A&Q about Lotus
Q:
We wanted to change tires today ... but our local garage, that changes all of our ASP Z06 racing tires, couldn't figure out how to safely lift the Elise without it being dangerously back heavy ...
So I'm going to pull the wheels myself ... and then have them change the tires. So ... what's the safe way to lift the car onto jack stands?
A:
Read the manual. I believe it shows 8 jack points. It's also labeled underneath.
A:
we have some hollow iron beams(not too heavy) but 4X4's would be fine and then use a soft cotton material( wadded-up) to cushion the contact points. By all means check the manual so that you hit the proper jack contact points. Like anything, after you do it a few times, your confidence will grow. Good luck
A:
Get the shop to use a trolley jack and do one side at a time. The central jack point on each side lifts both wheels off the deck.
A:
We only saw four lift points.
Kestler tried to get them to use a trolley Jack ... they didn't want to ... but I think it had more to do with closing time. :-( My turn on Friday ... pulling all four wheels and taking them up to the tire shop. We're trying to get everything done in time, tires and 1K check-up, in time for track time on Sunday, while both of us are busy with work. None timed event ... of course.
A:
Originally Posted by Mako
We wanted to change tires today ... but our local garage, that changes all of our ASP Z06 racing tires, couldn't figure out how to safely lift the Elise without it being dangerously back heavy
As mentioned, see the manual (page 148) for a diagram of the lift points. To get all four wheels off the ground at once you have to remove one or both underbody panels before you can lift the car. You also want some hockey pucks handy to go between the lift pads and the car.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE BOTH "A" POINTS AT ONCE. Don't even try it. You risk shattering the rear window (this has been reported here more than once I think). The window is cheap, but fixing it is expensive and labor-intensive because the rear clam has to to come off to do it.
Using a 2-post 4-point shop lift: the front "B" points are easy, just see the manual. The rear "D" points would be best but the rear wheels get in the way of the lift arms. So you have to use the "C" points between the rear wheels and the gas tank.
The good thing about the "C" points is that you can get to them by removing only the engine cover; the diffuser can remain in place. The bad thing about them is that they're difficult to hit. The support member you're aiming for is very thin and is not readily visible -- your best view of it is from the rear of the car, which makes it harder to judge depth. If you miss, you end up stressing and possibly bending the fuel tank cover. Also, there are protrusions in the area from the suspension and body panels that make it impossible to get to the "C" points with a large lift pad. The hockey pucks will help a lot here.
A:
If you are concerned about the car being "back heavy" take some salt bags and throw them in the footwells. This will bring the balance back more to neutral.
Pull the undertray before going to the tire shop and this will save alot of time.
A:
Originally Posted by Mako
We only saw four lift points.
If you're talking about the labeled lift points with the stickers on the outer edges of the frame, the rearward ones are the "A" points that as mentioned above are only for lifting one side of the car at a time and MUST NOT be used when lifting all four wheels at once. If those are the points they were looking at I can understand why they thought it would end up being too rear-heavy. Thankfully they didn't just try it anyway.
The weird lifting procedure is one of those things that can make you nervous about leaving the car with just any random mechanic.
A:
Lift points require removing undertray panels, iirc. Side jack points do not.
A:
Has anyone tried running the car up on the ramps you can buy at AutoZone for $30? Do you have to take the chin spoiler off the Exige to do it? Might be easier to do a nuts and bolt check or oil change than using jacks.
A:
Originally Posted by Eye Candy
Has anyone tried running the car up on the ramps you can buy at AutoZone for $30? Do you have to take the chin spoiler off the Exige to do it? Might be easier to do a nuts and bolt check or oil change than using jacks.
You could do a combination of both - jack the car up and place the ramps under the wheels. Then you don't have to worry about the front splitter. I know the Elise will make it up Rhino Ramps.
A:
Originally Posted by Icedog_16
You could do a combination of both - jack the car up and place the ramps under the wheels. Then you don't have to worry about the front splitter. I know the Elise will make it up Rhino Ramps.
My concern would be jacking up the second side. If you've got the left side up on ramps, how do you get a jack under the right side? Do you really want the whole car leaning over onto the single point of the jack pad as you lift it?
A:
Originally Posted by Eye Candy
Has anyone tried running the car up on the ramps you can buy at AutoZone for $30? Do you have to take the chin spoiler off the Exige to do it? Might be easier to do a nuts and bolt check or oil change than using jacks.
Use rhino ramps on the back wheels for an oil change.
A:
Originally Posted by FlyLo
My concern would be jacking up the second side. If you've got the left side up on ramps, how do you get a jack under the right side? Do you really want the whole car leaning over onto the single point of the jack pad as you lift it?
Use two sets of ramps.
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Buy this.
A:
you can't take the wheels off if their on the ramps....
and what is the OP doing with his car while all 4 wheels are off?
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There is no reason that the tire shop couldn't have done one side of the car at a time. Lift the left side using the "A" jack point on the left side. Remove the wheels and change the tires on the two left rims. Lower the car, and repeat for the right side. Not quite as efficient for them, but no danger to the car of them doing it that way...
Check this thread for information about jacking up the Elise: