Running out of jacking options

[DZFord]

I have been planning to install a fix on my cat sensor, to fix the engine light that comes on when installing some aftermarket headers / high flow cats - see my previous post HERE.

The only problem is - how do I access the cat? It is tucked away and a little difficult to access!

I've tried using the standard jack, but no way do I trust it enough, nor does it give me enough clearance to get right under the car to the cat.

My mate also has some proper ramps to drive up on, but with the lowered suspension, I couldn't drive up the ramps without losing my front bumper!

He also has a hydraulic jack, but where could we use this?

Thanks.

[Tj-zetec]

If you're jacking a car up to do anything other than changing a wheel you absolutley HAVE to put the car on stands! A trolley jack, let alone the cruddy little scissor jack in the boot it nowhere near stable enough to leave a car on while you crawl under it

Stands are reasonably cheap, you should be able to score a set from superjunk autos with out violating your wallet. A set of 4 is all you'll ever need, but if budget won't allow, then 2 will suffice.

On my LR I used to jack the front up one side at a time using the end of what looks like the end of a chasis rail as a jack point and then place the stand as close to the jack as possible. Just make sure where you position the jack and the stand is a strong reinforced part of the floor pan otherwise you'll end up with an auxillary floor vent.

The back was a little more tricky. I couldn't find a decent place to put the stands on the floor pan so I ended up jacking it from the centre of the rear suspension subframe (had a handy little dot of paint in the centre of it, why? Buggered if I know) and then placed the stands at either end of the subframe as far out as I could. They're not as far apart as I would have liked but it's stable.

Someone else might have a better technique than me. It's not the easiest car to lift. But then again I'm used to rally cars where you stick the jack under the diff and then the sump guard

Hope that helps, jacking a car properly is really really important as to not damage the car nor end up pinned beneath it. The order of importance between those two will differ between people but they're both pretty important

[BlackLS]

Buy a sheet of thick MDF, silicone and some long screws, and build a ramp to suit the approach angle of the car. Just stack lengths ontop of each other so you make like a mini set of stairs for the car to climb.

[melbzetec]

I just bought two lengths of thick laminated timber , cut a V slot in them, and hooked them to the front of the metal ramps, to give a much longer approach and lower angle

[More revs]

Originally Posted by melbzetec

I just bought two lengths of thick laminated timber , cut a V slot in them, and hooked them to the front of the metal ramps, to give a much longer approach and lower angle

Ditto, as the man said make up a pre ramp to clear low hanging bodywork.

I hate working under a car so mostly book hoist time down at the local for jobs like this. A slab of VB does the trick.

[DZFord]

Good ideas here - looks like I'll either go the pre-ramp option (didn't even consider this), or even book some hoist time at the local garage.

As Tj said, the Focus isn't exactly an easy car to lift. The jackstand option sounds too easy to stuff up if you haven't done it before - "auxillary floor vent" - hilarious!

Thanks guys.

[mohit]

Originally Posted by DZFord

He also has a hydraulic jack, but where could we use this?

[DZFord]

Thanks mohit, I saw this in your oil change thread, which is one of the most useful posts in the Focus forums.