Craigieboy Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 This might sound like a simple question, but I'm taking off one of my alloys to have it refurbed and placing a 2 tonne axel stand from halfords underneath to support the car for a few days. So, today I popped the car up and removed the wheel, all fine, then I placed the stand where I thought it should go, but then as I was lowering the jack the car shifted towards me?!?! Not a pleasant image as you can imagine. Then whenever I would raise the car to a certain level again it would shift! So it got me thinking that it the only reason I can see would be the axel stand being wrongly positioned? Any pics/diagrams/advice greatly appreciated as I'd like to get the wheel refurbed without having the car bounce me/it off the garage wall firstly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbucket Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 The front subframe inboard from the usual jacking point is what I used to use. Just to the rear of the engine a beam runs for a short distance either side of the exhaust. Just put a thick rag on the axle stand to stop it cutting into the under body sealer. What bit are you trying to use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbucket Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 The red arrow (nicked from another forum) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Just took a quick pic with the phone there. The bar I was using is the one going pretty much horizontal in picture to just below the middle of the wheel. You can see the part which was wiped clean(er) by the axel stand. P.s. Pic is looking from rear of the car as its rear driver side alloy coming off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pomme Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Thats the lower control arm i wouldnt use that again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxyboy Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Thats the lower control arm i wouldnt use that again [/ QUOTE ] heart in mouth stuff that i bet, ah well, you learn by your mistakes eh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Just so I don't do it again. Would it be the blue or white part I should place the axel stand at? The red line being roughly where the jack point is. Worryingly my first thought wasn't "I'm done for" it was about what damage would happen to the car if it toppled against the garage wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackpug Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 I use my trolley jack under the normal jacking point. I put an old riggers glove between jack and sill to protect sill. You can also use thick cardboard. And for the front of the car, I use the same place shown by red arrow in Dogbucket's post. Don't jack at the 2 points on your pic as these are not load bearing and you'll damage car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I use my trolley jack under the normal jacking point. I put an old riggers glove between jack and sill to protect sill. You can also use thick cardboard. And for the front of the car, I use the same place shown by red arrow in Dogbucket's post. Don't jack at the 2 points on your pic as these are not load bearing and you'll damage car. [/ QUOTE ] I've just got the vw jack, which I put at the jacking point, red line in my pic. So where would the 'load bearing' point be at the rear drivers side to place the axel stand? Obviously if either the blue/white parts in my pic cant hold the weight then sticking an axel stand there for a few days would be another disaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxyboy Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 You have got your car on a level and hard surface havnt you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Yeah its in the garage with level concrete floor. Driveway wouldn't do as the monoblock is all uneven. Unlike dogbucket's picture of the front I cant see any obvious locations for an axel stand at the rear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbucket Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 The lump with the two rubber grommets is the bit you want. If memory serves the dark patch just above those two is fairly level. I used both axle stands and a trolley jack on that bit. The white bit is a definate no no! In general on any car look for a solid beam that the suspension is attached to. Stay away from any parts of the floor pan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxyboy Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 And is it a normal wind up handle type jack? I dont know if mk4's differ from mk5's. There should be a mark on the side skirt where to position it. Not on the skirt obviously, but just behind it. Sorry just read your post, using an axle stand. Why not just use your jack and position some hefty bits of wood in the desired position incase it moves, which i doubt it would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbucket Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 marked in yellow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Cheers dogbucket I'll have a go at it again tomorrow when the image of 1.5 tonnes ghosting towards me isn't so fresh in my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simple_man Posted June 17, 2007 Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Mate, got to be very careful with lifting the car. I always try to rock the car a bit after finish, to make sure it is rock solid. Also, I would use 4 x stands AND live car jack under the rear diff or motor. In Australia, according to local statistics 6-8 people get crashed every year under the car. Most of those are home mechanics. Remember, if this thing start to go down, there is no way to stop it, it is 1600kg. It will crash bones like the matches… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2007 Think I'll be putting both of the axel stands under my new yellow circled location and also leaving the jack at the jacking point. The car actually moved over by the width of the tyre! Brown trousers moment indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Cough, cough.......... Lifting the back of the car means NO REAR HANDBRAKE I trust the car is in gear and that you have blocks either side of the front wheels to stop movement. Do not forget that since the rear is up the weight will be towards the front and liable to move even if the floor is flat / even Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Update: Now got the jack jacked up with axel stand also in place, bricks at the remaining wheels to stop movement Nearby alloy refurb centre showed me their closest match which a much duller silver 'but you wont notice it when its covered in brake dust, who looks at the alloys anyway'- says the guy in the shop. Needless to say I didn't leave my alloy with them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Wicked wheels refused to do mine, they mentioned that the factory finish was done via electro plating / paint method. (I believe they charge the alloy and when spraying it allows for super smooth alloy paint finish)- There's a few postal places that can get it near spot on There' been a few threads over the years TSN 04 post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Cheers Chris, I've emailed pics to a place in bathgate, rmcoatings, to see if they can match it, if not then wicked wheels or I'll hunt for postal options Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v6tas Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Cheers Chris, I've emailed pics to a place in bathgate, rmcoatings, to see if they can match it, if not then wicked wheels or I'll hunt for postal options [/ QUOTE ] I know it goes against the grain but i still use the VW bodyshop for my alloy refurbs as they are the only ones who get the match right, all be it at a premium price. Fortunately the bodyshop up here in Hull is no longer associated with Priory Park VW who needless to say should be given a wide berth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 As one local vw dealership parts manager said 'I don't think the lug caps for mkv fit the mkiv' I'll avoid that one. But the garage I got the r from is only ten miles away. Read somewhere vw charge up to £90 per wheel for refurb? Don't they just call in a mobile operator though? I'm certain I've seen mobile refurb vans hidden away round the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v6tas Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] As one local vw dealership parts manager said 'I don't think the lug caps for mkv fit the mkiv' I'll avoid that one. But the garage I got the r from is only ten miles away. Read somewhere vw charge up to £90 per wheel for refurb? Don't they just call in a mobile operator though? I'm certain I've seen mobile refurb vans hidden away round the back. [/ QUOTE ] Fortunately due to careful parking and hiding the keys from the wife, i havent curbed one in quite a while but yes they charged me £80 for a full refurb or it would have been £50 if i remember rightly for just a touch up. They did a great job but so they should for that price !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craigieboy Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 One verve garage flatly said they dont do it, the second one at least gave me the number of a few they use. One of the numbers they gave me was a wicked wheels guy, who stays 10mins from me, yet when I called wicked wheels directly they said their most local guy to my postcode only covered edinburgh Don't know the price yet until he can look at it, but a happier ending is in sight compared to the car pinning me against the garage wall. Big thanks to all advise given Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now