Ran into a possible problem..

Visonik

Active member
So last night I got my coilovers installed, and, long story short, the jack I was using failed and dropped the car and it fell back when i was lowering the front. The car ended up being lower than I thought, and I know the jack got stuck on something, since I couldn't get it to lower all the way.

I'm worried about my oil pan.

I rolled the car back this morning without starting it (my girlfriend helped me push, go her!) and there is no oil on the ground, so if it is damaged, it's dented.

My question/concern is this: since I can't use that jack, because the car is now too low and the jack doesn't start lifting itself unless you start it before it's under the car, I need a lift. If my oil pan is dented, will I be able to drive it any where? A family friend to my girlfriend has a lift and he's about 10 minutes of light driving away. Other than that there is a dealer about 25 minutes away, which is where I need to go for an alignment anyway, I'm just not sure if they will/can adjust the ride height for me.

Any help is greatly appreciated! Especially since I'm not even starting my car for the time being.

 

IBratmanI

Subaru Ambassador- AdidaSubarus
Your factory scissor jack doesn't even fit? At least you could take a peak to see if the oil pan is dented.

 

Visonik

Active member
Your factory scissor jack doesn't even fit? At least you could take a peak to see if the oil pan is dented.
It does fit, but it's so crappy that it hardly lifts the car. the screw portion of it gets jammed. I'm gonna throw some pb blaster on it and let it soak.

If the pan is significantly dented I'd be worried about the pick up tube.
I was worried about the same thing. If the pick up tube is damaged, I won't even make it the 10 minute ride. And my block has about 5000 miles on it, so it'd be awful to lose it.

 

IBratmanI

Subaru Ambassador- AdidaSubarus
Those oil pans are quite strong. I've bashed a few off rocks off road before. I'd be surprised if it damaged it bad enough to mess up the pick up tube, just from being let down off the jack to fast. But I guess anything is possible.

 

skipow

New member
use the factory scissor jack or a widowmaker jack in the factory jack points behind the front wheels, jack one side at a time, insert jackstands, make sure e-brake is set. 

then you can go back to using your normal jack, except when you lower your car next time put a couple boards under the front two wheels so that when you lower it, you can still get the jack in and out from underneath. 

welcome to the lowered car life, a couple short 2x4's will be your best friend. 

 

Imprezah

New member
+1 about driving up onto boards before using a jack.

Also, those aluminum 'racing' jacks are harbor freight are good. I've been using mine for 6 years. Good price too.

 

Marino

I <3 BOOST
use the factory scissor jack or a widowmaker jack in the factory jack points behind the front wheels, jack one side at a time, insert jackstands, make sure e-brake is set. 

then you can go back to using your normal jack, except when you lower your car next time put a couple boards under the front two wheels so that when you lower it, you can still get the jack in and out from underneath. 

welcome to the lowered car life, a couple short 2x4's will be your best friend. 
I learned this quick, couldn't fit my regular jack under the side skirts anymore after I started lowering

 

Visonik

Active member
Got the scissor jack working better with some pb blaster then used a bottle jack to get it higher. My oil pan is intact! Very relieving. I used some 2x4's and was able to jack up the rear end to adjust the height more.

Thanks for the help, guys!

 

skipow

New member
now you need the "not drunk, just avoiding potholes/manholes/dips/bumps/rocks etc. " bumper sticker. i have personally helped many a friend replace their oil pans in various parking lots from smashing lowered cars on all that garbage.

 

IBratmanI

Subaru Ambassador- AdidaSubarus
My UEL header hits first on mine. Definitely have to watch for bumps, and even the crown of the road sometimes lol

 
Hey guys, ever heard of SKID PLATES?

And can somebody please explain how lowering a car so much that it bottoms out on the crown of the road is a good thing?
 As far as the crown of the road I think he means the places where you see 5th wheel campers and rv's drag the frame because the road is screwed up. I think 3 damaged oil pans(without labor) is the same cost as a skid plate. I have yet to bottom out but the front edge has been stuff into piles of sand pulling into parking lots.

 

IBratmanI

Subaru Ambassador- AdidaSubarus
Hey guys, ever heard of SKID PLATES?

And can somebody please explain how lowering a car so much that it bottoms out on the crown of the road is a good thing?
Personal preference. And I have 2 other lifted cars. 

Mine doesn't literally hit the crown of the road. It's just close, but you can do that with coilovers because there isn't a lot of suspension travel with them, at least the on road kind. 

I'm sick of people shitting on what other people do, because it isn't what they would do. It doesn't hurt anything if done right. There are some that don't set things up properly, but that goes with anything done to a vehicle. But if you simply just don't like the way it looks, or it isn't what you would do, then keep your mouth shut. Don't say anything, if you don't have anything nice to say. If it's dangerous, then by all means, warn the person, but otherwise, if it doesn't affect you, then whatever. This is a car club, not a place where people tell other people what they've is stupid because it's different than what they like. Come on.

 As far as the crown of the road I think he means the places where you see 5th wheel campers and rv's drag the frame because the road is screwed up. I think 3 damaged oil pans(without labor) is the same cost as a skid plate. I have yet to bottom out but the front edge has been stuff into piles of sand pulling into parking lots.
I have yet to bottom out as well, but I pay attention. No idea how someone would damage an oil pan on road, if they are paying attention. There's plenty of other things that are lower on a vehicle. I wouldn't mind a skid plate, but my headers drop down a fair amount, and while they can be modified to fit, I have a Forester, so it may cause the skid plate to be too low and just get hung up.

 
I have yet to bottom out as well, but I pay attention. No idea how someone would damage an oil pan on road, if they are paying attention. There's plenty of other things that are lower on a vehicle. I wouldn't mind a skid plate, but my headers drop down a fair amount, and while they can be modified to fit, I have a Forester, so it may cause the skid plate to be too low and just get hung up.
I only drive certain roads in the winter around where I live as there are a few places that people have lost oil pans on blind hills and such. Like you said, if you lower your car or have one that is lower(BRZ height) be prepared to pay more attention. 

 

IBratmanI

Subaru Ambassador- AdidaSubarus
I only drive certain roads in the winter around where I live as there are a few places that people have lost oil pans on blind hills and such. Like you said, if you lower your car or have one that is lower(BRZ height) be prepared to pay more attention. 
Yeah I'm not saying it can't happen. But having a lowered Subaru, is still not as bad as many cars that are built from the factory. Things are tucked up pretty well on a Subaru. And regardless of the height, you should dodge bumps anyway! I like prolonging the life on my suspension components.

 

JoshP

New member
I just picked up a nice 3 ton jack from Harbor Freight and it's only 3 inches tall.  That would probably work for you.  Fit under a stock RS by maybe 6" or so

 

Nigel Prodrive

Dirt surfer
Since when is asking a question "shitting on people." Just asking why ppl are willing to put up with damaging their cars in return for a certain look. OK so lowering is fine if that's what you want. But going so low that you can't jack the car, or it gets damaged on normal roads, or you lose so much suspension travel that you can't drive without fearing normal bumps or dips? What is the point of that (remember this is a question not a shit storm!)

And yes, I'd submit that driving a car that can't handle normal roads without damage or swerving IS dangerous--to the people inside that car as well as others surprised by sudden erratic driving. Just like dark tinted tails or other dangerous stuff ppl do to their cars to be different...

 

Visonik

Active member
Mine was only so low that I couldn't get the jack under because: 1. I've never had coilovers before so when I installed them, I was completely guessing on ride height. 2. The jack I have is so crappy that even when the jack does fit and you start to pump the handle, it goes no where. You have to be able to start the jack before you put it under the car about 3 inches. I'm not willing to put up with damaging my car. It's far too low for my liking, even after picking the car up and adjusting the coilovers. Not trying to stir the pot or anything, just stating facts as to why drama isn't needed right here right now.

Also an update.

Like I said, the oil pan is fine. I took it for a ride yesterday to see how it feels. No scraping ( except for a plastic piece that's missing clips and hangs down a couple inches anyway). I only rub in the front when I cut the wheel all the way. I just need to adjust the ride height to get rid of that rubbing and then even out the ride and it'll be all set.

 

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