Single front jack point?

[Axa996]

Greetings,
I recently bought a Transporter 2017 T6 van, and now I need to replace the anti roll bar drop links. Should be quite simple assuming I can get both front wheels off the floor at the same time.
I have a trolley jack that should do the job, but what is the best, central lifting point in front?
Looks like a piece of wooden block at the rear of the engine across the subframe could be suitable? Pls see the area indicated with red.
What do you think?

 

[DaveD]

Rather than using a piece of wood across the subframe, as you suggest, I'd be inclined to use the jacking point on one side to lift the wheel clear of the ground, place an axle stand under the subframe on that side, then repeat on the other side. I'd rather trust an axle stand suitably rated for the job than a piece of wood.
Edit; Having read your post again, I recall that when I replaced my drop links I just did them one side at a time without having the other side jacked up, it was possible just using the jack to raise and lower the side I was working on to take pressure off the drop link so that I could remove and replace it, never putting myself under the van, just in case.

 

[Skyliner33]

Rather than using a piece of wood across the subframe, as you suggest, I'd be inclined to use the jacking point on one side to lift the wheel clear of the ground, place an axle stand under the subframe on that side, then repeat on the other side. I'd rather trust an axle stand suitably rated for the job than a piece of wood.

My thoughts exactly. Never mind the wood, I wouldnt trust the weight of the van on a single lifting point in the middle, or just on a trolley jack.

 

[Axa996]

Thanks for the inputs, all good ideas. I'll try to replace the drop links one at a time, raising just one side.

 

[Skyliner33]

Thanks for the inputs, all good ideas. I'll try to replace the drop links one at a time, raising just one side.

I doubt that will work. You will have the weight of the van on one end of the anti roll bar.

 

[Axa996]

I just replaced the down link on the right side just by lifting the corner of the car at the lifting point.
All went smoothly, I used a second trolley jack to slightly pump up the suspension and then with a little help of a crowbar I could easily replace the link.

 

[DaveD]

I doubt that will work. You will have the weight of the van on one end of the anti roll bar.

It worked fine for me, I used the jack to raise / lower the van with the wheel off, until there was no tension on the drop link, removed it, replaced it etc. I never put myself under the van in any way whilst doing so and importantly I did the final tightening with the wheels on, by driving the van onto ramps, safer than tugging on a breaker bar whilst the van is on a jack.

 

[Dundee_Kev]

Doing them one side at a time can be handy as it keeps strain on the ball joint to ease removal.

 

[Axa996]

Agreed, the somewhat difficult part was to get the locking torx into the lower bolt head, since it's pointing away, and full of dirt and rust. With the limited space available it was a bit difficult to hammer it in, in spite of cleaning it on beforehand.

 

[DXX]

Denso tape while it’s still in good condition and clean.

 

[Paynewright]

If I’m working on one side of a vehicle I usually put an offcut of sleeper under the opposite tyre just to keep the vehicle level. Probably unnecessary but dont like putting a ‘twist’ in the chassis. The springs probably take up the height difference rather than the chassis twisting.

One of the neighbours had both rear wheels off the ground on his boxster with just one axle stand under one side - for a week! Cringed every time I went past it!

 

[Axa996]

The driver's side, left in my case, was a bit tougher to fix. The torx-tool was unable to hold the bolt when I tried to undo the lower nut.
Luckily I had a fairly small pressurized air driven cutter...without it I would have been in trouble...
There wasn't enough space to cut thru the bolt, but I was able to massacre the nut enough for it start moving when I held the ball end with a pipe wrench.
Feels good that both sides are fixed!