Right and Wrong Jacking Points on a Classic Mini

This video covers where you SHOULD and SHOULDN'T lift your mini from, whether it's with a jack and jackstands, a hoist, or an emergency jack. Many rocker sills and floorboards have been destroyed by accident from lifting the car from a weak point. Please lift and support your mini properly and safely!
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[@gweeb_goble]

I've never owned a mini, so I have absolutely no practical reason to watch this video, but I'm happy to watch this just for how well produced your videos are

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Hahaha. Love this, and thanks for watching ❤

[@richardmoore7381]

One minute you're idly surfing a SMCO mini video and then before you know it the bank balance takes a hit and you are making space in the garage for a baby Austin. Don't ask me how I know this 😁

[@chrisb9360]

You should produce some nice durable stickers to indicate to shops where the jacking points are. Small arrow stickers (like track car tow hook ones) for the sills and large target ones underneath for the jack.

[@patrickclyde4931]

This youtube channel is so amazing you can learn so much about minis here yet its far too underrated this channel deserves more attention.

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Wow, thanks!

[@charlesrockwell3923]

Thanks so much for posting this video. This is the first thing a DIY mechanic needs to get right, and it is bungled on MOST cars after 10 or so years in service. People laugh at me when I ask, "so where are the best jacking points on this car?" and when you get under their cars there are bent floor plates, ties rods, and sump pans because they don't know where to jack up and support their cars.

[@dangreenwood1657]

I remember looking this up as the first thing I did before doing any work on my mini. A lot of stories about dented panels from improper lifting 😬 Thankfully mine seems to be fine dent-wise even if it does look a little like a patchwork quilt in places haha. I've heard that if you're taking out the subframes you can actually lift it from the centre of the body using a large piece of plywood and Jack stands to spread the force evenly to prevent damage BUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TRUE THIS IS. ALWAYS DO YOUR PROPER RESEARCH!

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Great point. We spread the load with a wide span of plywood as well when removing sub frames.

[@dangreenwood1657]

@@Stevestonmotorco cool

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Great video mate! I am in the UK, I run a vehicle rustproofing business- Rustproofing North West Ltd. I have a 70's Mini Clubman 1275GT in for treatment. I always research jacking and lifting points on vehicles I haven't dealt with before. This video was just what I was looking for to establish the lifting points for my two post lift. Brilliant- many thanks! :)

[@MrKurns]

6:30 Slinging brackets. I cut mine off. Rust traps. Also to try and prevent a shop from using them as jacking points.

[@sam._.buswell8181]

Yes finally! More tech tips! Love these thanks guys👌

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Our pleasure!

[@kyleelectrical9663]

It’s like you knew I bought jack stands last week to work on mine at home. Luckily I had been using a hoist and somehow got those points correct. Thanks for the info yet again!

[@Stevestonmotorco]

You're very welcome! Glad you saw the strong points and used them 👍👍👍

[@VanaConn]

super informative channel . My 94 Rover mini comes tomorrow and I think I'm obsessed .I'll be ordering some of your upgrades soon . Thanks !

[@JohnBaxendale]

The proper jack point, as far as I know, is about half way down the car where the cross-beam is, there's a specific cutout in the sill for the (supplied) jack to fit in. I realise the video was about jacking up with a trolley jack etc, but thought I'd mention it :)

[@jacobchampion4022]

If only I had this a few months ago, I've got some pretty bendy floors now! 😬

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Oh no!

[@ah1472-u5h]

Worth noting that early factory manuals include plans for a wood cross beam that nests into the front cross beam of the front subframe allowing a safe central point for jacking the entire front of the car. I made one and it works well.

[@danescholl7184]

Great vid y'al. Love the mini, love you guys! great show.

[@hosrow]

Good to see you again, buddy. Great pointer as usual. Looking forward to many more.

[@scottbahlavooni6071]

Thanks for this! I love watching your vids. It’s about time for another Q&A.

[@hadynmcloughlin4661]

Saved to favourites for when I can find a mini thanks for sharing

[@Oldenroadie]

Thanks, just about go through that with my recently acquired '67, which does unfortunately does a bump in the floor from improper placement in the past.

[@scottderuyter6627]

Another great vid !! Thanks

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@minimonte1]

How is it possible to make a video about jacking up a mini and then completely ignore the mini's jack and jacking points. Your video gives no clue to anyone who needs to change a tyre at the side of the road with only the original equipment. Apart from that.. spot on

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Thanks. Fair point, but 9/10 factory jacks are broken or missing at this point.

[@martinobrien4562]

Excellent presentation thanks, great help

[@johnnystewart9389]

You've helped so many minis

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Hope so!

[@janengvall]

Excellent! Really helpful!

[@mike444c3]

Brilliant advice as usual guys!!

[@BiscuitAdvisory]

great video. please do one for the grease points!

[@peterw4338]

In the 1960s my five year old mini rusted like mad. The correct jacking points were anywhere where there was no rust.

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Haha..oh no...

[@raychambers3646]

I had a "professional " mechanic lift my mini underneath my front floorpan ,drivers side never could get quite it back into shape.

[@Stevestonmotorco]

:(

[@windyboy78]

Simple and informative! Thanks mate!

[@johnclark499]

great video with very useful info - thanks

[@samsnow7370]

This video was pretty good... but I need you to do this with a 2017 Countryman. Jack points on the countryman 2017 are those points you pointed out that looked crushed under that car you have. Another video showed a person using 2 x 4 x 2 between the 2 wheels from the side and jacked it up using the 2x4 on the edge of the mini. And he said the plastic will bend a little but that's okay... I'm not comfortable with that ... so I am still searching for a video ...

[@ivannieves631]

Thanks great video

[@franciscomelendez3894]

What about beefig up the jack point in the shell?

[@midgelambert3880]

Hi Philip, what are your views on lifting under the motor with a piece of wood to spread the load just so you can get jack stands under the frame.?

[@Stevestonmotorco]

It's not a good idea to ever lift from the motor because the force of supporting the car is taken by the engine mounts. You also risk damaging the transmission case. But it's easy to lift from the front subframe and also have room to place jack stands underneath as shown. There's also a wood jig some folks make to allow jacking up the whole subframe from a front and center location.

[@shapinoweno]

Any chance you guys have tried a quickjack on a mini. I’m debating on buying one but I want to make sure it will work for my mini

[@elliotthopkins8174]

What about the 'emergency' jack points on the sills for roadside wheel changes?

[@maximesimons9306]

Is it safe to lift from sump guard? Is that bolted to the subframe?

[@riczito]

Hi, thanks for this. So my Mini has been lifted in exactly the wrong way and as a result I have bent floorpans on both sides at the front. What would be the best way of remedying the bent floors? Hammering the bent footwells downwards from inside the car? Or trying to pull the floor back into shape from underneath? Do you have any tips?

[@midgelambert3880]

Hi Phil, I have another question, if you don't mind, have you had any experience with fixing a gas leak where the little hose from the jet assembly enters the float chamber. I have had the carb off several times now trying to fix this problem. I installed a new jet assembly and it leaked from day one. So I changed the small rubber washer as it seemed to be too fat and squashed plugging the passage for gas to flow through (build up of gas pressure blowing the hose out) to a small O ring this works better but there is still a leakage of fuel. Any ideas on how to fix this problem?

[@maxpablo5882]

Just moved on from my motorbike to my first mini at 19. Been working on it solidly for the last two weeks and loving it. Is there any harm in leaving it jacked up for long periods of time so I can continue working next day?

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Shouldn't be an issue at all.

[@maxpablo5882]

Stevestonmotorco thanks for the reply

[@kevinchappell3694]

Why couldn't you extend the arms to the subframes? Angle issue?

[@sebl1527]

if my floor is dented, do you recommend putting it back from inside? Or I have to live with it?

[@thomasvejlo]

Good informative video and I think it is quite funny that you have a Stenhøj lift ( the same lift as where I work in Denmark)... How does a danish lift end up in Canada ?

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Beats me!

[@zizipoil]

thanks

[@Stevestonmotorco]

You're welcome!

[@zizipoil]

@@Stevestonmotorco I remember you had a video where you where lifting the shell without the subframes. Iirc you used a wood plank placed across the shell for this. Would you recommend using that technique on top of the one you show when one cannot access the subframe?

[@richardwalker5906]

Hi guys I've welded an extra section of steel in either side of car into the box section to give the side jack points extra strength for those times your at the side of the road with only a scissor or bottle jack

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Great idea! We've thought about doing that many times.

[@UnknownArtist994]

Very good video!

[@zakjones342]

Wow, all this time I never knew that was the battery cable under the front subframe. Lol

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Surprise!

[@travelingkaspersworld4096]

Do you happen to know the weight distribution over the wheels...front vs back? Hello and thanks all!

[@Iranrock]

Hi Philip! I want to buy a jack pump for my Mini because the original that comes with the car is terrible. Could you tell me please the minimum and maximum height that the jack pump should have? Many thanks from Spain!! ⛽🚙

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Hi, lower minimum is always better. Depends on whether or not your mini is lowered, on collapsed cones, standard height with new cones, etc

[@littlemini3171]

Thank you so much

[@Stevestonmotorco]

You're most welcome

[@Macaco_Branco]

Great comparison video between the two Quick Shifters Steve! I still have one of the first versions in my '90 Mini, as far as I know there was no KAD version available at that time. I wish there was a way to give my Morris Mini Cooper S MK1 a more precise gearstick, the car's shifting is so wobbly and spongy that it's not much fun to change gears, but I guess you have to make friends with that if you want to drive a Mk1! ^^ If anyone has any ideas, I'd be grateful for any tips.

[@Spanish4Point4]

More tech tips!! Wooo!

[@petr.stejskal]

Been wondering...what's the best way to lift up a Mini while on the road? (to change a flat tyre) Scissor jacks does not look too safe to me...

[@Stevestonmotorco]

Scissor jack on the subframe. Or on the body, as shown, in a pinch. But it would be a good idea to spread the load over a larger surface area with a wood block because scissor jacks can be a little pointy.

[@sebl1527]

Nice video. Really like your pointing tool. 😂 🚗 👈 ☝️

[@adi2602]

You won't like this because you weren't first!!

[@designerty]

1st! :D

[@ryanshaw1984]

Sorry, even your “right way” you would not lift / work on my minis like that.

[@Stevestonmotorco]

You're welcome to share your own methods and/or give a reason

[@designerty]

Would you please suggest how we should ‘lift’ our Mini?

[@CharlesSmith-zt7vt]

Given the format of modern lifts, I think this is as about as good as you can do. Ideally you would always use the subframe like this imgur.com/hgISJKU but that's not what lifts look like these days! I'm also intending to make one of these for the front of the car imgur.com/pliKY5U I got both of these images from a very helpful Facebook group.

[@ryanshaw1984]

You’ve still got the weight of engine and subframe essentially hanging off the body. I know the bulkhead beam has significant strength, but any wear in the subframe tower bushes will mean the frame droops and stresses the front panel/wings. 4 post ramp and beam jack.

[@TheSkybaek]

@@CharlesSmith-zt7vt I wanted to know the exact point of this wooden jig. Thanks for the your link.