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Old 07-08-2019, 11:20 AM   #1
camaroman123
 
Drives: 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS Conv
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Bay Area
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Jacking up car with after-market underneath chassis brace covering jack point

Bought a used 2017 Camaro SS, and the previous owner seems to have installed a chassis brace on the underbody. The chassis brace is fastened to the chassis using the jack points at the front of the chassis. I have attached some pictures--one of the brace's attachment points pictured under the vehicle, and one of the brace itself that I removed while servicing some parts on the underbody.

I mainly want to figure out if I need to remove the brace every time I need to jack up the car, i.e. changing a flat, etc. Do you think the brace's are "structural" enough that I could just put the jack right on the connection point?

I understand that the question might be better posed to the manufacturer of the part--unfortunately, I cannot find the manufacturer online. The brace does not seem to have manufacturer's information or part #. Does anyone happen to recognize this brace and would know the part #, so that I could look up whether or not it can be jacked?
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Old 07-08-2019, 11:24 AM   #2
Laststandard
 
Drives: 2018 1SS 1LE
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That's the factory brace that GM installs for convertibles.
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Old 07-08-2019, 11:26 AM   #3
camaroman123
 
Drives: 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS Conv
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good to know! thanks!
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Old 07-10-2019, 07:24 AM   #4
GM-ACE
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If it's bolted to a lift support point, then yes you can lift it on that point. The metal gauge is thick enough that it won't hurt it.
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Old 07-10-2019, 07:45 AM   #5
L8Apex
 
Drives: 2016 2SS
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Is your car a convertible? These 6th gens are really stiff, I can't see you needing it if it's not. I had one on my C4 coupe, but that thing was made of cardboard compared this car
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Old 07-10-2019, 10:48 AM   #6
95 imp
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Quote:
Originally Posted by L8Apex View Post
Is your car a convertible? These 6th gens are really stiff, I can't see you needing it if it's not. I had one on my C4 coupe, but that thing was made of cardboard compared this car
I'd leave it on. Body flex can do some nasty things to your car over time.
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Old 07-10-2019, 11:57 AM   #7
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OPs profile says convertible. If so, the brace needs to be on the car for normal use.

There are two sets of pinch welds near the front wheels. The brace covers one. Use the other to jack the car. Then put your jack stand under the brace at the point where it bolts to the body.
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Old 07-11-2019, 06:35 AM   #8
ac-427
 
Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS Redline Convertible
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Quote:
Originally Posted by camaroman123 View Post
Bought a used 2017 Camaro SS, and the previous owner seems to have installed a chassis brace on the underbody. The chassis brace is fastened to the chassis using the jack points at the front of the chassis. I have attached some pictures--one of the brace's attachment points pictured under the vehicle, and one of the brace itself that I removed while servicing some parts on the underbody.

I mainly want to figure out if I need to remove the brace every time I need to jack up the car, i.e. changing a flat, etc. Do you think the brace's are "structural" enough that I could just put the jack right on the connection point?

I understand that the question might be better posed to the manufacturer of the part--unfortunately, I cannot find the manufacturer online. The brace does not seem to have manufacturer's information or part #. Does anyone happen to recognize this brace and would know the part #, so that I could look up whether or not it can be jacked?
Hope the following helps: I don't like lifting my SS Vert, I have nightmares about it lying flat on the garage floor with the wheels off and no way for me to raise it. Soooo.....I'm sharing the most conservative approach I could come up with short of buying ramps that slide too easily or a drive on lift that's too expensive for my budget.

1. Equipment: (4) Torin 6000 lb aluminum jack stands purchased at Pep Boys, (2) 4000 lb jacks, and ZL-1 Addons Permanent Lift Pads for Gen 6 convertibles.

2. Equipment Locations: I started with the front and used the Cross Brace attachment bolts shown in the photographs as the points to locate the floor jack saddles. For the front, I used the outer bolt (circled in red) and for the rear I used the inner bolt (circled in yellow). The Torin jack stands have a saddle that fits the ZL-1 Lift Pads perfectly and the base on them is small enough that interference between the floor jack and stand is eliminated. In my method, a wider based jack stand would not have worked due to interference problems.

3. Jacking Procedure: Since I wanted to avoid twisting the body, I centered the jacks on the cross brace bolt (circled in red) in the front and gradually raised the car by going from side to side in small increments until I got to the height I wanted. After making sure the front was secure, I used the inner cross brace bolt (circled in yellow) to raise the rear using the same side to side method.

Conclusion, I was getting the car ready for the Dallas Autorama so thoroughly cleaning wheels, wheel wells and the bottom of the car was a necessity. Using my method, I heard no creaks in the body, or other evidence of twisting or misalignment. Also, the stands are extremely secure, take up the smallest amount of room possible, and don't scratch the floor. Yep, my method ain't cheap but it costs a lot less than the damage accruing from my beloved Camaro falling off a jack.
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