Jacking the Elise and Placing on Jackstands - Page 3 - LotusTalk

TimMullen · 06-04-2007, 07:10 PM

I may be the only one, but I have to give a word of caution.

I once attempted to lift one side of the car and slide the RhinoRamps under that side (going to repeat it for the other side).

Before I go the car high enough to slide the RhinoRamp under the rear tire, the angle of the car (one one side lifted) causes the jack to slip - and luckily - shoot out from under the side of the car. Luckily, because the car fell back to the ground without hitting the jack or causing any damage.

I learned my lesson, and back up on the RhinoRamps to access the under-tray and remove it, then drive it back down onto the ground. I then jack up one side high enough to get two jackstands under the car with then set at their lowest point. Then I jack up the other side to normal working height and place the jack stands. Then back to the first side to raise those two jacks to the working height.

Lowering is the reverse.

Like I said, I may be the only one, and several people lift the car and slide the RhinoRamps under the tires, but I'm not going to even consider doing that again. Once was close enough to catastrophe...

lancer360 · 06-05-2007, 06:11 AM

I also back the car onto the Rhino ramps first, then I use the jack to lift one side enough to put the jack stand under it. Once you are on the rhino ramps, it does not take much to lift the car enough to get a jack stand under it, and their is little chance of the jack shooting out from under the car since both rear wheels are already on the rhino ramps and the car is level side to side. The angle from front to rear is MUCH less since the car is longer in that direction so again, really no chance of the jack shooting out because of the angle.

Good point Tim!

mpsalm · 06-12-2007, 11:13 AM

Is there a way to jack the car up only from the 2 "C" points without placing jack stands under points "B"? I torqued my toe-links without having to use more than one jack but I'd like to know for future reference. I don't think the front wheels would resettle onto the ground without tipping the car since the frame is so stiff.

lancer360 · 06-12-2007, 12:40 PM

You don't have to use jack stands under the front of the car when you lift the rear. Back the rear of the car onto ramps, drop the undertray, then jack the car at point "A", install jack stand under "C" and remove ramp. Repeat for the other side. You will end up with the front wheels on the ground and the rear on jack stands. Make sure you chock both front wheels though!

TimMullen · 06-12-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpsalm

I torqued my toe-links without having to use more than one jack but I'd like to know for future reference.

I've pointed this out several times before, but here it is again.

The toe-link bolt is also the lower a-arm bushing mounting bolt. Only tighten that bolt (and any other bushing bolts) with the car at ride height - wheels on the ground. If the wheels are "drooping" with the car on jack stands, it will "pre-load" the bushing - besides causing the bushing to fail sooner, it will mess up the effective spring rate of the suspension.

Put the wheels on the ground or on RhinoRamps (or something else) so that the weight of the car is on the wheels prior to tightening the suspension bolts.

mpsalm · 06-12-2007, 05:06 PM

Good to know, thanks... It's hard sifting through the many many many threads on this topic...

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimMullen

I've pointed this out several times before, but here it is again.

The toe-link bolt is also the lower a-arm bushing mounting bolt. Only tighten that bolt (and any other bushing bolts) with the car at ride height - wheels on the ground. If the wheels are "drooping" with the car on jack stands, it will "pre-load" the bushing - besides causing the bushing to fail sooner, it will mess up the effective spring rate of the suspension.

Put the wheels on the ground or on RhinoRamps (or something else) so that the weight of the car is on the wheels prior to tightening the suspension bolts.

RWLott · 06-12-2007, 05:34 PM

I have two racing aluminum floor jacks from Summit Racing (built-in hockey pucks, 3000 lb capacity). Caution - lower carefully, VERY gradually release the handles, otherwise they lower all the way at once.

Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels. Remove the rear diffuser.

Jack the rear of the car using both locations D gradually at the same time. Place jack stands near locations C.

Repeat using both locations B at the same time at the front. Place jack stands under the tie rods. The car remains stable at all times.

Raising one side of the car using location A did not seem very stable. Too bad. I would have preferred not to have to remove the rear diffuser.

06-04-2007, 07:10 PM	#41 (permalink)
TimMullen Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Chantilly, VA Posts: 10,688 Images: 19	I may be the only one, but I have to give a word of caution. I once attempted to lift one side of the car and slide the RhinoRamps under that side (going to repeat it for the other side). Before I go the car high enough to slide the RhinoRamp under the rear tire, the angle of the car (one one side lifted) causes the jack to slip - and luckily - shoot out from under the side of the car. Luckily, because the car fell back to the ground without hitting the jack or causing any damage. I learned my lesson, and back up on the RhinoRamps to access the under-tray and remove it, then drive it back down onto the ground. I then jack up one side high enough to get two jackstands under the car with then set at their lowest point. Then I jack up the other side to normal working height and place the jack stands. Then back to the first side to raise those two jacks to the working height. Lowering is the reverse. Like I said, I may be the only one, and several people lift the car and slide the RhinoRamps under the tires, but I'm not going to even consider doing that again. Once was close enough to catastrophe... __________________ Tim Mullen --- There is no such thing as Touring suspension or Touring wheels. I love being married. It's so great to find that one person that you want to annoy for the rest of your life. - Rita Rudner Chantilly, VA http://members.cox.net/elans4/ 05 Lotus Elise - Chrome Orange - No Touring - No LSS - No Hardtop - Lotus Driving Lights - Lotus "Chin Guards" - plain and simple. 94 Miata R Package - Black 72 Lotus Elan Sprint - Colorado Orange/Cirrus White

06-05-2007, 06:11 AM	#42 (permalink)
lancer360 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,136	I also back the car onto the Rhino ramps first, then I use the jack to lift one side enough to put the jack stand under it. Once you are on the rhino ramps, it does not take much to lift the car enough to get a jack stand under it, and their is little chance of the jack shooting out from under the car since both rear wheels are already on the rhino ramps and the car is level side to side. The angle from front to rear is MUCH less since the car is longer in that direction so again, really no chance of the jack shooting out because of the angle. Good point Tim! __________________ '05 Lotus Elise Saffron Yellow, Touring, Sport, FOR SALE!!! KBS Mark 7 Formula 500

06-12-2007, 12:40 PM	#44 (permalink)
lancer360 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,136	You don't have to use jack stands under the front of the car when you lift the rear. Back the rear of the car onto ramps, drop the undertray, then jack the car at point "A", install jack stand under "C" and remove ramp. Repeat for the other side. You will end up with the front wheels on the ground and the rear on jack stands. Make sure you chock both front wheels though! __________________ '05 Lotus Elise Saffron Yellow, Touring, Sport, FOR SALE!!! KBS Mark 7 Formula 500

06-12-2007, 05:34 PM	#47 (permalink)
RWLott BBeauty Join Date: May 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 144	Placing on 4 jack stands I have two racing aluminum floor jacks from Summit Racing (built-in hockey pucks, 3000 lb capacity). Caution - lower carefully, VERY gradually release the handles, otherwise they lower all the way at once. Place wheel chocks in front of the front wheels. Remove the rear diffuser. Jack the rear of the car using both locations D gradually at the same time. Place jack stands near locations C. Repeat using both locations B at the same time at the front. Place jack stands under the tie rods. The car remains stable at all times. Raising one side of the car using location A did not seem very stable. Too bad. I would have preferred not to have to remove the rear diffuser.

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06-12-2007, 11:13 AM	#43 (permalink)
mpsalm BANNED Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,348	Is there a way to jack the car up only from the 2 "C" points without placing jack stands under points "B"? I torqued my toe-links without having to use more than one jack but I'd like to know for future reference. I don't think the front wheels would resettle onto the ground without tipping the car since the frame is so stiff.

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