Poita Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 I've done a very dumb thing while trying to get the back of the car up on axle stands. I was trying to get the rear of my S3 up to whip the wheels off and have a look at the brake discs/pads. I wanted to use the lower triangulated point just behind the wheels to place the axle stands, so was looking for somewhere else to place the jack. In the end I decided to put the jack just inboard of where I was going to put the axle stands, along the chassis member that runs horizontally between those two points. I don't know what I was thinking. Started jacking it up. Luckily I didn't get all the weight off the wheels before I realised the chassis member was flexing more than I'd like. Dropped the car back down, but the flex didn't come back out of the member. So now I'm wondering, how much damage have I done? I've just come back in from the garage, and it's too dark in there now to take a photo, so I'll post one in the morning. But basically, the horizontal member that runs left to right, just aft of the DD tube, and just in front of the fuel tank, now isn't level. A bit left of centre, it's about 10mm higher than the outside edges. There're no cracked welds or creases in the tube, it's just got a gentle rise from the outsides towards the centre. I presume, at the least, I should take it to have the tube straightened. But is it safe to drive like that? I'm guessing that since it's nowhere near a suspension pickup point, and there're no cracks/creases, then it should be so, but I don't know what effect the bend will have on the straightness of the chassis. Any thoughts or opinions on my next course of action? Aside from reminding me how stupid it was. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pikey Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 After seeing the guys at Arch wacking the hell out of a some tubes in that area to make them straight I wouldn't worry about it. Stick it up on axle stands (using the a frame mounting point on the Dedion tube ) and using a ratchet strap cobble something together to allow it to be pulled straight again. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6speedmanual Posted May 29, 2011 Share Posted May 29, 2011 I wouldn't worry too much from what you describe. If you took that to Arch, they would probably straighten it with some well judged spplication of hammer via a large block of wood. Whilst a deviation of 10mm may be a bit much, if you look along that tube from one end, you can see it mildly deviates along its length from the heat where other tubes are brazed on. Sorry to hear of your misplaced jack. The consequence is not something to loose sleep over and you'll be fine to drive until you decide what (if anything) to do about it. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 That chassis rail is a very common one to get bent on a race car, especially if somone gets hit from behind. It doesn't affect suspension pick up and I wouldn't worry about it. The fact that it is a long, un triangulated rail shows that there is very little hanging off it. If you really wanted to, it would be easy to pull it straight (er). Jack from where the A-frame meets the De-dion - one jacking point to raise the rear of the car, then you can put the axle stands where you describe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poita Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share Posted May 30, 2011 Thanks guys, I really appreciate your advice. I did appear that the rail wasn't bearing much load, but I was a bit paranoid anyway. I figured the fix was just to bend it back, but wasn't sure how safe it was driving the way it is. And I felt like a total dope. Appreciate your thoughts fellas. I'll look into straightening it a bit myself, but won't put off driving it while I sort it out. 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bio Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 If you want to contact me I have an inspection pit in the garage. I am sure we could tease it back into shape. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Gibb Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 You can pull it straight with a large ratchet tie down strap quite easily, slide a long bar under the axle stand feet first and loop the strap around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeKK Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 A previous owner of my car had also jacked it from roughly the same location. The subtle bend is still there, but the car is still fine I wouldn't worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racing Snake Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 Poita get it round to Johns In Hemel I am sure between us we can get it straight again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS2000 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 General help - 4 photos taken at the recent GTKY7 event showing a de-dion rear axle car, first two rear of the car - jack under the lowest bit at the bottom (not shown in photos...) then axle stands as shown. photos 3 and 4 show jacking under the tow eye at front and single axle stand position Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambretta Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Hi Pete Just noticed this. Whilst a shock at the time it does sound fairly benign. Are you pubbing tomorrow? Rog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poita Posted June 1, 2011 Author Share Posted June 1, 2011 Hi guys. Sorry for the delay. John - thanks! That'd be great. I'll drop you a blatmail with my details. Are you at the pub tonight? RS - thanks for those. I was hoping to make it to GTKY7 but was away on hols that weekend. Oh, if only I'd been there, this would never have happened. Thanks for passing on the learning. Rog - sure will be, see you tonight. 😬 And thanks very much to everybody who's replied. You've settled my mind and eliminated my worry about the situation. Pete. Edited by - Poita on 1 Jun 2011 09:01:11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrino Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 Resurrecting an old thread. I recently picked up a 7 that has the same kink in exactly the same location! It’s purely a cosmetic preference for me to straighten it as the chassis has been measured nice and square at various pickup points.I was wondering what the correct way to straighten is, please? Do you need to apply heat? The kink is roughly where another tube is brazed on (leading to one of the A-frame to chassis pickup points). Tank is out, so no problem applying a torch, but I don’t know if it’s better to try cold first. I like the suggestion of putting a bar under the jack stands and using a ratchet strap to pull the kink downwards. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 I did the same thing myself once, and I used a scissors jack to straighten it. No problem since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastair B Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 Rex - What did you react the scissor jack against to apply the load downwards I presume? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 As I recall, I used a thick board--or something similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastair B Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 I am presuming you were using the closing action of the jack to apply the force? So restraining the jack from coming off the floor and 'tieiing' it to the bent chassis bar would be required I presume? Asking as I quite like your idea and I have a bent bar as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrino Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 I like the earlier suggestion of placing a bar under the feet of the jack stands (which support the ends of the bent tube) and then looping a ratchet strap around both the bar and the bent portion of tube.The only issue I see is that the bend occurs near a brazed joint. Is there a chance of damaging the brazed area? Should heat be applied? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alastair B Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 You could support the bent tube inboard of the brazed joints, thus taking th bending moment away from the braze? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECR Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 Applying too much heat close to a braze risks "unsticking" the joint. I'd do it cold .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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