Lifting a car is a necessary task for many maintenance and repair procedures
Lifting a car is a necessary task for many maintenance and repair procedures, but it is important to do so safely and securely.
The underbody of the VW ATLAS is covered in plastic.
The 2019 VW Atlas, like many modern cars, has a plastic underbody that covers most of the car’s underside. This is great for things like aerodynamics, lowering drag, and even reduce interior cabin noise (NVH) while providing a sleek and aerodynamic appearance, but it can make it difficult to find a safe and secure lifting point for a jack.
Where do you put the jack stand on a VW Atlas?
Without a designated lifting point, the only option for lifting a VW Atlas would be to place a jack under the pinch welds of the unibody frame. However, this can be dangerous and can result in damage to the vehicle if not done properly.
To address this issue, I decided to install the ECS Tuning OEM Jack Pad Adapter Kit on my 2019 VW Atlas. This kit includes everything I needed to safely lift my car using the designated jack points in the unibody frame. It includes the OEM jack pads and their own designed jack pad adapter, which allows me to lift my car using my floor jack.
Why is this different… It’s because of the plastic!
On a unibody frame car, you typically jack the car up from the front or rear pinch welds on either side of the car and then insert a jack stand somewhere under the subrame. Since the underneath the VW Atlas is covered in plastic, it leaves virtually nowhere to place a jack stand!
Remember, floor jacks are for lifting, not holding. A floor jack losses its ability to hold the rated weight over time and how much it loses will vary on the type of jack you have. For example, a floor jack that can hold up to 6,500 lbs, before the safety mechanism engages, but after only 10 minutes that same jack may only be able to hold 5,500 lbs. (See Project Farm for Jack Lift Testing)
But you can just lift it from the rear and put a jack stand in the front!
This is a common tactic for smaller cars. You jack up the car from the rear pinch weld high enough in order to place a jack stand under the front pinch weld. This works great for the getting the front on jack stands and if you can find some uncovered subframe in the rear of the car you can then lift the rear from the center and place the rear jack stands under the rear pinch welds to lift the entire car safely.
- The rear of the atlas still doesn’t have anywhere where you can lift it from the center, and i’m not lifting from the differential.
Many types of service, including servicing the Haldex differential, requires that the entire car be level. This requires putting the car on 4 jack stands. However, without a 2 or 4 post lift, the unibody frame limits from where you can lift it with a regular floor jack.
- Regular floor jacks won’t be able to lift VW Atlas high enough for the front jack stands to make any difference.
I tried this technique with my 2 Ton Pittsburgh Aluminum Racing jack and failed because it can only lift a max 16 inches. I then tried my dad’s old Sears Jack that gets up to about 19 inches, fail. I went out and bought the Daytona Superduty 3 Ton jack for $289.00 from Harbor Freight in Candy Apple Red (it is absolutely beautiful) and it can lift up to 23 1/8 inches which was finally enough to lift the Atlas from the rear pinch weld high enough to place jack stands at the front pinch welds. If you’re floor jack doesn’t go high, then you won’t be able to go this route.
Installing the ECS Tuning OEM Jack Pad Adapter kit
Installing the ECS Tuning MQB OEM Jack Pad Adapter kit on a 2019 VW Atlas is a simple and effective way to safely lift your car using the designated jack points in the unibody frame. This kit includes everything you need to properly lift your VW/Audi from the factory jack points, including the OEM jack pads and our own designed jack pad adapter.
To install the kit, simply remove the plastic covers on the underside of your car with a flat head screwdriver. Then, use the ECS tuning OEM Jack Pad Adapter and your floor jack to press the Jack snubber and Jack snubber grommet into the designated holes in the unibody frame. Once these are installed, you can use a floor jack to lift the car by the newly installed jack snubber points of the unibody frame and then place your jack stands underneath the unobstructed pinch welds, providing a safe and secure method of lifting your VW or Audi.
Locating the Rear Jack Pads on Your VW Atlas
The rear jack pads on your Volkswagen Atlas are located closer to the center of the car. While the driver’s side jack pad is covered by a large plastic cover, the passenger side jack pad is hidden between plastic and the gas tank. When lifting the rear of your Atlas, it’s important to use the proper equipment to avoid damage to the plastic underbody. In this case, the base of a Daytona Super Duty jack was too wide and ended up pressing on the plastic, requiring the use of a smaller Pittsburgh Racing Aluminum jack instead.
Designed to fit a variety of VW/Audi vehicles
This kit is designed to fit a variety of VW/Audi vehicles, including the A3, A4, S4, TT, Golf, and many others. It is an essential tool for anyone looking to safely and properly lift their car for maintenance or repairs.
In addition to providing safe and secure lifting points, the ECS Tuning OEN Jack Pad Adapter kit also prevents damage to your car’s rocker panels. Without these adapters, attempting to lift your car from improper points can result in crushing or bending of the rocker panels, leading to costly repairs.
After Install
With the ECS Tuning Jack Pad Adapter kit installed, I can now safely and securely lift my VW Atlas for any maintenance or repair procedures. This kit not only provides designated lifting points, but it also prevents damage to the rocker panels, which can be crushed or bent if lifted improperly. These new jack pads are designed to permanently stay on the car and haven’t fallen of yet!
Overall Thoughts
In conclusion, the ECS Tuning Jack Pad Adapter kit is an essential tool for anyone looking to safely lift their 2019 VW Atlas. It provides designated lifting points and prevents damage to the rocker panels, making it a must-have for any enthusiast or DIY mechanic.
Watch the unboxing/Install
ECS Tuning MQB OEM Jack pad Kit Fits These Cars:
