Safest Jacking points - Elite

[Moriniman]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd change the engine oil and driveshaft UJ's before the cold weather sets in so I need to raise each end of the car using a trolley jack and axle stands.

I'm a tad nervous of jacking the car up in the wrong place and bending the chassis or cracking the body tub. Any ideas where I should be raising the car? For the rear I was planning to raise the car under the diff but at the front I'm stumped.

[Herc]

I jack it in the middle of the front cross member with a nice heavy bit of wood, running front to back between jack and chassis to prevent damage, then put axle stands under the suspension turrets. It stills nice and firm.

The main problem with such low cars is getting the jack under in the first place, so one trick is to stick the jack under via the wheel arch and jack it enough to get bricks or similar under the front wheels, That then gives enough height to get the jack in from the front, nice and central. Another way is to build yourself mini brick ramps and drive it on.

- Always have a block on wood between the jack and chassis to prevent damage, and with soft wood it helps the jack sit more firmly.

- Never ever go under a car held up only by a trolley jack or a bottle jack. Axle stands are essential

- If you are jacking at high both end, do it in stages. Go half way at the front, then half a the back then repeat. If the car is at an angle, the axle stands can tip over. Watch that all three feet of the stands are sitting flat as you jack the other end.

- When it is up and on stands, stand back and give the car a good push and pull on the bumper to make sure it is safe. Cars are a lot more fixable then you are.

- If you can, keep the wheels on, and put blocks under the wheels. It has less far to fall that way.

The Elite is nice and light, so it is easy to do.

BTW, the manual suggests warming the engine, then jacking the front slightly below removing the drain plug, so you give the max oil out.

Herc

[Musiccitylotus]

I had the car on a lift a couple of times now. Put a 3/4 inch thick piece of plywood, about 5x5 inches across between the arms and the body, place the arms just behind the corner from the wheel wells to the floor, and up it goes. Same with a jack, just be careful cause it's more load on a single point, maybe use two jacks. Was a little reluctant to do it first, but it works just fine, and is what the factory suggests, too.

Works for the Europa as well.