42 replies to this topic

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

Right then, I bought a pair of axle stands to use when replacing my Anti roll bar.

Now, I'm not sure how to use these, so I will risk sounding dumb and ask, rather than risk damaging the car.

I need to lift the front of the car for access. How do I do it?

Do I jack one side of the car up, and place one under the front axle that is raised, then lower the car and do the same on the other side...?

Seems like this will create alot of torsion across the car when I lower it with one corner raised like that...?

[A13X]

Ive never done this either. But if i were to do it, i would do as you have described but do it in progressive steps. So jack one side half way and put axle stand under. Then jack other side up all the way putting axle stand in. Then jack the first side up all the way putting the axle stand back in after.

Edited by A13X, 12 April 2009 - 02:54 PM.

[robin]

i was thinking same so not a silly question conclusion i came to was to buy a cheap jack and have one on either side and jack whole front at same time, then put axel stands under.

[VIX]

Search mate, this has definitely been covered before.

[Jameshs]

I jack from the side point and the put one under the front on the machined section. Then lower and repeat on the other side. No problems so far with that

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

I jack from the side point and the put one under the front on the machined section. Then lower and repeat on the other side. No problems so far with that

Machined section??

[slindborg]

I jack from the side point and the put one under the front on the machined section. Then lower and repeat on the other side. No problems so far with that

as in you leave one wheel up in the air?
twisted tub ahoy

[oblomov]

Personally I use two jacks. With the bonnet open I place a long spirit level across the open bonnet space and with a jack under the front end of each chassis beam I jack the car alternating between one side and the other in small increments watching the bubble on the spirit level to ensure the car stays as level as possible throughout the whole process to avoid twisting the chassis. When the car is high enough I place the axle stands under the chassis beams behind the jacks and remove the jacks by releasing in small alternate controlled increments.

[cheeky_chops]

I jack from the side point and the put one under the front on the machined section. Then lower and repeat on the other side. No problems so far with that

as in you leave one wheel up in the air?
twisted tub ahoy

The tub requires 10000nm of pressure for it to flex 1 degree. Or about 7500lb/ft.

http://www.sandsmuse...cal/engalu.html

[snoopstah]

I've wondered this as well. I've never used axle stands but have thought the same thing, it doesn't feel like a nice thing to do. But surely the loads on the chassis would be hugely higher just driving over a pothole than doing this. Indeed, as far as the chassis is concerned, isn't this basically the same as having one wheel on a kerb and the other wheels on the road?

[slindborg]

I jack from the side point and the put one under the front on the machined section. Then lower and repeat on the other side. No problems so far with that

as in you leave one wheel up in the air?
twisted tub ahoy

The tub requires 10000nm of pressure for it to flex 1 degree. Or about 7500lb/ft.

http://www.sandsmuse...cal/engalu.html

I'll remain on the side of caution regardless.... esp as that testing can be as vauge as you like, I did a bit of torsional testing at uni and its amazing how easy it is to a) cock up the results and skew them and c) misrepresent the numbers (kinda like rolling roads lmao)

[simsy]

Do you know how much interlectual property Lotus (who designed and manufactured the VX) have?.. Lotus GP experience alone is on a par with the world's best.... so at Uni you got some sums wrong..... LOL.... You will not twist a chassis lifting the front with one jack..... Feck me.....

[slindborg]

Do you know how much interlectual property Lotus (who designed and manufactured the VX) have?.. Lotus GP experience alone is on a par with the world's best.... so at Uni you got some sums wrong..... LOL....

You will not twist a chassis lifting the front with one jack.....

Feck me.....

never said it was on an elise/vx tub and I probably did get a few numbers wrong since bending a space frame wasnt really of much interest, but its plain to see that you can get HUGE torsional stiffness results if you measure very near where you clamp the chassis, and of course much lower numbers the further away from the clamp you go.

anyway why isnt it "recommended" practice to jack each corner on its own then
so the tub wont bend, its still probably not wise practice to do it a corner at a time

[VIX]

interlectual

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

So jack one side half way and put axle stand under. Then jack other side up all the way putting axle stand in. Then jack the first side up all the way putting the axle stand back in after.

So are we saying the above method is ok....?

If so..... Where exactly do you put the axle stand? Again, might be a daft question, but I just want to be certain. Do you use the jacking points? Anybody got any pics..?

[John Faulkner]

You will not twist a chassis lifting the front with one jack.....

Feck me.....

X 1000

Jesus this forum makes me laugh sometimes

[The Batman]

You will not twist a chassis lifting the front with one jack.....

Feck me.....

X 1000

Jesus this forum makes me laugh sometimes

if you are not laughing you are crying

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

OK then, are we saying then that it is ok to jack the car up, then lower it onto ONE axle stand at the front, then jack the other side up, and lower onto a second axle stand....?

[mandarinvx]

[Sutol]

Hope the tub/chassis doesn't twist under the cars weight otherwise the handling would be affected