Damage to Jacking Mount While Jacking

[Hexie]

Hey all. During a total rookie move while attempting to jack my van using the original VW screw style jack, I damaged part of the jack mount area (picture below).

I believe this was caused by not pinning the jack all the way through the mount, so instead of levering it just pinned itself against the bottom of the mount until eventual shearing. I was still able to correct myself and eventually successfully jack using this same port, but should I be worried about any other unforeseen damage I could have caused from jacking like this? Selfishly, I'm hoping I'm not the first to make this mistake, otherwise I would feel very dumb!

[MarkWard]

Probably should find someone that can weld it back. Then hit it with a little spray paint. Use the opposite side for reference when straightening.
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[DuncanS]

Needs complete replacement as the corners tore. This is an important safety item. Cars can kill if they fall off a jack. Happened to a 24 year old friend of mine. Died.

[Hexie]

[IdahoDoug]

Just take a hammer and pound it up against the body, and buy a small hydraulic or screw type bottle jack. store it under one of the front seats. I and many others feel it is far safer when changing a flat to put the bottle jack under the suspension member with the flat and lift it 3 inches to change a tire.

Versus heaving the entire van into a heavy unstable lean for a foot until you've fully unwound the suspension and loaded the suspension on the other side. Which is crazy dangerous by comparison.

A bottle jack can be used in a variety of other ways when stuck, stranded, etc. Just be sure you get a short one that will fit under the suspension member when that tire is flat..
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[MarkWard]

[Gnarlodious]

[jimf909]

I've painted my factory jacks like this. If orange is visible it's not fully inserted. Granted, if one is attentive when using the jack, as one should always be, this paint isn't necessary but the orange is an extra reminder for my aging brain.

Also, if you use any type of screw jack the screw needs to be lubed. It's scary seeing jacks where the screw broke due to not being oiled.

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- Jim

[Wildthings]

I would probably just bend it back to shape and weld it up, well done it should not be a safety issue.

[MayorMcCheese]

Any pictures of your van? Looks like it's painted pretty cool

[DuncanS]

I beg to differ about a patch up repair. It will be very difficult to V groove those areas where the metal tore and most likely stretched, too say nothing of welding upside down. My friend who died, was not under the car. It rolled off the jack and pinned his mangled arm and without help, he exsanguinated. Remove the old, fab a duplicate of new metal on the bench and securely weld it in place. It wasn't the best design in the first pace and any compromise might cause a problem. If the wheels aren't blocked using the OG jack and points, it is very easy for the car to roll off the jack. Posters are correct. Jacking the suspension requires far less elevation and potential of a problem.

You may be aware of a repair of the existing jack point you make and use something else to change a tire, but the next owner won't.

There are a lot of places corners can be cut, but not safety. That's why we are all so meticulous about fuel lines and fire suppression measures.

Duncan

[will5023]

Honest question: why does jacking the suspension require less elevation for changing a tire?
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Will
'85 Westy w/ '99 Subaru EJ25D
Orig. manual now automatic

[jlrftype7]

Easy, if you are jacking the body, you are allowing the suspension to droop or lower through its full amount of travel , then you are going a bit higher with the Vanagon to get enough space under your flat tire since a fresh , fully filled tire will be larger, and need more room to install than your tire that has shrunk in size with that flat shape....

If however, you jack on the suspension, no droop or lowering is allowed, and you go up with tire clearance room faster since the suspension isn’t hanging down on you.
If you ever work on long travel suspensions designed for off-roading, this becomes crucial since they have way more movement or travel than a normal vehicle.
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[Wildthings]

[dobryan]

If you look at the piece that broke it is not involved in the stress of jacking. The jack does not exert downwards pressure on that piece that I can see. I believe it is there to guide the jack male part into the female frame member part that actually takes the downward load of jacking the bus. Welding the piece back into place should be fine.

Please let me know if I am wrong because I do not want to give bad information on this subject.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

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[Jake de Villiers]

[Wildthings]

The bracket likely broke because the jack was barely inserted into the bracket loading it in a way it was never designed to handle. As I mentioned above it can easily be welded back to factory strength, doing so is not big deal. This would not be a place for someone who lacks experience to try their hand at welding though. Just do all the prep work yourself and then take it into a reputable shop to get it welded, let a shop to the entire job.

[jimf909]

[DuncanS]

Agree with 90% of what has green said. It is really difficult to assess the damage without looking at it in person. It may be as good as OG if welded back in place, but heat is going to be needed to restore the shape, which I wouldn't want to do there as getting one area red hot and not causing a burn issue nearby could be a problem. Without actually seeing it, my rec is still grind it off and replace it with new metal. Weld heat is different than general heat needed to reshape the piece in situ and the surrounding area can be cooled.

Duncan

[Gnarlodious]

In addition, the jack is supposed to have a rubber bumper contact on top that with a little pressure stabilizes it against sideways motion. When used properly, and this takes a bit of experience, the van is quite solid. Use the jack to level the van while camping to get used to its capability. Not recommended for energetic van schtuppers.
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit