I was looking to jack the front and then the rear. I want to avoid having jacking the car up on one jackstand at a time.

You can't do that. There are specific points to place the jackstands, and this info is listed in the owner's manual. You can lift one side of the car from the balance point on each side of the car (one side at a time). There are front spots marked to place jackstands, but the rear spots are under the "under tray" which must be removed first.

DO NOT place jackstands anywhere but the "official" jacking points, unless of course you want to punch holes in the chassis or bend it... :no:

Check this thread.

And this thread.

Here's the lifting points from a service manual:
<img src="http://www.elisetalk.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=1000&original=1" alt="Jacking Points" />

 

I've been meaning to ask about this. Couldn't you jack up a side at point A, put jackstands under B and D, and then go around and do the other side? Seems like this would work to get all 4 corners off the ground.

 

i dont have any recommendations on jackstands but if you already have some jackstand that don't have rubber padding i find that ice hockey pucks work quiet well...

 

Be very careful how you place the jack at point A; I accidentally caught a bit fo the body and ended upwith a 9 inch crack in the rocker panel

 

Stickers

ok...I just happened to look under the car today for the Jackpoints described in the manual...I found it but is on the metal underpanel...

Do I need to take that off to actually connect with the chassis for the jack or do you just put the jack right on top of that sticker? :shrug:

 

ok...I just happened to look under the car today for the Jackpoints described in the manual...I found it but is on the metal underpanel...

Do I need to take that off to actually connect with the chassis for the jack or do you just put the jack right on top of that sticker? :shrug:

Read the instructions for C and D it says:

C; The engine undertray/diffuser panel must first be removed ....
D: The engine undertray/diffuser panel must first be removed ....

It's only one page to read

Edit: and just in case, for a 4 point lift they recommend B and C

 

Ok Mr. Smarty

I saw those instructions...but I am talking about Point A.

This is the point where you place your jack lift...

This is the point that I am talking about...C and D are possible jackstand placement areas and that I do understand requires the removal of the Diffuser.

In the book it doesn't say anything about Point A and the underpanel...that is why I was curious...

Has anyone jacked their car up on their own yet?

 

I saw those instructions...but I am talking about Point A.

This is the point where you place your jack lift...

This is the point that I am talking about...C and D are possible jackstand placement areas and that I do understand requires the removal of the Diffuser.

In the book it doesn't say anything about Point A and the underpanel...that is why I was curious...

Has anyone jacked their car up on their own yet?

I did, and didn't have to remove the difuser for the side ones (A) just make sure you are carefull because of the body is very close to the jacking point.

After lifting it my friend and I put the jackstands before removing the front panel when I changed my horn. http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5799&page=3

Sorry no pictures of the car being jacked up. But I don't remember if the rear diffuser got in the way since we didn't have to work on that, but I don't think it will interfere

 

I saw those instructions...but I am talking about Point A.

This is the point where you place your jack lift...

Point A is the "balance point". If you were to jack up the car and use jackstands under Points A and B, the car might rest there, but any bit of extra weight on the rear (like a hand or a full tank of gas) and the car will flip backward off the jack stands at Point A.

To lift the car completely off the ground, you have to place jackstands under both sides at Point B and either Point C or Point D.

Point A is only to lift up one side of the car lifting both wheels on that side off the ground, while both wheels on the other side remain on the ground.

I suspect that the best way to lift the car at home is to drive the back up on ramps, remove the under tray and diffuser, then put the car on the ground. Then lift at point A, place jackstands at B and C, and repeat for the other side.

 

Success!!!

Well I have successfully jacked up the vehicle without destroying anything so that is good.

Off to the powder coat shop...I will have to post pics once I'm done...should be about a week.

Thanks everyone for your insights :nanner:

 

i am thinking of raising the entire car off the ground and onto stands by myself, and getting all the wheels off to take them to a shop to get new tires installed, because i don't want to run the risk of insulting the mechanics when telling them how to change the tires on this car, or have them ignore those instructions, or have those instructions as an excuse to charge me a lot more.

so, some questions,

Well I have successfully jacked up the vehicle without destroying anything so that is good.

blakazian, or anyone else who i expect followed TimMullen instructions,

did your car feel unstable at any point during this? i am trying to imagine all this and in my mind it looks potentially unstable at times.

all,

i can't look at my car now - i am wondering if using point C really requires taking the diffuser off - seems forward enough that only taking off that panel that is taken off during the oil change (the undertray i guess) is enough and that the diffuser (which is further back) can stay in place. so is this maybe the case? also, the manual uses "/" which could mean one "or" the other.

 

i am thinking of raising the entire car off the ground and onto stands by myself, and getting all the wheels off to take them to a shop to get new tires installed, because i don't want to run the risk of insulting the mechanics when telling them how to change the tires on this car, or have them ignore those instructions, or have those instructions as an excuse to charge me a lot more.

I did this when I got new tires as well. I just lifted at point A and brought in 2 at a time. (I realize I probably should have used jackstands, but I'm rather lazy and did not want to remove the rear undertray.

 

I have raised the car off the ground (all four wheels) many times. You only need to remove the panel under the engine to access points C. Jack up one side under point A. Place a jackstand under Point B. Place another jackstand under point C on the same side. Lower the jack onto the stands. Repeat for other side.

What you will notice is that the stiffness of the Elise's frame means that the car can be supported on three points easily, or even two (not recommending this!), so that means it can be difficult to get it to sit down on all four points evently. I don't worry about that too much.

And don't use crappy jack stands...or get lazy and not use any stands. Read this-
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=70117&st=0

 

I did this when I got new tires as well. I just lifted at point A and brought in 2 at a time. (I realize I probably should have used jackstands, but I'm rather lazy and did not want to remove the rear undertray.

two at a time - i didn't even think of that. thanks. i may do that next time.

 

I have raised the car off the ground (all four wheels) many times...

thanks. i feel more confident now.

And don't use crappy jack stands...Read this-
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=70117&st=0

all jack stands appear to be the same. what is the thing to look for?

 

FWIW, I only used Points A & B to get all 4 wheels off the ground.

I lifted one side first at Point A. Put bricks/blocks under Point B. Left original jack at Point A.

Used another jack to raise other side of car at Point A. And then put same brick/block supports under Point B.

Car was rock solid, no wobbles, etc... :up:

Pics show it better. Same set-up for each side of the car.

Regards,
Wayne

 

all jack stands appear to be the same. what is the thing to look for?

You want something with a secure pin in it.

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36169&highlight=jack+stands

 

Wayne,

That's the scariest thing I've ever seen - well maybe you could add a rabbit or something to play underneath.

The wind up jack looks like the trigger on a mousetrap.... SNAP!

 

That's the scariest thing I've ever seen

Hi David,
Yeah, it looks pretty deadly I'll admit. :no:

I spent hours on my back under the car like this doing the brake caliper paint job. And I'm still here to tell the tale!

Definitely won't do it that way again.

Wayne

 

FWIW, I only used Points A & B to get all 4 wheels off the ground.

We call that the "Qball" around here.

 

I have 4 of the jack stands shown in post #8 here http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36169&highlight=jack+stands.

I took a grinder and shaved the ridges off the tops and glued a piece of rubber on the top. Works great and don't have to worry about a hockey puck.

That picture above is very scary!!!! You must have not had a full tank of gas and took the rear wheels off first. That is exactly how Qballs car flipped backwards using those lift points. Took the front wheels off first and backwards she went! Please don't lift your car like that, I don't want to read a post about loosing an ET member due to the car falling on him.

EDIT: Didn't see your next post. I'm glad you have changed your mind!

 

That picture above is very scary!!!! You must have not had a full tank of gas and took the rear wheels off first. That is exactly how Qballs car flipped backwards using those lift points. Took the front wheels off first and backwards she went! Please don't lift your car like that, I don't want to read a post about loosing an ET member due to the car falling on him.

The more I look at that picture, the more afraid I get!! :thwack:

This bit of stupidity was performed pre-Qball. If mine had flipped, we'd be calling it a "wayner".

Won't happen again, I promise..
Wayne

 

I have 4 of the jack stands shown in post #8 here http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36169&highlight=jack+stands.

I took a grinder and shaved the ridges off the tops and glued a piece of rubber on the top. Works great and don't have to worry about a hockey puck.

That picture above is very scary!!!! You must have not had a full tank of gas and took the rear wheels off first. That is exactly how Qballs car flipped backwards using those lift points. Took the front wheels off first and backwards she went! Please don't lift your car like that, I don't want to read a post about loosing an ET member due to the car falling on him.

EDIT: Didn't see your next post. I'm glad you have changed your mind!

I have those same stands w/the pucks. I didn't use them because I was scared to. The surface area of the contact pad seemed a little small, but I'm sure it's fine. Just a mental hurdle you have to get over. I just used the jack to keep the car up.

 

Using bricks to hold up cars is not a good idea... -eek-

Although unlikely, bricks are very brittle and can crack and split (or crumble). Yes, they are strong in compression, but any side loading can be disastrous.

One type of jack to avoid is the old fashioned stamped and welded sheet metal type. They are the type with bent sheet metal legs and a "strap" between each leg. If the spot welds let loose, the legs of the jack stand spread out and the car drops.

The Aluminum Torin jacks (seen on several threads on the forum, and the kind I used - and I first sow them in use in one of Randy's posts) are very strong. All the force is directed straight down through the post to the ground, not any legs. They are basically a post with a flat plate on the bottom to keep it vertical.

I have another type that looks somewhat like the old type, but it has a center post that goes to the ground. The three legs aren't really supporting the weight, they are providing stability.

In any case, when the Elise was sitting on top of my Torin Aluminum jack stands (with hockey pucks), the car was very stable.

One bit of advice when you use any type of jack stand - once you have the car in the air and before you remove the wheels, shake it. Although you don't want it to fall to the ground, it would be better if it happened with the wheels on and you not under it.

 

Recently did some suspension work and I used it like this..

For putting it on stands I use a 2-step process:

- remove engine undertray
- jack up 1 side, slide rhinoramps under the wheels
- jack up other side until it is just a little higher and put stands underneath
- jack up side that's on rhinoramps and place stands as well

That way the stands are never subjected to much side loads.

I used the front point and the one on the chassis beam under the fuel tank. Car was very stable.

Bye, Arno.