Preferred lifting methods

lofty · 26-06-2009, 04:13 PM

I just wondered what methods ppl use to access the underside of their AUs? I have 4 hardwood sleepers that I've cut into ramps so I can get about 5 inches of lift with the car level. I can then crawl underneath, but I'd really like more elbow room and clearance for a creeper. I'm considering investing in a trolley jack and a second pair of axle stands. Is it safe to get under a car on 4 axle stands? Is it safe to jack on the alloy front crossmember? Maybe with a block of wood?

PS: Just did a search on 'jack crossmember' and it seems it's one of those things that's risky but a lot a ppl do. (And expressly forbidden by Ford.) So let's not reopen that can of worms. Bit of a pain having to jack each side separately though...

au11futura · 26-06-2009, 04:29 PM

car ramps mate.

i jack it with a troley jack then put the front on the ramps.

but if i need full acces to the rear i jack that on car ramps as well.

it pays to have four of them.
and two troley jacks.

au11futura · 26-06-2009, 04:31 PM

to jack it from the front i put the jack on the cross member with a block of wood.

and the back i jack it from the diff.

Hords · 26-06-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au11futura

and the back i jack it from the diff.

Don't do this if you have IRS.

cjf · 26-06-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hords

Don't do this if you have IRS.

Why ? because my tyre place did it to my BF GT when they were doing a puncture repair.

Hords · 26-06-2009, 05:45 PM

Do a search with IRS + Jacking for more

Quote:

Originally Posted by T3man

Yep, you can jack under the front alloy cross-member and under the diff on an XR8 with IRS. And with the money you save by doing your own services you can buy a new front cross-member when yours cracks, and new diff mounts when yours breaks, and get your tailshaft re-aligned and re-balanced because once the diff mount breaks the tailshaft will eventually bend due to misalignment and harmonic imbalance. You will probably have to do you own servicing for only about 3 years to save the money required for the above repairs.

Just jack under the car's correct jacking points and nothing will get harmed. You can place stands under the chassis rails at the front just near the jack points and same at the rear. At the rear you also can safely put stands under the lower trailing arms (as far to the rear as you can manage is best) if you have IRS. Naturally if you have a solid rear end you can jack under the diff and set your stands under the axle housings.

galaxy xr8 · 26-06-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hords

Do a search with IRS + Jacking for more

Thank's for that mate, it will come in handy.

galaxy xr8 · 26-06-2009, 04:57 PM

I have a BIG heavy duty trolley Jack and car stand's, they a built like a brick sh#*house,
I don't go cheap when safety is a major concern.

ronwest · 26-06-2009, 05:10 PM

I bought a second 1900kg trolley jack a little while ago.

With two jacks, four stands + ramps I've just about got it covered.

au11futura · 26-06-2009, 05:56 PM

yeh no dont go by the diff if you have irs.

mik · 26-06-2009, 09:10 PM

i have some railway sleepers also , gives me about 5/6 inches so i can get the 2t jack under, i also have a couple of bits of 30 x50 mm tube welded side by side approximatly 600 mm long with a keeper welded on one end so it can`t slide , it also has a piece of steel rod welded to the under side of it in the middle to locate it in the jack, i remove the lifting plate off the end of the jack and sit the steel paralel to the jack and use the alloy x member and front steel x member......it looks a little ugly but its effective , it gets the car up about 600mm to sit on 3 ton stands and shares the load on 2 x members.

lofty · 27-06-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mik

a couple of bits of 30 x50 mm tube welded side by side approximatly 600 mm long <snip> use the alloy x member and front steel x member...<snip> shares the load on 2 x members.

Mik, i like your thinking. I'm guessing the tubes are oriented vertically?

Another option I was considering is the display ramps car yards use, like this: (ebay link) My concern is that with no height adjustment, you could end up at the wrong height for some tasks and be no better off. For the price though I'd buy 'em if they were in my state.

JC · 27-06-2009, 01:26 AM

I use the front cross member, but you have to have the jack towards the back of it or it slips off (guess how i found that out????).

Also, you can jack on IRS rear using the cradle, which is just behind and above the diff.

mik · 27-06-2009, 11:36 AM

yes the tubes run inline with the engine , should you do this you need a keeper because its on a slight angle and metal on metal is slippery, but it works quite well as long as your on sleepers or already up a bit off the ground, nice ramps in the link .... if you can get them for the right price would be very handy, agreed on the wrong height at times, but for a lot of jobs or quick inspection under the whole car it would be great i think.

Bolly · 27-06-2009, 01:00 PM

Which is the best way to lift the rear of my XR safely????
I looked at the front end and noticed its made of alloy.. is it even safe to use the trolly jag to lift the front...????????
I want to adjust the hanbrake cable and have a good look underneath the car...
Help!!!!

JC · 27-06-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolly

Which is the best way to lift the rear of my XR safely????
I looked at the front end and noticed its made of alloy.. is it even safe to use the trolly jag to lift the front...????????
I want to adjust the hanbrake cable and have a good look underneath the car...
Help!!!!

Take a look at post #12. I assume you'd use jack stands as well.

ebxr82nv · 30-06-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolly

Which is the best way to lift the rear of my XR safely????
I looked at the front end and noticed its made of alloy.. is it even safe to use the trolly jag to lift the front...????????
I want to adjust the hanbrake cable and have a good look underneath the car...
Help!!!!

You adjust your handbrake inside the rear wheel hubs not by the cable, don't ask me how but cause I haven't had to do mine yet.

Cookie-XR8 · 28-06-2009, 06:45 AM

my jack pulls it up high and have big jack stands, not little supercheap ones, brings it about a foot from the ground when the stands are on the lowest point

dusty86 · 28-06-2009, 08:57 PM

a hoist

lofty · 29-06-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dusty86

a hoist

If you have one, please show & tell. And tell us your address

Bolly · 29-06-2009, 04:08 AM

Not a bad idea Dusty86...
That way i can have a good look the best way to jack the car up..

dusty86 · 30-06-2009, 02:07 PM

workshop

and pretty relaxed boss