9 replies to this topic

[kinetic]

96/850 150k

All,
I am planning to replace my radiator on my 850 (plastic end cap cracked). To accomplish this I have to jack the car up roughly 10 inches in order to remove the radiator from underneath. I have purchased two-ton jack stands and plan to lift the front end to accomodate placement under the engine carriage just inside of the tow rings. First of all, can I jack the car from a center point on the frame behind the radiator entry in order to lift the car all at once? Is it better to lift one side at a time? Can I lift from the center cross member of the frame? What safety concerns should I have?

Thanks!

[Bay13]

I don't work with ramps very much but I'm pretty sure if you drove your front end up on a set of ramps, you could make the radiator swap with no problem. DIY's help out here, I always get to use a lift at work.

[kinetic]

The radiator measures 16" tall- the distance from car to the bottom of radiator while it sits on the ground is almost 7 inches. I deducted I would have to raise the car 9-10 inches to remove it. I lokked ant 3-4 different ramps all have no height greater than 7 inches. Can you comment on my plan to jack the car up from center cross member?

[JHEIII874T5M]

I did it my radiator replacement on "rhino ramps"

you have to realize that the car will be the height of the ramp + the height of the tire up off the ground.

[kinetic]

I did it my radiator replacement on "rhino ramps"

you have to realize that the car will be the height of the ramp + the height of the tire up off the ground.

What is the height of the rhino ramp?

[AJU]

Jack the car with your hydraulic jack from the front-center of the subframe - and put the jack stands on the sides of the subframe (always use two so the weight is balanced. This should give you plenty of clearance to get the radiator out. If your jack doesn't get you high enough, you can always get it as high as possible, get it on stands and then find another jacking point to get it up higher (had to do this on a sebring because I couldn't get the jack far enough under the car - took about an hour to change the oil!).

[jens94850]

As the previous post stated, jack at center of car on the subframe crossmember (just behind the center of the wheels). Place the stands on the same member (not at the front by the tow rings where you suggested) at either side. If this doesn't work for you, you can pull the radiator out the top...but you have to pry the passenger side wiring harness out of the way and finagle the drivers side out in order to clear the ears. Pulling it out the top can be a bit irritating though.

[billr99]

96/850 150k

All,
I am planning to replace my radiator on my 850 (plastic end cap cracked). To accomplish this I have to jack the car up roughly 10 inches in order to remove the radiator from underneath. I have purchased two-ton jack stands and plan to lift the front end to accomodate placement under the engine carriage just inside of the tow rings. First of all, can I jack the car from a center point on the frame behind the radiator entry in order to lift the car all at once? Is it better to lift one side at a time? Can I lift from the center cross member of the frame? What safety concerns should I have?

Thanks!

According to both my owners manual as well as my workshop manual, you should be good to go as long as you make sure you are placing the jack on the subframe. I've done it, but not to the height you are trying for, but should work fine. Use jackstands though once you get it in the air.

[kinetic]

Thanks for all the info- I completed the job, my only suggestion to others is that they guide the skirt housing (around cooling fan) up into slots (where the relay fan switch is) before tightening bolts down from underneath. I had to drop my a couple of times to align in the guides. Not the funnest job I have ever done but relatively easy.