Ask a Shiter

[Mr Livered]

What is an under tray? I'm not sure I have ever had a car with one. Is it some kind of detachable floor for the engine compartment?

[worldofceri]

It's a device for catching the drips from your oil-leak.

[saucedoctor]

It's a device for catching the drips from your oil-leak.

 

And stones off the road surface.

[Taff]

What is an under tray? I'm not sure I have ever had a car with one. Is it some kind of detachable floor for the engine compartment?

 

it's a device created to ensure that every single car driver spends ten pounds at the dealership on plastic clips per annum forever

[Asimo]

A really good undertray would save a lot of trouble at mot time.

 

 

* This Mercedes W196 is old enought to be mot exempt

[skattrd]

I used to refit the sump guard to my rally car before the MOT as it meant the tester could hardly see (and test) anything.

[The Moog]

Are car ramps worth the cash? I keep thinking about getting some but cant justify the £50 it might be.

[KruJoe]

I use mine all the time.

If you don't want to pay for new, keep an eye on ebay for local auctions, bargains can be had for that sort of thing because they're often listed as collection only.

[skattrd]

Joe are they better than axle stands  ... or pallets

I've never used car ramps so can't comment, but on the odd occasion I do anything on the drive I find axle stands adequate.

[The Moog]

Cool. Normally use stands but can be a ball ache when it is just to get at something simple or adjust handbrake cable.

 

Will have a hunt on ebay.

[KruJoe]

I just had a look for you Will. There are loads of cheap second hand ones as I said, but none nearby. If you can't wait for a local bargain, these are under £23 delivered:

 

 

They look just like mine (except clean and shiny new), and well up to the job.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-2-Tonne-Heavey-Duty-Vehicle-car-Ramp-Pair-Ramps-/290976213840?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43bf88ab50

[Taff]

I got my ramps at a car boot sale for £3 I think? used them a lot, even if the Galaxie tyres are a little big for them

 

good for brake and suspension work, as has been said. You can tighten stuff down with the weight on

[steve_earwig]

I always worry that you can't see where you're going as you drive up them. Ok, your wheels are straight, but...

 

Also, a mate of mine was trying to get a Riley Kestrel (sadly a re-badged Austin 1100 with a grille) up a pair, the wheels kept spinning but it eventually caught - and fired one of the stands half way along the sill. One stand under the wheel, the other half way along the sill the other side, wibble wobble. My how we laughed

[The Moog]

Cheers Joe. I think I might try and get a set of the wider ones that can take 3 tons so I can put van up on them when needed.

 

(also need to sort those seats out for you)

[KruJoe]

You've already kindly sorted those seats out for us Moogie, it's us that need to get our arses over to you and get then out of your bloody way!

[twosmoke300]

A strip of old carpet wrapped around the bottom rung of the ramp and left about a foot long stops the ramps shooting out when you drive up.

[mat_the_cat]

Dunno about the bx box but on quite a few cars you can swap the 5th gear set without taking the box out.

 

You can on the BX, I'll try and get someone to bring the pictures back up on this thread:

http://www.bxproject.co.uk/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3910

[drum]

When I use ramps I put some logs in them because I worry they collapse while I'm underneath the car.

[Asimo]

Plenty of moderns won't go up ramps because the front overhangs are so long and the ground clearance so low. Golf Mk4 and my Honda Insight for example.

 

Cheap ramps are shorter and steeper and really do need Drum's carpet trick.

 

Easy to get into trouble with ramps, I have cocked-up bigtime with them, very careful now. Oh for a garage lift! (oh for a garage)

[Inspector Morose]

Take one sleeper. Cut it into two with a diagonal cut (keep the longest edge measurement the same). Hey presto instant ramps. Add on top a smaller version of the above for added height.

[KruJoe]

Our ramps are a bit steep, even for the front bumper of my R8, the trick is to have a two-foot length of builders' plank, and use them in place of the proper ramp extensions like this:

 

 

Whilst looking for that pic, I found this - easy enough for a man with Moog's skills, using an old plank, a saw, and nails. No danger of collapse, too

 

 

(Edit - FPB's idea is similarly good.)

 

We always have squares of old carpet around the shed - about three feet square. We use 'em for kneeling on, covering screens/bonnets when grinding, or emergency oil mops!

Carpet doesn't need wrapping around the rungs to stop the steel ramps scooting off - just a piece laid under the ramp does it.

 

Another tip for the nervous, have a trust-worthy assistant guide you up.

If you're alone, position the car with the wheels straight, about two feet back from where you want to work, jump out and put the ramps against the tyre tread just in front, make sure they're straight, jump back in and up you go. Lean out the window if you can, or open the door and watch the wheels to the top.

[Matt]

Or you could get fancy:

 

[KruJoe]

Don't go there sister!

 

[dave21478]

I keep seeing stuff like these around the internets and really should make an real effort to look into making a pair.

 

 

Drive up them,jack them horizontal then put the support legs in place.

 

 

You occasionally see this kind of thing for sale...

http://www.usmuscle.com.au/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=3391&d=1256592575

designed for forecourt display...perhaps a little flimsy to be lying under while hauling on stuff with a breaker bar?

 

I would love a two-post lift, but its an awful lot of money even for a used one.

[mouseflakes]

Was the Citroen ZX estate ever sold in the UK in Mk1 form? I can only find publicity shots, I've not managed to find a photo of one 'in the wild'.

 

[Pillock]

Is this a Mk1?

 

http://autoshite.com/index.php?/topic/18670-The-lost-One-Returns-Home!!!

[Lacquer Peel]

No, it has the facelift grille. I have seen a few phase 1 ZX estates.

[Taff]

I usually jack the car up, put the ramps under the tyres and then lower it onto them, saves that whole faff with chasing the ramps down the drive.

 

I do like the idea of being a used teeter-totter though, the pervert in me has always wanted a go on one of them!

[mouseflakes]

I have seen a few phase 1 ZX estates.

 

I fancy a ZX, but I've been waiting for one to appear in the form I'd like best, which would be a phase 1 estate. I just wonder how long I might be waiting . I get the impression the estate was added to the range not long before the facelift so I suspect a p1 estate might be quite a rare thing.

[Richard]

I hate to drag up the "modern cars are bloated" subject again but are these cheapo ramps up to the job now that a medium sized hatchback is now a similar weight to a 1970s barge?