Jacking up the nsx

[Synthesis]

OK, i have a question, and am looking for a really quick answer, so if you have experience with this, please chime in

i'm about to take the transmission out of the nsx, so i jacked up the rear end (quite high, as you might have imagined....) i was thinking about just leaving the front end on the ground with chocks behind and in front of the front wheels.

looking at the car i'm not comfortable going underneath it (but then again, i'm a big wuss and everytime i get underneath my car it takes me a good 15 min to become semi-comfy working under there without thoughts of the car coming down on me and crushing my skull and chest). right now the two jackstands holding the rear are on their 5th notch, with no jacks on the front. as you can imagine, the holding beams in the stands are slightly cockeyed....

i would like to jack up all four points on the car, but the problem is the damn jack point is so far back - if i jack it up there , it would bottom out the other side just trying to get the front jack point to the same level as the rear.

is there a center jack point on the FR of the car? if so, where is it?? if not, what would you do/ what have you done in the past to get it on the stands??? if i have the wrong idea altogether - let me know.

i'm really paranoid, i know.... but i just want to know the right way before i start taking apart the whole suspension.

any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[94BlkNSXinNC]

I am certainly not a veteran in the DIY department, but I would have to say that pulling out the tranny is best accomplished on a lift (duh, I know). I have done small jobs (swapped exhaust for example) on jack stands (I used 4, not 2), but don't think I would attempt it for the headache alone of the tight quarters. I hope I understood your question correctly. Good luck.

Chuck

BTW - as for the center jack point, I am not aware of a safe point for that (but again, I'm no veteran). Of the limited literature I have read, the only recommended points are the two on each side of the NSX. HTH.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Jack the car up by the middle jack point, just under the rear half of the door, put the two stands under the front and rear jack points and lower. Repeat on the other side. If the car is very low, drive it up on some pieces of 2x4 under each tire first to gain 1-1/2" more clearance.

You will need to get the car at least 21" high measuring from the rear jack point to the ground to get the trans out from under the car. 22" is better. Having the car pitched downward in the front is not a good idea IMO. If the drive train is not somewhat level, R & R of the trans will just be more difficult, especially the replacement fo the trans to get the mainshaft aligned. You MUST have a good pilot shaft for these dual plate clutches. Those cheap crap plastic ones suck for this clutch install. Remember to pull the clutch fork out of position or the trans will not come out.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[Synthesis]

Jack the car up by the middle jack point, just under the rear half of the door, put the two stands under the front and rear jack points and lower. Repeat on the other side. If the car is very low, drive it up on some pieces of 2x4 under each tire first to gain 1-1/2" more clearance.

You will need to get the car at least 21" high measuring from the rear jack point to the ground to get the trans out from under the car. 22" is better. Having the car pitched downward in the front is not a good idea IMO. If the drive train is not somewhat level, R & R of the trans will just be more difficult, especially the replacement fo the trans to get the mainshaft aligned. You MUST have a good pilot shaft for these dual plate clutches. Those cheap crap plastic ones suck for this clutch install. Remember to pull the clutch fork out of position or the trans will not come out.

HTH,
LarryB

ok, just wanted to check that there is no center jack point - never saw one in the manual either.

just one other question though.... let's say i jack it up so that the rear is at 22".... the front wouldn't be anywhere near that height, right (since the jack point is a lot closer to the rear)? i guess i should keep jacking it up until it does get to that height.... only problem is, wouldn't the other side be too close to the ground to jack it up? should i do this in stages, alternating between sides? or do you think i can do this just once per side?

my car is stock ride height and i'm using a low profile craftsman jack....

thanks for the quick replies - you guys are a huge help

 

[Synthesis]

oh, and i do have an nsx input shaft for the clutch install....
the car's gettin an RPS :smile: i'm going to attempt to take some pictures for everybody.

 

[94BlkNSXinNC]

ok, just wanted to check that there is no center jack point - never saw one in the manual either.

just one other question though.... let's say i jack it up so that the rear is at 22".... the front wouldn't be anywhere near that height, right (since the jack point is a lot closer to the rear)? i guess i should keep jacking it up until it does get to that height.... only problem is, wouldn't the other side be too close to the ground to jack it up? should i do this in stages, alternating between sides?

I don't think you should have a problem, as I didn't. I am at stock ride-height as well. Keep in mind, the jacking point mentioned above is basically at the center of weight distribution for the NSX (mid-engine). I'm not sure if I ended up at a height of 22", but it worked fine for me.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

ok, just wanted to check that there is no center jack point - never saw one in the manual either.

just one other question though.... let's say i jack it up so that the rear is at 22".... the front wouldn't be anywhere near that height, right (since the jack point is a lot closer to the rear)? i guess i should keep jacking it up until it does get to that height.... only problem is, wouldn't the other side be too close to the ground to jack it up? should i do this in stages, alternating between sides? or do you think i can do this just once per side?

my car is stock ride height and i'm using a low profile craftsman jack....

thanks for the quick replies - you guys are a huge help

Ther is a center jack point, it is in the online service manual on page 1-7. Jack the car up from the center jack point and the car will be level, the center jack point is towards the rear, since the drive train is in the back and heavier. The car will be level if the jackstands are. Actually I like to get the drivers side higher then the passenger side, so when I lower the drivetrain for removal it can end up level when you tip the drivetrain down to get the trans out.

You can alternate sides, if you wish.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[OLDMNSX]

Guys, Larry knows what he is talking about.

If you have to, spend some money on good jack stands, buy 4, to get the car high enough to do the job. If you have a Harbor Freight they have some good heavy duty stable jack stands. They also have a nice aluminum floor jack for around $100. You will be comfortable working under the car if you get it high enough. Don't use those lightweight three leg jack stands that you find at K-Mart. They won't get high enough.

Brad

 

[Cairo94507]

I am a little worried that this owner is considering a transmission removal, apparently alone, and yet is having trouble just getting the car up on jack stands......please get some help before you hurt yourself, your car and anyone else who may be lying around watching you. Not to mention having to pay a ton when you damage something.

 

[Synthesis]

I am a little worried that this owner is considering a transmission removal, apparently alone, and yet is having trouble just getting the car up on jack stands......please get some help before you hurt yourself, your car and anyone else who may be lying around watching you. Not to mention having to pay a ton when you damage something.

i have to apologize for posting too soon. i guess i just never really paid attention to the height of the front end of the car when i jacked it up (only jacked up the rear) - i was just under the impression that the front was always somewhat lower than the back (yeah, i might be a little stupid)..... but you can probably see why i was concerned with that, right? (that, and it was approaching the end of the weekend and i wanted to get something done before the weekend ended without any hitches)

as for replacing taking the car apart.... i've done this kind of thing before, so i'm not worried. like i said, i'm a little paranoid, so you might hear some stupid questions, but in the end it'll get done and it'll be right. working on cars isn't hard if you have the patience, a little experience, some resources, and the right tools....

i can see why you're concerned, though... now that i realize how stupid that original question was :redface:

 

[Cairo94507]

Whew, all is better. Thank you and good luck.