Alright, so I've had my 8 for about 6 months. I've never had to post before because I've previously found all my answers by searching. But now I messed up a little and I'm looking for peace of mind.

So I was changing the Tranny fluid (to MT90) following a DIY I found on the forum. I put the rear up with ramps and used a trolley jack to jack up the front using the jacking point in the center of the front crossmember, then used jackstands for support on the front. Everything went fine until it came time to jack the front end down. As I was turning the release valve on the jack I accidentally went too far and let it out too fast, then reacted by quickly cranking the valve back to off. The result is that the car went down fast about half way, then came to a grinding halt with all its momentum centered on the front jacking point. I think thats what did it. Now the front crossmember is slightly dented in at the jacking point. It isn't too deep and it doesn't affect the overall shape of the part. Its just that the previously flat jacking point is now dented in slightly.

Obviously I realize that I should have used some wood in between, but there isn't anything I can do now. So my question is: will this small dent affect the suspension in a negative way? Do I need to replace it? (God I hope not) Or will it be fine?

Thanks!

P.S. Awesome forum!

 

Oops, I meant to post this in the Series 1 Tech Garage. Sorry.

 

You will be fine.........carry on.

 

why were you jacking it up in the center?

 

Mazurfer: Thanks for the quick reply. I thought as much, but I wasn't sure. I thought it may at least necessitate an alignment, but it felt fine on the way to work this morning. Plus the shifting was awesome!

deadphoenix: Because I have a trolley jack and using the front center jacking point was easier than using the scissors jack on each side and placing jack stands one at a time. In retrospect - yes, had I done that I wouldn't have bent anything. But I was jacking at a proper point as specified in the shop manual so I thought that it would be fine, and it would have if I hadn't let the car fall half way then catch on the jack.

I found this link on the forum
http://www.hi-impact.org/ryang/modif...ackpoints.html

 

Seems to me like this was the real mistake , which I'm sure you won't make again. I doubt a dent will have any impact on anything at all - but you are lucky it didn't slip and then damage your oil pan (which IIRC is about .5 inches in front of the crossmember).

let this be a lesson to all who use a floor jack to get the entire front end up - take the time to find a small piece of wood to put between the crossmember and the jack.

 

i have a trolley jack and still use the sides. oh well. to each his own

 

Yeah, next time I think I will do it that way

 

You'll be fine. Don't worry about it.
It's way better than dropping the car on a jackstand you forgot to clear all the way.

 

Sell it. The first rain you have will make you slide off the corner and into the ditch.

 

OMG Really? I'll post it on Vehix tonight!!