chiark

OK, I realise that I risk being ridiculed here, but I'm dumb when it comes to mechanical things.

Just bought a trolley jack and axle stands to get under the car and fit the wiring to the temperature sender in my sump bung.

Where can I safely support the car with axle stands?

Speak slowly, for you're talking to a muppet here.

Dave T-S

Under the sill jacking points front and rear (where the plastic cover is cut away). Put the stand one end and then the the jack the other for security.

chiark

Dave, brilliant, thank you! I just need to lift the front of the car so I'll jack it up, put the stand under, chock the rear wheels (handbrake on and in gear too) and get to it.

Ta muchly.

I was hoping someone wouldn't say "under the axle".

chiark

Really stupid question now then... How to I use a trolley jack and get an axle stand onto the same point?

Told you it wasn't difficult to confuse me

rjh

I use the towing eyes at the front - they are d shaped loops at either side just behind the front bumper.

Richard

chiark

Marvellous - I'll try not to crush myself

Sith

If you crush yourself, first dibs on anything on your car I like.

P.

banshi

Just waiting for you to ask wheather to put the axle stands or the jack under the towing eyes

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

Whatever you do DON'T TWIST THE HANDLE ON THE TROLLEY JACK WHILST UNDER THE CAR.... it'll be messy and we wouldn't wanna get blood on your subwoofer would we....

Sal

PS. Chris says can he have your sub please if you do???

fast bloke

Chiark - This concerns me. If you can't work out what to do with the jack and axle stands, do you really think you should be tinkering under the car?

Next Week:
<B>
posted by Chiark
Does anyone know how to put a sump bung back?

</B>

chiark

FB, you're so close to the truth it hurts.

The garage fitted the sump bung and sender unit for me, but didn't wire it up...

Muggins here thought, "no problems, 5 minute job".

Ho. Ho. Trying to find somewhere remotely cool to run the wire is challenge number 1, then actually fitting it is challenge number 2.

So, Chris is having the subs if/when I crush myself. Who's name shall I put on the P1 wheels and scoobysport backbox?

fast bloke

I'll have them if there isn't too much blood on them. And the MP3 player as well if you don't mind.

Dave T-S

I could do with a set of track day wheels. Fast Bloke don't need em!!

If they are 17", would you mind swopping them for 18" first???? - I don't want 17". Cheers!

Sith

I think you lot will find I have already called first choice on anything from Chiarks car.

P.

fast bloke

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Dave T-S:
<B>I could do with a set of track day wheels. Fast Bloke don't need em!!
[/quote]

I'm building a new one from the ground up - starting with the wheels

Tim Skerry

If the reason to raise the car does not need the wheels off, then it is safest to buy some ramps and drive up onto them. As soon as you are on stands or as you sometimes see, a jack, the car is liable to fall on you if the tarmac is soft or someone else drives past too fast and rocks the car.

chiark

It is with deep regret that I inform you that I fitted the connection to my temperature sender with absolutely no problems.

Even managed to find somewhere that wasn't too hot to run the wire.

It is absolutely nothing, but I feel a strange sense of pride in not cocking it up (or indeed crushing myself).

My apologies to all who laid claim to my modifications

banshi

And all that effort I put in sawing half way thro the axle stands as well

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

Aw bu99er......

chiark

Tim: damn good point and if Woolworths had them on special offer I'd have used those instead 15 quid for 2 tonne trolley jack and 2 axle stands struck me as just the ticket

Not many things drive past me in a concrete floored double garage, but I would have been better off with ramps. I was a tad concerned about the car moving sideways off the stands, so I left the jack "half supporting" a side just for good measure.

CM

As you're all on the subject of "technical" questions, I have one that I've been wondering about...

I got my Scoob about 3 weeks ago and found it to be pretty good to say the least.

My question is.......how does the hand brake work? Ho Ho...Yes I know the obvious answer, but how does the linkage actually connect to the rear wheels?

It seems to be incredibly good at being able to stop the wheels at what would seem to be any speed, although I havn't tried this yet!

Let me know, please!

chiark

I have been told before that the hand brake is connected to shoes inside a drum on the rear axle...

Could be horribly wrong, though!

Either way, don't think about handbrake turns without thinking of the sort of damage you'll be doing to the centre diff

fast bloke

I think the handbrake works on a separate system from the normal brakes. The hand brake pads are much smaller, so any fun with the handbrake will initially lead to your handbrake stopping working followed closely by some kind of centre diff damage/failure. (It kills me to agree with Chiark, even when he is right)

chiark

If it kills you to agree, can I have first dibs on anything that I like from your car

I can see where this will be going...

CM

Thanks for the responses. I figured that it must be a separate system due to the effectiveness compared to other cars driven.

This was particularly noticed when stopping off to get some fuel (in a bit of a hurry), gently applying the h/brake to "slow" the car whilst getting ready to jump out and start filling up.....

how everyone's heads turned when they heard a screech of tyres on the forecourt, with what looked like someone trying to impress a F1 team with the speed of refueling!

The other thing i've noticed it that the car "lurches" on hills after the break has been applied, and the footbrake is released. (a bit like an automatic) which is why I thought it might have something to do with the axle linkage.

chiark

CM, the lurch can be cured. mine did the same, and I mentioned it at first service.

I now have two clicks on the handbrake to "full on", and no annoying roll!

The mechanic said that he'd "adjusted the shoes"...

fast bloke

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by chiark:
<B>If it kills you to agree, can I have first dibs on anything that I like from your car

I can see where this will be going...[/quote]

You can have the whole car... if you can find it. (It was last spotted two weeks ago leaving the scene of an armed robbery outside Dublin)