General Jacking up

[tgb]

Hi all, just a basic question here about jacking up my Marea Weekend. I always feel a bit uncomfortable jacking up one corner of a car high enough to put a support in in case I'm twisting it or something. Haynes never seems to explain the best way to do it very clearly (diagrams are limited and it assumes a certain amount of knowledge).
The Marea is the first car I've had that I can't drive onto ramps because of the low bumper. So how is it best to raise the car?
All I want to do is change the antifreeze.
Cheers....

 

[dave]

trolly jack, the jack that comes with the car is only for lifting enough to change a wheel

 

[jakelewis2670]

Put some bricks in front of the ramp. this lifts the car up, and should be high enough to get the car on the ramps.

 

[tgb]

I've got a trolley jack ok. I just feel funny about lifting only one corner up so high. I like the idea of the bricks though...

 

[Helz]

Then lift one side, stick a stand in and lift the other side and stick another stand in.

 

[arseofbox]

I like the idea of the bricks though...

I dont, they tend to crumble as theyre not designed to be loaded like that....

The method of lifting one side, sticking the stand under then repeating for the other side is the one Ive most commonly seen in pro garages without 2-post lifts!

 

[tgb]

Ok. I don't want to labour this thread too much but I guess what I'm asking is can i support the car on a stand under the sill at any point other than the exact spot designated for jacking?

 

[Hellcat]

If you have ramps then get a couple of 3 foot lenghts of scafolding board. Place them half way up the ramp and that will raise the car enough for the skirt to clear the top of the ramps. Have exactly the same problem with the very similar Tipo front.

You wont twist the car by jacking up one corner. The suspension will take the movement until the rear wheel comes off the floor - if you have a trolley jack high enough. Just dont open the door if you have it raised in one corner as the door forms a lot of the strength of the shell.

 

[arc]

if jacking up one corner, i use the normal jack on the sill to get enough height to get the trolley jack under. then lift using that, then lower back onto an axle stand.

If i'm at the front of the car, the trolley jack goes near the wheel hub and then the stand goes near the arb brackets on the wishbone.
If i'm at the rear of the car, the trolley jack goes on the radius arm and the stnad on the main crossbeam at the rear of the car.

That is of course for jacking a cinq or sei. I wouldn't feel safe supporting a car on a stand by the sill - i only ever use that jacking point to raise the car a tiny bit

 

[tgb]

Thanks everybody. That's all good advice. I'll just get on with it now...