Jacking Up A Smart

Mod Description

In case you need a do some work - like change a wheel - you need a jack. You'll also need to know how to use it.

Mod Details

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It’s something that most people will have to do when that puncture appears. Unfortunately not many people are sure of how to actually do it. Most people think you need a special jack from a certain car but a trolley jack is fine.

This page currently covers the following cars:

Fortwo 450
Fortwo 451
Roadster 452
Fortwo & Forfour 453

Fortwo 450

This shows you where on the car you should be looking, in line with the front of the door.

There is an obvious recess with a metal lip running from front to back. The head of the jack should sit in the middle of the lip.

Again the picture shows where you should be looking for the jacking point. It is just in front of the rear wheels.

There is recessed plastic strip running from front to back with a distinct alcove. Again, the centre of the jack head should be positioned in the centre of the ridge.

The smart has a very long suspension travel so it takes a good lift to clear the ground.

Fortwo 451

This is very similar to the original fortwo. The jacking points are just behind the front wheels…

and just in front of the rear wheels.

Look underneath the car and the jack point will become very obvious. The sill is covered in plastic but has a strong lip underneath it, it is encompassed by a recessed circle.

Ensure the jack head sits inside this circle. Ideally use a jack with a head that matches the shape of the shape of the lip. Many Ford jacks will work fine and can be bought cheaply from scrap yards or Ebay.

Roadster 452

This shows the area for the jacking points, the front of the car is on the right.

The recess highlights the sill which is reinforced specifically for jacking.

Again, we have a small recess in the skirt to show the area of the jacking point.

The smart has a very long suspension travel so it takes a good lift to clear the ground.

Fortwo & Forfour 453

The front and rear jacking points are shown on the sill using an indented triangle.

If you have the Brabus or aftermarket sideskirts, these indents will be covered.

Look underneath and you’ll see the sill running from back to front. It’s a long raised metal lip.

If you are using a trolley jack, add something protective between the 2 so the sill doesn’t get damaged. A piece of wood with a slot in it or a slotted hockey puck is ideal.

WARNING

If you are working under a jacked up car ALWAYS use axle stands and chock the wheels.

Types Of Jack

Scissor

This is the most common type of jack supplied with other cars. The head usually has the correct shape to connect cleanly with the jacking point. They are quite slow and can be unstable. The higher it gets, the narrower it becomes plus they have a limited lift height.

Half Scissor

Very common on Ford cars, more compact than the scissor jacks but just as unstable.

Trolley

This is the sort of jack usually found in garages. The have rollers on the front and castors on the back for easy positioning. They can get under low cars and lift quite high yet remain stable, they are also quick to lift a car. The problems with the trolley jack is the size and
weight and the fact that the lifting face is usually a bowl which doesn’t really mate with the smart jacking points. They can cause slight damage to the jacking sill points with extended use.

Bag

A reinforced bag that can be placed under the car and inflated using the gasses from the exhaust. Don’t even bother, they are a waste of time and money and will damage the car’s undertray.

Bottle

The bottle jack is compact, powerful and easy to use. The problem is they are heavy and usually they are too tall in their lowest position to fit under the smart’s sill.

Fulcrum

Exactly as you see in use in Formula 1 pitstops. They can lift a car in a second. Not very stable, no safety mechanism to stop it flipping up and lowing the car. Awkward to use and quite large.

Side Entry

Not applicable on smarts due to the lack of chassis connection.

Jack Recommendation

I have always been a fan of the trolley jack due to its low to high lifting abilities, overall stability and its quick and easy use. You can pick these up in blown moulded cases from £10 from places like Lidl and Argos which often include chocks and axle stands which should be used if you are working under the car. However, for a mobile roadside jack that you can hide in the car, get a scissor jack.