Can anyone recommend some ramps

[craiginuk]

Sorry about all the questions lately but has anyone found some reasonably priced and safe ramps suitable for a 944?

Thanks
Craig

 

[944Scott]

Whats wrong with axle stands ?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

most commercial ramps are too steep for our cars but a 2' length of 4x2 each side is enough to make most work ok.

 

[craiginuk]

Hi Scott,

I have some axle stands but have to say I'm always a bit unsure about jacking one side up at a time. The 944 is the first car I.ve worked on with the single jacking point under the sill. Just feel a bit unsure about how both wheels on one side come up at the same time and feel a bit uneasy about how it settles back down once I have say the front axle stand in. Just seems to shift a bit on its way back down and I'm worried the car will jump off when I jack up the other side.

Not sure if I'm explaining that properly. I have found the axle stand diagram on here too but just thought ramps may be an easier option.

Craig

 

[bmnelsc]

I know what you mean Craig - I actually haven't had my 944 up on jack stands yet but I used to do it a lot with my Capri, Volvos, etc. I found using a floor jack rather than the provided screw jack was better as the wheels on the floor jack kept the travel totally vertical without much stress transferred to the other side - easier when you are putting both ends on stands. I found it easier to put it up on 4 jack stands rather than just the front or rear because of the motion you describe using only one stand per side. So - take it slow and check your jack stands for positioning just before contact and you should be ok....

 

[Fat Albert]

I have to use the screw jack on the back point to lift the car an inch before I can get the trolley jack under the centre mounting, I then put axle stands under the rear front castor mount if working at the front, or under the Castor mount and the rear jacking point if working at the side, I usually leave the trolley jack in place as well just in case.

On the 'What I did today' thread, the 2 tone 924 chappy demonstrated the use of Caravan ramps to negate the need to use the screw jack to get the car high enough to use the trolley jack, something I will be following up.

Sent my 8 Year old under to check for leaks yesterday!

 

[Dockrell]

Craig,
There are two types of ramp that are suitable for low cars like ours.
There are extra long ramps, usually in two sections, which give about 10 or 12 inches lift.
Alternatively there are ramps that you drive on with them flat and you then raise them either via a screw lift or hydraulic pump.
However these are much more expensive but give a lift of about 18 inches which does make life easier.

For infrequent use there are some centres where you can hire a full garage hoist by the hour or day and they supply tools, however I don't have any address in the Kent area for such centres.

Mike
White 2.7 automatic

 

[nick9one1]

I was thinking of fabricating my own, although the price of new steel almost means its as cheap to buy some!

Unless I can source some second hand angle iron...

 

[vitesse]

I made adapters years ago which engage with my standard ramps to give an initial low angle approach-they can then be removed once the wheels are on the top-either front or back to give access from the side.I think Machine Mart now sell something similar for £14.

 

[CarreraRSR]

As I posted previously and was spotted by a few others as a 'great idea'. Fed up with using scraps of wood I'm now using caravan levelling ramps as a 'boost' to lift the car enough to get the trolley jack under. Quick and easy.

 

[craiginuk]

Those look good - once you have them in, can you jack the front of the car up in a central point with the trolley jack? Or do you have to do one side at a time?

Craig

 

[CarreraRSR]

Currently I haven't got the lower engine cover in place so I jack the front up on the front cross member and the rear using the gearbox.

 

[colin944]

I always use a trolly jack it's a bigger one for professional use but still costs only about £150-170 which will pay you back by the boat load if you are using it much.I would never lift the back of the car by the gearbox as you will damage the gearbox mount (the one on top) I always place the jack under the centre of the rear torsion tube and then place axle stands under the outside ends of the torsion tube it self . At the front I would place stands under the castor mount or if the undertray is off the 2 stands with a bit of wood under the crossmember.I also never use the factory jack points as I don't think they are very strong ,especially on an older car.Infacty when I replaced the floor on mine I did not put the jack points back on as they just seemed to be a rust and crud trap.

 

[944Scott]

I just jack the car up using the jacking point halfway along the sill and then an axle stand front and rear, the car jacks up just fine plus you have more room to manoeuvre than you would with ramps in the way.