Idiot question: jacking up a mk3

[MattyT]

Ok, so I bought a trolley jack the other day to use in the driveway instead of that suicide machine they call the VW oem jack. But it's too big to use on the standard hard points, i cant manage a stand + trolly jack next to each other without going outside the hard point 'zone' and then watching the stand begin to drive itself up into butter-soft body work

Can i use the trolley jack on other bits of the dub? Axles, subframes, etc??

[Golf Houso]

Ok, so I bought a trolley jack the other day to use in the driveway instead of that suicide machine they call the VW oem jack. But it's too big to use on the standard hard points, i cant manage a stand + trolly jack next to each other without going outside the hard point 'zone' and then watching the stand begin to drive itself up into butter-soft body work

Can i use the trolley jack on other bits of the dub? Axles, subframes, etc??

I'd like to know the answer to this one as well...

[Mrk_Mickey]

Can't you just throw it under the sump? Or somewhere in the general location of there...At least that's what a mechanic did to my car when he was checking for coolant leaks

Oh Matty how much did the trolley jack cost you? I'd love one..cos the jack that came with our cars i used ONCE and it actually worked! got home to use it again and it just kept falling off the point it was meant to clip to

[h100vw]

Can't you just throw it under the sump? Or somewhere in the general location of there...

At least that's what a mechanic did to my car when he was checking for coolant leaks

Jesus, don't go back there mate!


To get the front of the car up, jack under the front engine mount on the crossmember.

To do the back, stick the pad of the jack under the axle pivot point, just make sure you don't crush the handbrake cable.

Gavin

[MattyT]

Thanks gavin

Now to show how really mechanically n00b I am, where is the front engine mount? Somebody got a picture?

[thestu]

front i would go under the wish bones...

rear the rear beam...

[Tim]

Thanks gavin

Now to show how really mechanically n00b I am, where is the front engine mount? Somebody got a picture?

have a look under the car. You will see a big round thing in front of the sump. If you car is low it may involve removing the front lip though. I know i have to on my mk3 when i jack it up via that point

[h100vw]

Thanks gavin

Now to show how really mechanically n00b I am, where is the front engine mount? Somebody got a picture?

Look down between the radiator and the motor, the mount is slightly off to the passenger side the car and is held on by the starter motor bolts.

Gavin

[MattyT]

Oh Matty how much did the trolley jack cost you?

$30 from Malz for a "Motorlift" one rated at 1350kg - good for the whole car

[MattyT]

have a look under the car. You will see a big round thing in front of the sump. If you car is low it may involve removing the front lip though. I know i have to on my mk3 when i jack it up via that point

Look down between the radiator and the motor, the mount is slightly off to the passenger side the car and is held on by the starter motor bolts.

Gavin

Thanks for the info guys

Now just fingers crossed I dont destroy my beloved dub hehehe

[Mrk_Mickey]

Jesus, don't go back there mate!

It mustn't have been the sump then, it must have been me looking casually at the area where his jack was...unless he was v.silly.

[rayray086]

I usually jack the middle of the subframe for the front and rear beam for the rears to settle the car on stands.

[MattyT]

Well... that didnt go too well.

I found the front engine mount ok, but my el cheapo jack only goes 330mm high, not high enough to get a stand underneath the side hardpoints Oh well, you get that for only $30.

So i went to repco and got wheel ramps instead for $70, and the dub is too ****ing low to get up them!!! I could take off the front lip but I don't know how to

So, final solution will be to return the ramps on my day off on tuesday, and buy the $170 hardcore trolley jack that was next to them that has a 490mm lift.

All this so I can just change my damn gearbox oil, which I've been wanting to do for months

[Mrk_Mickey]

You should combine use of the two and just push up the car with the jack, slide the wheel ramps underneath wheels and gear lock it, then take out the trolley jack, jump in the car and drive it further up

all just to change oil...man how on earth can you still be bothered! bahah

[runamuk]

LOL @ Matty... I'll come around soon and show you.. I've got the same jack, and my car is looooow...