Frame / Springs: Do lot of you put the stude on jack stands for the winter?

[14x7]

A co worker has me putting the president on jack stands ,so I don't flat spot the radial tires. After hearing some of you talking about weak frames , i am beginning to wonder if I'm doing damage to the frame. One jack stand is basically under the master cylinder ,and I was noticing a leak this winter where the master cylinder is located. Where do you put the jack stands on your studes?

[stall]

I've got three collector cars and have never put them on jack stands over 25 years now. I've got Radials on all the cars and have never had flat spots. I do have to say that my cars are only stored from December 15th to April first and perhaps longer storage would yield more problems.
Murray

[rockne10]

I used to put stands under the rear axle and under the lower control arms. This still kept the suspension under pressure. Flat spotting was primarily an issue with the nylon bias tires. Before radials it was normal to enjoy a little body massage every morning until the tires warmed up. I've had no issues with flat spotting on radials and now leave them on the floor all winter.

[Deaf Mute]

Mine are on the floor as well... no obvious problems.

[BobPalma]

As has been said, if you want to use jack stands, place them under the control arms in the front and under the axle housing (preferably under the spring plates below the springs) at the rear. Those positions "load" the frame as if the wheels were on the ground. It is inadvisable to place stands under the frame of any car and thus force the car to be supported (or suspended) at points not designed to bear that load more than temporarily.

Like the others, I don't put cars on jack stands; never have. No flat-spot issues with radial tires, or even the reproduction bias on my '64 Daytona convertible and '56 Packard Clipper. The OEM Goodyear Custom Wide Tread Polyglas F70X14 tires on the '73 Mustang are as hard as a rock and readily flat-spot, but I drive it fewer than 30 miles per year, slowly, just to exercise it. BP

[63 R2 Hawk]

I drive mine during the winter. Keeps me from worrying about these things!

[Mike Van Veghten]

The main "damage" that may happen, is the rubber on cold concrete. It can cause changes in the rubber in the spot that is on the concrete. It will leach out oils from the tire.
If I was to let a car sit, all I would do is to park the car on carpet pads or a half a garage being carpeted, and make sure the tires have the maximum air pressure as noted on the sidewall.

Jackstands..as others have noted....axle and control arms...just like it's sitting on the ground...seems the obvious choise.

Mike

P.s. - DO NOT...start the engine every so often, as some think is required. Just let it sit till you can actually drive it. Moisture WILL build up in the engine and if enough does build up can can cause severe damage.

[fpstude]

What 63 R2 Hawk said, down here in California. Hay, it got down to 29F here this week!

[Warren Webb]

For what its worth I had my 63 Ranger sitting at my brother in laws field behind his house for a year & a half before I got it running again. When I was finally able to drive it the tires were flat spotted (BFG RADIAL T/A'S), so I for one have experienced it. Fortunatly the rear tires were near the min. tread depth so they were replaced shortly afterwards. I drove for almost a year with the shaking at 65 mph until the fronts were replaced about 6 months ago.

As far as the jacks stand thing goes, I've always had them under suspention parts, both at home or at a shop. Vehicle doesnt know the difference.