Quick Tips - Jacking Up your Classic Mini

[@gavinivers8941]

Lets remember NOT to jack under the gearbox, some have, as it will break the engine mounts.

[@pep416]

I am digging that jack ! Please send info. Your vids are awesome. Merry Christmas.

[@classicminidiy]

Hey Steve link to the Jack is in the description! Thanks.

[@classicminidiy]

Jacking up the engine for the sake of repairing engine mounts is a very good example of when to jack from the gearbox using blocks of wood as you suggest. However you should never jack the full weight of the car up from the gearbox. The engine mounts are not made to handle the full weight of the car by any stretch of the imagination.

[@gdeathrow]

I wouldn't use the tie bar mounts to jack up a complete car. They're not designed to be stressed in that way and if you bend them, it'll affect your cars castor angle. Additionally, if you're using rubber subframe mounts and they're older and a little worn, jacking up using the tie bar mount could cause the frame to deflect and possibly contact the body. The flat section underneath where the lower arm mounts to the frame is perfect, I place a piece of wood between the frame and the jack/axle stand to avoid causing any damage to the paint/surface.

[@deangaryjames]

Another point worth a mention, because its a bit iffy jacking under the tie rod mounts, tyre shops may jack on that flat area below the lower arm? Well on the clutch side its so easy to crush the live battery lead and a possible short, worth knowing 😊

[@jamesworley2674]

NEVER EVER jack the Mini from the front tie rod mounts (first option). Always the flats under the lower arm!

[@kevinchappell3694]

I jack the rear in the middle of the back of the subframe, but I use a 2x4 to spread the pressure. No damage to date after 25 years.

[@nightshift3615]

jacking points are on the side sills its a square aperture the jack that comes with the mini locks into these

[@rob_lightbody]

Yes!

[@WildBilly91]

Nice touch with the christmas decoration on the Hella lol.

[@iliaslamari7315]

Great video as always! *But you probably know that the mini does has a jacking point in the middle of the sills.* Do you know if that works well? I believe you have to get a special jack with one arm that fits into the hole placed in the middle of the sills. Because, that way if I wanna change my wheel with a spare I don't have to care about the mini rolling away from me. And I don't care a heavy jack or jack stands with me on a trip anyway. _Does anyone has this sidelift and does it work well?_

[@Dagowly83]

Avoid using it. Its a terrible place to jack the car up! Apart from the tiebar mount, I use the places Cole has demonstrated.

[@danielcopp6773]

You're right, I bought a mini in 1976 and it came with the jack that fits into the (approx) 1 inch square receptacle located in the sill approximately midway under each door. In order to operate the jack you used the same "crank-style" wheel wrench that came with the car. One odd issue was that you had to open the car door in order to fully rotate the crank while raising/lowering the car. I used this a lot when the car was newer, but agree with Dagowly: on an older crusty/rusty mini I wouldn't needlessly risk damaging the sills - stick with Cole's recommended jacking points.

[@iliaslamari7315]

@@Dagowly83 Yeah, that are the places recommended by any mini-forum or enthusiasts also. At home, I use the places Cole uses too. Just faulty engineering from the engineers of British Leyland I think to use a sidelift. *But, what type of jack do you recommend to carry with you for replacing a flat tire on the road?* A scissor jack or a hydraulic bottle jack? A floor jack doesn't seem practical to me because it's too big to fit in the trunk. Let alone jack stands...

[@Dagowly83]

@@iliaslamari7315 I have breakdown cover, so get mine flat bed transported home.

[@aussiebloke609]

I've used the side jacking point under the door many, _many_ times. It works a treat, picking up both wheels on that side at once. Probably not ideal if you're looking to support the car on stands, as you really want to lift by the ends, rather than the sides...but it works very well for changing tyres on the side of the road. The jack was also very reliable, so long as there's a little grease on the screw threads. The only real downside is that the door needs to be open while jacking, so if it's raining, your interior is going to get a little damp.

[@thebluep0tat0]

Quick tidbit from your neighbor in Atlanta, I use a small block of wood on jack so that the metal cup on the jack does not gouge the frame and promote rust. How those GAZ’ settling in?

[@classicminidiy]

Great idea! I should start doing that or get some rubber covers for them. I have had those GAZ shocks on the car for almost 5 years now. They are top notch. Very very happy with them.

[@glennlingard7851]

Absolutely!

[@myersliu]

Could you show how to use the original jacking tool (T-shape tool) that come with mini?

[@shagstheplumber3147]

Hey bud how and where did you you your Jack's to support the body to drop the subframes thanks Shannon

[@hosrow]

Thank you for the video. With all ther work that you do on the car, have you ever considered investing in QuickJack? BTW what ever did you do about the neighbor across the street that had complained about you working on your car?

[@classicminidiy]

I have indeed however I just haven't been able to justify the cost when I could use that cash to do more projects for the channel. That said quickjack if you're listening I would be happy to market your product if you wanna send me one!! Regarding the neighbor, I never figured out who it was and ultimately just yielded to the cities demands to lower the car down. Now I just don't leave it up in the air for more than 24 hours.

[@TomShorrock]

awesome Cole!

[@classicminidetails8887]

✊✊💦💦

[@landzender]

The people at Morris produced a design that you make out of wood to use as a jacking point under the front of Minis. It sits along the whole front of the front subframe and you put the jack under it. I have uploaded a copy to Imgur: imgur.com/a/1PIUCu4

[@steeveedee8478]

Can you use it at both front and back of the mini?

[@azbornmini]

Why not use a reproduction BMC jack block? Head on over to Classic Minis of Arizona on Facebook, I've been making them for over 11 years! facebook.com/classicminisofarizona

[@C.I...]

@@steeveedee8478 I'd like to know that too.

[@LoneStarMini]

as always.. well covered Cole..

[@jimwade1416]

You da man, Cole! Thank you very much.

[@classicminidiy]

Glad I could help! :-)

[@theaustralian2885]

Great Video mate, Easy to understand and those edits are Awesome!!!

[@raychambers3646]

I had a tyre depot jack my mini up in the middle of the front floor panel! Left quite a dent ,not pleased at all .

[@classicminidiy]

Oh man I would have been very upset. 😡

[@raychambers3646]

@@classicminidiy I did not have a lot of luck with that mini ,it went for service (tune up?) When I went to pick it up they were respaying one side ,apparently an oxygen cylinder had fell on it! Time to sell?

[@mephiskapheles6]

Have a great christmas bud.

[@classicminidiy]

You too man. 🌲

[@pep416]

Great vid. Digging the jack 🇬🇧😀please send info on jack.

[@classicminidiy]

Links in the video description of you’re interested. It’s not cheap though....but it’s TOTALLY worth it. 🙂

[@detroitbluesguy]

Show what tools you use and organization and layout of your tools..dont forget safety and fire extinguisher..i had a gas fire working by myself one time..lucky I didnt loose all..now we must have a minimum of two in shop...sorry comes with age LOL Jerry Carlson CEO Revision Automotive Inc Great Show!

[@Geemodrums]

if you were to put the mini on 4 jack stands, whats the best way to do it? first front then back? or the other way around?

[@classicminidiy]

I usually start with the front and move backwards. Feels more stable to me that way.

[@porroh869]

Nice mini dude

[@classicminidiy]

Thank you! :-)

[@simini22]

Don't use the tie bar mount! They are not designed to be loade that way and have been known to deform and that messes up your suspension geometry

[@curtiswilcock5628]

Thankyou for this 😁

[@classicminidiy]

Happy to help!

[@rob_lightbody]

There are factory Jack points on a classic mini. Read the instruction manual.

[@classicminidiy]

While this is true, those factory locations were made for the bracketry the cars were assembled on during their movement through the factory. Due to the age and rust on these cars, the factory locations are often rusted or the body surrounding the points has degraded past being reliable to lift from. That's why I suggested these points in the video.

[@stephencampbell6958]

@@classicminidiy in Australia we have compulsory yearly inspections to identify rust and other defects as part of re registering.

[@mattmccabe6366]

Good vid

[@franktaylor7617]

😎👍

[@jlcg]

Fml. Just found this. Could've used that cylinder head. Lol

[@MiniMattTV]

You know there’s a jacking point in the sill right? Not that it’s a good place to jack it up from and no one seems to have the jack that comes with the car from new.

[@classicminidiy]

Someone else mentioned it in another comment, I had no idea. That said I would never use that even now that I know about it hahaha. Subframe is way safer.

[@MiniMattTV]

Classic Mini DIY yeah, they’re all rusted out usually. I’m replacing mine for strength but welding up the hole as I’ll not be using it!

[@alexdean3794]

I used to and then when I came to welding my sills up, I realised that all of the reinforcement from the sill jack point was missing completely from previous owners cutting corners in repairs. Needless to say the sills were bent severely out of shape!

[@rob_lightbody]

I do