance on either side