Car Lift

[henda]

Hello All,
I've bit the bullet and just ordered a single post car lift, which works like a 2 post car lift without the second post. I know there are problems lifting the car and supporting the IDS, does anyone have any ideas as to the best way of doing this.

Paul.

[mgcjag]

Transmission jack...Steve

[henda]

Will it be ok just hanging until I get the car up and then use the transmission jack?

Paul.

[mgcjag]

Hi Paul....the IRS attaches to the chassis with 4 flexi mounts..these should be inspected to see that they have not delaminated....when ever you raise the car body and let the IRS hang there is the possibility of mount failure....so no one can tell you if it will be OK untill you fit a transmission jack....these cars are not designed to lift with a 1 or 2 post lift....many use them and dont have any problems....safe working practice is key...Steve

[bitsobrits]

It will be interesting to see if you can get the lift arms under the car, as a single post lift requires the lift beam/arms to traverse the center of the car where that low hanging exhaust system lives. Also, getting the center of gravity of the car aligned with the center of the lift can be a challenge on a 2 post lift, so I imagine it to be harder on a one post.

[henda]

Lifts arrived today, come in a load of bits, start building it up at the weekend don't know what I used to do with all my time before I got this car! See how it lifts and report back.

[politeperson]

I have used 2 post lifts and a single post lifts many times on an e type without issue.

Never used one on a car with old IRS mounts I must add. Too dangerous.

You move the telescopic arms onto the rear trailing arm bolts at the rear.

At the front you lift on the lower frame, where it mounts the rear of the lower suspension wishbones.

The center of gravity of an E type is approximately where the gearbox bell housing meets the engine. Lift the front any further back than than and it will be very tippy towards the front.

If your lift mounts do not go low enough, drive the car onto planks of wood first to raise it by an inch or 2.

I have never had a problem with a modern lift though, as many modern cars are lower still (2wd Audi A6 is very low for example).

[lowact]

Imo, very difficult to properly maintain these cars without a hoist. I have a centre lift hoist, with made up blocks that engage the car's lifting points. I use my IRS installation tool to support the IRS (take all the load off the flexible mounts) when car is on the hoist for an extended time.

[henda]

Thanks for that Colin,
Did you make those yourself or buy them? That looks a good solution for the problem. Once I have it up I may make a fabricated frame which will lift the IDS with the two back pads of the lift. Its just getting it up for the first time.

Paul.

[mgcjag]

Paul..just lift it slowly and check the mounts...the irs won't fall out and hit the floor...it could drop but the propshaft is still connected and goes through the tunnel...the swing arms are still attached...and the exhaust is still on...
Steve

[lowact]

Paul, I made a few extra sets of these tools that are for sale. Designed to facilitate IRS installation; can also be used to protect the mounts against having to unnaturally support the weight of the IRS when the wheels are off the ground; avoids the need for props or other supports that could get in the way. You can read all about it in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20307&p=168220&hili ... ts#p167750

Steve – yes, if the mounts fail while the wheels are in the air, if everything is still connected the damage may not be significant, in which case the only consequence would be, you would have to remove the IRS to replace the mounts.

It’s what happened to me. After the car had been on the hoist for years I noticed by chance that one mount had torn through. it was obviously a relatively recent failure because the tear was fresh looking. Nothing had dropped noticeably, still 3 mounts holding, there was no other damage, just this one (old) mount. Still the IRS then had to come back out.

The tool protects the mounts and thereby everything else as well. For this service I fit the tool while the weight of the car is still on the suspension, while the mount is normally compressed. The tool locks the mount into this compressed state, even when the wheels are off the ground. You can see in my photos; these are the larger (modified CAC3067) mounts supporting the weight of the IRS while the car is on the hoist, wheels off the ground. Still, they are compressed; you can see that the rubber is rectangular and bulging.

[henda]

Well the lift has arrived, it looks like a nice bit of kit, lift frame slightly out had to shim it which was bit annoying. I ran the car up onto blocks as someone pointed out it just hits the exhaust, a 2" block sorts the problem out. I haven't lifted the car yet as I've decided to manufacture a lifting frame for the front and the back to spread the loads. Also just got a polyurethane mixing/spray gun at work, so will be putting that to good use. Will keep you updated and add some pictures as soon as I workout how to get them on here. The image software below doesn't support my jpeg files???

[Gfhug]

For posting photos try Imgur, see here:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19527

[max-it-out]

OK , maybe a silly question , but here goes anyway ... How much extra weight is pulling on the rear cage V mounts if the car is jacked up without support under the diff. cage , as opposed to when sitting on the ground normally ?

[mgcjag]

Irs weight is about 350lb without wheels..Steve

[lowact]

Car is 1600 kg, 50/50 wt distribution, IRS+rear wheels = 200 kg so when car is on its wheels the IRS mounts are being compressed by 600 kg and when the wheels are hanging the IRS mounts are being stretched by 200 kg so the difference is 800 kg.

[henda]

Its only taken over a year but she's up on the single post lift, had to bite the bullet in the end and fabricate a frame for car to sit on and sockets underneath for the lift to locate onto. I just couldn't get the spread of the arms to where I was happy with.

[Gfhug]

Single post? I’d be very tempted to fit scaffolding type screw jacks under each end to make sure it can’t topple when lifted high.

Geoff

[mtnjag]

Who's single post lift did you buy?

[henda]

I've added weights at the rear end of the fabrication to balance the car out, even with the bonnet up. The actual lifting pads are virtually under each wheel. I've had it fully up you can walk underneath and it seems fine. May put some sort of jack in if I'm doing any major work. The lift is rated at 2500kgs so I'm well within the limit, the lift i have is a 24v portable lift from Automotech.