Jacking up the rear end

[ntel]

Can anybody please tell me the best and safest method to jack up the rear end of my Chim with a trolly jack so I can put it on axle stands. The best jacking point seems to be taken by the exhaust bracket. Also I may have to change the diff bushes. Can anybody give me any pointers as I am new to all this TVR stuff

[taylormj4]

Hi,
Yeah, jacking up a Chimaera isn't as easy as you may first think. The best/strongest places are under the main chassis rails, I wouldn't jack under the outrigger parts that support the body. The main problem I find is that where you jack is usually where you want to put the axle stands.
I jack under both the rear chassis rails with 2 jacks and then use Draper axle stands which have flat tops and a rubber pad to protect the paintwork.
Alternatively you could jack between the two rails using a metal beam or thick piece of wood bridged between the rails but make doubly sure that the beam is strong enough to take the load, around half a ton on the back.
If you try to jack under one of the chassis rails it won't be central to the car but not far enough off centre to jack up only one side so the whole axle will come up but with a tendancy to tip sideways off your jack, so follow the car up with blocks or bricks under the tyres in case it tries to wobble off, then try and get the axle stands in quick without getting too far under the car yourself. Tada
Hope that helps,
Matt

[rat]

I'm often tempted by a low profile trolley jack, but they're expensive. Unless you have one it's easier if you jack the front up first and sit it on axle stands (if you have 4 axle stands) you can then get under the rear more easily from in front of the rear wheels.

Otherwise use the scissor jack on one side and once high enough finish the lift with the trolley jack under the other side. I put the jacks just behind the anti-roll bar brackets and then push the axle stands in from behind an site them under the chassis rails mid-way between the wishbone bushes.

Because the trolley jack is at an angle make sure the castors are going to roll easily, use hardboard if you're doing it on lumpy ground. Otherwise you'll start to pull the car around as you lift. If the front's already on axle stands that's not good!

It's a bit of a ball-ache and I've lost count of the number of times I've done it now. I recently clock-watched and found it doesn't take as long as it feels like. 15 minutes and my Chimaera was on 4 axle stands with 4 wheels removed ready for Waxoyling.

[ntel]

Thanks for your help lads. I got the back end up and found that the socket head machine screws that bolt the rear of the diff to the chasis were undone and protruding about 20mm out of the holes. That obviously accounted for the clunking and banging which I had been told was because the rear dampers were inclinded!

Now the bolts are tight all the clunking has gone away. God knows what damage that was doing to the drives. Anyway I just hope I caught it in time before any serious damage was done. By the way I've only had the Chim two weeks so I'm new at this game.

Thanks again chaps