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      06-30-2015, 12:49 AM   #1
jdoublehcubed
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Center Jack Pad Adapter

I'm thinking about having some aluminum jack pad adapters made for the front center jack pad, and I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a group buy.

Whenever I jack up the front of the car, I'm nervous that my floor jack's lifting cup will accidently contact the aluminum stress plate and potentially damage it. This jack pad is designed to (1) automatically center your floor jack's lifting cup on the jack pad, using the hole in the center, and (2) raise the contact point up out of the lifting cup, so that the lifting cup's edge can't contact the stress plate.

I use FirstCut machine shop at work to order small quantities of machines parts like this. My plan is to 3D print it first to double check the size, then do a single order of adapters machined out of 6061-T651 and bead blasted. There are significant discounts for higher quantities. I had FirstCut quote the part for me. Here is the unit price at each quantity (includes $5 each for me to ship them out in USPS flat rate envelopes):

$60 each Quantity 5
$40 each Quantity 10
$33 each Quantity 15
$31 each Quantity 20 or higher

A screen shot of the CAD is attached.

Please post below if you're interested, and at what price you would be in. The lead time from First Cut is less than a week, so if we decide to do this everyone should have the parts in hand in no more than 3 weeks from the day I submit the order.



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Last edited by jdoublehcubed; 07-17-2015 at 01:17 AM..
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      06-30-2015, 08:16 AM   #2
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Sounds like a good idea. I'd be more committed after seeing the 3d print on the car.
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      06-30-2015, 09:11 AM   #3
itdnwiwbp
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I'd be interested if we get 15+ people.
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      06-30-2015, 11:42 AM   #4
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You are missing a fillet where the nipple meets the main body. Interested to see the 3D print prototype on the car.
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      06-30-2015, 12:15 PM   #5
jdoublehcubed
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You guys understand that this is an adapter for your jack, not something that gets permanently installed, right?
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      06-30-2015, 12:50 PM   #6
itdnwiwbp
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Understood. What is the diameter of the base?
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      06-30-2015, 07:47 PM   #7
jdoublehcubed
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its 2.75" ish. i have to check the model when i get home
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      07-02-2015, 01:10 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdoublehcubed View Post
its 2.75" ish. i have to check the model when i get home
Just checked. 2.75" exactly at the bottom.

Its being 3D printed tomorrow, I'll have the prototype on Monday to check the fit.
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      07-02-2015, 09:06 AM   #9
itdnwiwbp
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Great. Thanks. Just wanted to make sure it would fit atop both of my jacks.
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      07-02-2015, 12:03 PM   #10
jdoublehcubed
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No problem.


There's also a relief on the bottom to clear anything sticking up out of the jack cup. I know the Harbor Freight jacks have a big protruding rivet head-sort of thing in the middle of the cup.
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      07-02-2015, 01:34 PM   #11
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I'm in.
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      07-02-2015, 08:23 PM   #12
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Sorry, I guess I'm not following. I've lifted my Z4 on all 4 corners countless times with a low profile jack and I've never needed something like this. What am I missing?
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      07-02-2015, 08:42 PM   #13
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On the M there is an additional jack point at the front, just behind the plastic skid plate. If you aren't careful, you can reach just past it with your jack and hit the metal stress plate. This jack pad adapter is for use with that point.

I don't think the non Ms have a jack point there, can anyone confirm?

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      07-03-2015, 03:32 PM   #14
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What are the cons of using a hockey puck instead of this?
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      07-03-2015, 11:56 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elerner61 View Post
What are the cons of using a hockey puck instead of this?
if your car is being lifted, you can't play ice hockey?
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      07-04-2015, 01:35 AM   #16
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I went to a sporting goods super store here in SoCal that sells everything from Lacrosse sticks to fishing worms.
When I asked if they had hockey pucks they looked at me like I was speaking Latin.
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      07-04-2015, 02:08 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by StickMon
I went to a sporting goods super store here in SoCal that sells everything from Lacrosse sticks to fishing worms.
When I asked if they had hockey pucks they looked at me like I was speaking Latin.
Got my pucks at Amazon, 4 for $10. I use them on the front and rear center jack points.
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      07-04-2015, 02:32 AM   #18
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Provided you line it up just right, a hockey puck will do exactly the same thing. The risk is that you line it up slightly back of the center of the jack point, and dimple the stress plate. Big risk? Not really.

I use these for the 4 corner jack pads
http://www.amazon.com/BMW-128i-E46-3...N2Q177HZZ3QCC6

they're awesome, because when the raised up boss sticks into the jack pad, you know the jack is lined up perfectly and isn't going to slip forwards or backwards. I love having them when I'm jacking at the corners, so I designed this center pad adapter to give me the same convenience at the center point.

if you have a lathe, you might be able to mount a hockey puck in a 3 jaw chuck and make a center pad adapter exactly like the one I designed. I've never tried to cut hard rubber on a lathe, not sure if it would work or not. if I had a lathe I would definitely try it though.
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      07-04-2015, 02:33 AM   #19
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anyone else in?
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      07-05-2015, 01:31 AM   #20
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If you get to 10 I am in
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      07-06-2015, 01:14 AM   #21
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I'm in at 10.

I'd love to see something similar (perhaps rubber or delrin?) for the rear jack point. Perhaps a block with holes that could be press-fitted onto the bolt heads then just slide the jack under it.
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      07-06-2015, 09:06 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdoublehcubed View Post
Provided you line it up just right, a hockey puck will do exactly the same thing. The risk is that you line it up slightly back of the center of the jack point, and dimple the stress plate. Big risk? Not really.

I use these for the 4 corner jack pads
http://www.amazon.com/BMW-128i-E46-3...N2Q177HZZ3QCC6

they're awesome, because when the raised up boss sticks into the jack pad, you know the jack is lined up perfectly and isn't going to slip forwards or backwards. I love having them when I'm jacking at the corners, so I designed this center pad adapter to give me the same convenience at the center point.

if you have a lathe, you might be able to mount a hockey puck in a 3 jaw chuck and make a center pad adapter exactly like the one I designed. I've never tried to cut hard rubber on a lathe, not sure if it would work or not. if I had a lathe I would definitely try it though.
I did a write up to make jack pad adapters out of hockey pucks a little while ago.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=983883

If you look at the last few photos you'll see cutting the rubber makes a pretty big mess. If someone did this on a lathe maybe some cooling fluid would help, but I think it would still be messy.
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