Elevating the mx5

sfhardman · Post by **sfhardman** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 2:18 pm

Hi all,

Don't know about anyone else but I find it extremely fiddly to jack up the
mx5. Mine is slightly lowered, so my trolley jack won't fit under the car
unless I have first lifted the car a few inches with the factory scissor
jack. And there's not a lot of clearance to turn the handle on even the
scissor jack. I've wondered about getting some of those steel ramps they sell
at Repco and such, but was unsure if the angle of attack would be ok, and how
tricky it would be to get the car up on them.

Anyone have a good solution to jacking up the mx5?

Thanks,

Simon

From k.jones@auckland.ac.nz Fri Apr 27 18:16:12 2007
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Subject: RE: Elevating the mx5
Date: Wed, 7 Apr 2004 14:59:31 +1200
Thread-Topic: Elevating the mx5
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From: "Keith Jones" <k.jones@auckland.ac.nz>
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Simon

My car is lowered as much as is legal as it is primarily a race car so
what I did to my trolley jack ($49 from Repco) was to remove the big cup
on the end of the lifting arm. This reduced the fully lowered height of
the jack by about 30mm and it now fits under the car OK. An added
advantage is the remaining smaller cup fits almost perfectly into the
reinforced part of the sill that the scissor jack uses.

Keith

mx5mike · Post by **mx5mike** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 4:46 pm

I drive mine up on a couple of bits of 4 by 2 and that gives it those extra
2 inches you need.

Those ramps can be a bit harsh if your MX5 is lowered.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:02 pm

I have been thinking of getting a couple myself, does anyone know are they OK on a "standard NA", ie, not lowered

Eric

Peter Glover · Post by **Peter Glover** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 6:05 pm

The Repco type wheel ramps are fine for the standard NA MX5. Super Cheap
Auto have these ramps even cheaper, $30 each.

Gary Morrison · Post by **Gary Morrison** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 6:09 pm

I've got a pair of those ramps, but don't use them. On our paved surface they slide when you try to drive up on them. On asphalt its OK though.

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 14:18:15 +1200 (NZST), sfhardman@paradise.net.nz wrote:

Hi all,

Don't know about anyone else but I find it extremely fiddly to jack up the
mx5. Mine is slightly lowered, so my trolley jack won't fit under the car
unless I have first lifted the car a few inches with the factory scissor
jack. And there's not a lot of clearance to turn the handle on even the
scissor jack. I've wondered about getting some of those steel ramps they sell
at Repco and such, but was unsure if the angle of attack would be ok, and how
tricky it would be to get the car up on them.

Anyone have a good solution to jacking up the mx5?

Thanks,

Simon

Simon Hardman · Post by **Simon Hardman** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 6:49 pm

Thanks Keith,

Removing the cup on my current trolley jack would only give me 1cm or so, so
I'll have a look at what there is at repco at the weekend. I seem to
remember reading somewhere that the sill jack point was pretty much just for
emergency use, the points to use with a trolley jack were the diff housing
and the front subframe. Anyone know if this has a basis in fact?

Simon

mx5mike · Post by **mx5mike** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 7:14 pm

There is a trick to stop them sliding around. Something about putting a
loop of old carpet around the lower rung and having a foot or so out in
front so you drive over it and it anchors the ramp to stop it sliding.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 8:52 pm

Ive got a couple of paving stones which i drive the
car onto so the jack will fit under, works well.
Glenn "SLYDIT"

Simon Hardman · Post by **Simon Hardman** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:31 pm

Thanks all for your suggestions - I tried Mike's trick with the 4x2s today
and it worked a treat.

Simon

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