Jacking advice

[ElvisWedgely]

This is what I do.

Tony. TCB.

[Campbell]

When I didn't have a ramp to play with I used 4 good axle stands the self locking kind, all you have to do is lift them up as you jack plus two good low line jacks, one from each side brining the car up evenly.
Its amazing what you can do while on stands....oh the good old days

[mike various]

Gotta be honest i wouldn't support a car on all four corners with axle stands.
I always place the car wheels or some spare tyres underneath the car as an emergency backup in case the axle stands fail.

I was working on a land rover with all four wheels in the air and supported on axles stands on a gear box.
I had been under most of the day and got out to go to the toilet.
As i walked away one of the axle stands failed and the landie dropped to the floor.
If i had been underneath i would have been squished, so i all way's put a pile of tyres underneath as a safety measure.

That's my thoughts.

Mike

[adam quantrill]

Tyres would squish too without the wheel rims still in - and our plentiful "spare tyres" wouldn't stand a chance.

Be careful out/under there!

Tony's "roller coaster" design always gives me the heebie jeebies whenever I see it!

[njhucker]

I use a racing jack under the centre of the crossmember to lift the wheels a couple of inches, then I slip some CJ Autos adjustable ramps under the wheels and jack them up. They do cost £330 but I wouldn't be without them.

[ElvisWedgely]

adam quantrill said:

Be careful out/under there!

Tony's "roller coaster" design always gives me the heebie jeebies whenever I see it!

My 'continental' design is safer than any metal ramp. It may not be obvious in the picture but the blocks are concrete and the wood are sleepers. Tried and tested, totally bullet proof. Driving it up there though is another matter. I have to use all my forty years of driving experience. Living on a hill has its advantages as once on the ramp, the ground clearance is superb.

Tony.TCB.

[stevoj]

Tony, your chocks are on the wrong side of the front wheel to stop that rolling down

[ElvisWedgely]

stevoj said:

Tony, your chocks are on the wrong side of the front wheel to stop that rolling down

Yes, but what about the other side? It's well chocked under the other wheels in the opposite direction. I knew someone would spot that. To tell you the truth, at that angle, when you release the hand brake, the car rolls towards the house and not down the slope as one would expect.
It's a bit of an illusion.

The beauty of this set up is that I can have the car up in the air in minutes.

Tony. TCB.

Edited by ElvisWedgely on Tuesday 3rd March 20:45

[General Zod]

Act Daft said:

Ive got some of these ramp extensions so I can drive straight up about £15

Edited by Act Daft on Wednesday 2nd January 14:14

Stuck the car up on a set of these today to change the gearbox oil. Got a real blast of clutch smoke- anyone else experience this? Was taking it slow and obviously revving a bit much but it is tricky enough to do it smoothly in one go. Any tips? Don't want to pile over and off the end! That would be a mess.

[adam quantrill]

Mmmm could make them out of scrap wood easy enough.

Also with a small improvement at the very top - add a ridge to drive over which will give positive retention of the car with less need for that chock which I feel might work loose especially when also working on the rear.

[General Zod]

adam quantrill said:

Mmmm could make them out of scrap wood easy enough.

Also with a small improvement at the very top - add a ridge to drive over which will give positive retention of the car with less need for that chock which I feel might work loose especially when also working on the rear.

That would be a far better job and would stop me munching through the clutch!
Will probably do it.