Some assistance and reassurance please

[James_G]

ORIGINAL: DavidL

James that nice ali jack you have. I'm assuming its man enough for the job as I'm sure its only rated to a little over a tonne? It would be a good choice as nothing else I've seen will slide under my Caterham let alone the 944!
My year old Halfords trolley seems to have a an air leak and won't lift anything - PITA for jobs like this.

Again thanks in advance.

David,

Good to hear your progress. Firstly, the ABS clippy things I have just picked up from my local OPC and they were £2.38 each for the bigger ones, and £1.13 for the small ones (or therebaouts). You could not bother and just use tie wraps and/or tape but I like to do these things properly and I was ordering some other bits too.

Meanwhile the jack is very good, and yes it's the only thing that fits under the S2. I do use a Halfords jack as well to lift the car level to get axle stands underneath, but I have to start with the low profile one first. I got mine from Argos Extra and as I recall it was £80, but I think it or something similar is available from Machine Mart. As I said elsewhere, I wouldn't be without it.

Cheers

James

 

[DavidL]

Thanks for that James - I too have now ordered new bolts, ABS and brake pipe clps and dust boots (£6 something) from Exeter. Should all be here by the weekend as the dustboots come from Germany.
My only concern with the jack was it is only rated at 1.25 tonnes and the cars are heavier than that arent they? I suppose you aren't lifting the whole car all at once!
I have found the jack provided very useful and shall now spend £14 on the trolley jack adaptor I keep seeing on ebay for the jacking points. Can't help feeling that will be useful too.
Yes Machine mart do a very similar jack but that is only a 1 tonne one. There are a few on ebay too.

 

[Neil Haughey]

At least on the 944 you have a jacking point in the middle of the cill, I have always used that one when jacking the 944 as its also the right shape for most jacks. To prevent damage to the car I have found that a section of cardboard folded over on itself 3 or 4 times is perfect and of course cheap. On the 968 I now jack the car up from the rear jacking point and lift it far enough of the ground to get a jack stand under the front jacking point, extreme I know but it works great.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Forgot to add the Jack I have is one of the midrange Clark ones sold by Machine Mart, cost ISTR 60 quid. It goes very low, low enough to get under a lowered car but can lift pretty high and is rated for something like 2 or 3 tonne. The fancy alloy Jacks are only really worthwhile if you are racing and don't fancy lugging around a heavy Jack.

 

[lali]

ORIGINAL: Neil Haughey

The fancy alloy Jacks are only really worthwhile if you are racing and don't fancy lugging around a heavy Jack.

BLASPHEMY!
They also look really nice when not in use in the corner of the garage! []

 

[Peter Empson]

In case anyone's looking for a jack at the moment I'd recommend trying Wickes, they've got a silly deal on some at the moment, I bought one from them yesterday for £7.34 and they have some axles stands for £3.42 (the jack is also online and the axles stands too).
I've only used the jack once so far but the quality seems fine and the lowest height (13cm) just gets under my lowered car too.

 

[DavidL]

That's not bad at all. Actually that's a Draper jack - I spotted it on my trawlings for other tools. RRP £50 ish.

 

[DavidL]

Can anyone who has done this confirm that it is a 7mm hex/allen fiting on top of the damper? It seems an odd size and obviously one I haven't got!!!
Bought a Wickes/Draper jack - can't really go wrong for £7!!

 

[James_G]

David

Yep, 7mm on my Porsche front struts, made by Boge. Can't vouch for other brands, as earlier in this thread you'll somebody who needed a torx bit.

I used a hex bit socket just like this:

http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/sp-2-3087-17244-teng-m121507c-socket-bit-hex-7mm-1-2%22-square-drive.asp?sQuery=7mm&iCategoryID1=3087

Much nicer than holding a 7mm allen key still. Your bigger issue will be getting the 22mm nut tight as per my very original post. What are you going to use? A 22mm socket with flats ground for use with a spanner?

 

[DavidL]

Thanks James.
I have offered up my newly acquired 22mm swan neck spanner and it seems to fit. I haven't tried it in anger - I'll let you know!

 

[DavidL]

Well its all finally back together and took it for a brief spin earlier. It really does seem a whole lot better - no more crashes and bumps over every pothole.
Just need to get the tracking done but there is a good place in Swindon it seems.
Anyway thanks to everyone who helped (especially James) - its not a big job but I'm pleased its all done. I've got a little more insight into how the car goes together and I even saved a bit of money!
It'll mean I can get home from work without getting wet too. In this weather the Caterham is as wet inside as out!