[Soobahru]

As I understand you need Jack pads adapters if you're using a car Jack to raise the vehicle.

When I see the vehicles raised by the 2 post lifts there doesn't seem to be an adapter.

I have a quick-jack and I'm not sure if I should get these pad adapters. Here is a link to what I have. https://www.quickjack.com/

Thanks in advance!

[Billfitz]

There's no place under the car to place a lifting device other than where the pads go, and if you don't put the pads into the lift points they're easily damaged. It's an odd arrangement but it's what we have to deal with. There are four lift points, so with your rig you'd need four pads.

[hollandog]

Do they use the pads in the dealership lifts?

[DHS]

Cut some out of hard wood. Work great, been using them for a decade or so.

[jparnes1]

Ok first off you can use the center jacking point just near the front axle. Also you can place a jack under the diff, just make sure to avoid the cover plate and jack only in the diff. Lastly, I've been placing a jack without jack pads for years with no trouble. The problem with jack pads is that they're a PITA. They don't say in the jack pad insert so I find them difficult to use.

[Soobahru]

As Hollandog asked about if the dealer using pads. I don't remeber seeing pads at the dealer or another other place that has raised a bmw on a 4 point 2 post lift.

I don't have a problem buying or making the pad adapters but would prefer not to if I don't have to.

[_bdiddyb_]

the hard plastic is easily crushed if not using pads. Especially when the jack is not leveled.

[CalCarNut]

Wife's X3 looks like pads weren't used and it crushed the plastic...ugly as hell now when/if you look for it..

[zcspec]

I own and use a QuickJack as well. Get the pad adapters as they will make using your QuickJack safe and easy. You can order them on eBay for a decent price.

[madmonkey]

Or you can make some out of hockey pucks

[DrifterX]

When your quickjack lifts the car, does it make contact to all 4 points roughly the same time? If it does then I don't think you'll need the pads.

Reason I say this is if it starts lifting one corner earlier than another corner, you're putting stress on that plastic piece where the jack point is as there's uneven loading. You'll need the pads (all 4) in the case it's not lifting all the points evenly/at the same time.

[Soobahru]

I was going to make them out of hockey pucks as madmonkey has mentioned. Thanks zcspec for adding, which model did you go with? I have the 5000 model. Really don't want to crush those jack points. Thanks everyone!

[VCuomo]

$9 each: Slotted Polyurethane Jack Pad

[Soobahru]

Thanks vcuomo! I'll try to hack a few of my old hockey pucks. If that doesn't work in definitely buying those!

[grancoupef36]

no need to hack the hockey pucks. just use them as they are, been doing it for years, no problems

[madmonkey]

Originally Posted by VCuomo

$9 each: Slotted Polyurethane Jack Pad

6 hockey pucks from Wallymart - $11.95

Buy a bucket of pucks to share with friends!!

[IndotagSwizz]

Originally Posted by DHS

Cut some out of hard wood. Work great, been using them for a decade or so.

+1 did this because I needed them to lift my car and didn't feel like waiting 2-3 days and paying for something that took 10mins to make...to be honest the first entire year of ownership I lifted them up without it and never had an issue, I just kept reading about people having messed them up and just wanted to be safe

[DrifterX]

I must be missing something here - why would a hockey puck help by itself compared to a bare jack? I'd only see a benefit if the jack has a very small pad like in madmonkey's picture.

In the Soobahru's case, he's still lifting with a flat surface at the edges of the plastic jack point... the whole point of the jack pad is to evenly distribute the load - it's using the additional surface area within the rectangular cavity, especially if the car isn't completely level to the ground.

[vanbmw]

I have the ESS tuning jack pads. Made of aluminum and work great.

[vanbmw]

As a Canadian I love the hockey puck solution MADMONKEY!

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by DrifterX

I must be missing something here - why would a hockey puck help by itself compared to a bare jack? I'd only see a benefit if the jack has a very small pad like in madmonkey's picture.

In the Soobahru's case, he's still lifting with a flat surface at the edges of the plastic jack point... the whole point of the jack pad is to evenly distribute the load - it's using the additional surface area within the rectangular cavity, especially if the car isn't completely level to the ground.

I think the basic issue here is that floor jacks don't have a flat lifting surface. The lifted edges can cause damage.

Commercial lifts often have flat feet that seem to work ok, so garages don't always need to use pads.

Hockey pucks sit in or on the floor jack foot and spread the load pretty good. Inserts put the load inside the cars liftpad which I guess is ideal, plus can't slip off, but sort of overkill probably. I have the ECS aluminum insert, but I wouldn't buy 4 of them probably, plus they might be a PITA to align properly when lifting by yourself. 1 insert on a floor jack is enough hassle for me.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

I think the basic issue here is that floor jacks don't have a flat lifting surface. The lifted edges can cause damage.

+1. Wood discs work fine, because they're softer than the plastic that the lift points are made out of, so the wood gets damaged, the plastic doesn't. The only problem with wood is they only last for a couple of uses.