Trolley Jack Advice

[OCDaveS4]

Thinking about lifting the S3 Saloon to clean and protect the front hubs. Never been a fan of scissor jacks and was wondering whether anyone here has tried the Halfords Lifting Kit which looks good value at £59

https://www.halfords.com/workshop-t...s-5-piece-lifting-kit?request_type=bestseller

Key question is whether it will slide under the car or whether the "Low profile" jack is needed (which doesn't come in a package sadly).

Any experiences gratefully received

 

[eribaMotters]

The height to the bottom of the sill on my Sport is 200mm, so I'm guessing your S3 will be 20mm less at 180mm.
I used to use the standard Halfords 2 ton trolley jack and a rubber Ice Puck packer to swap wheels over on my Skoda. For the price the jack is fine.

Colin

 

[OCDaveS4]

Thanks Colin, very helpful especially the “puck” trick! which I wouldn’t have thought of!
Cheers
David

 

[AlS3BE]

Hilka 82820010 2 Ton Low Profile
Amazon product
I got this in the last Black Friday sale. Brilliant jack and slides under the s3 well.

With this

Hilka 82998011 Rubber Jack pad

Amazon product
The pads compresses a bit under the weight so needs to sit perfectly central on the jack.

 

[Jimbob76]

Posted this recently David, which may help you:
https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threa...-stands-rusty-hub-fix-and-gtechniq-c5.387632/

Questions I'd ask yourself:
- What work are you intending to do on the car once it is lifted, and consequently do you really need the 'car creeper'? For me, I just wanted the ability to get the wheels off to re-paint my rusty hubs, deep clean and coat the wheels in a quartz/ceramic coating once every 18 months or so, and deep clean the wheel arches once a year. Anything more mechanical than that, then it's over to Steve the mechanic at my trusty local independent VAG specialist workshop. I'm not going to be working deep underneath the car so don't need a car creeper myself.
- The wrench supplied isn't a torque wrench. I personally opted for a torque wrench for the peace-of-mind it gave me to re-tighten the wheel nuts to the correct Audi specified torque setting.
- What's the benefit in metal folding wheel chocks? They take up jeff-all storage space anyway?
- Are you considering/might you consider lowering your car at any point in the future? If so, a low profile jack might be a better way to go

I'm sure the Halfords kit is 'fine'. But I opted to spend a little bit more on the individual component parts that I was going to use. If I'm lifting my S3 and working around it when it's in the air, then I want to make sure I'm not cutting any corners and compromising my safety, or risking any damage to my car for the sake of a few extra quid.

Hope this helps mate.

 

[OCDaveS4]

Thanks @AIS3BE and @Jimbob76 - bizarrely I see that Robert Dyas of all places have the Hilka for £32.99 !! and, yes Jimbob76 what you say above is exactly my intended use, so thanks for the advice. Thanks also to the hub thread link - excellent.

 

[Nex2]

Im looking to buy an aluminum floor jack . Are they strong enough or i must choose a steel made but more heavier

 

[45bvtc]

For 15-years and more I've been using 'the same' Clarke CTJ1250AB 1.25 Tonne Aluminium Racing Jacks (for RS3, TT and SQ5) maintenance
I removed the castors and added a bottom sheet-Polypropylene plate - slides just as easily and 25mm lower than on castors.

​

 

[Nex2]

For 15-years and more I've been using 'the same' Clarke CTJ1250AB 1.25 Tonne Aluminium Racing Jacks (for RS3, TT and SQ5) maintenance
I removed the castors and added a bottom sheet-Polypropylene plate - slides just as easily and 25mm lower than on castors.

View attachment 265181 View attachment 265182 View attachment 265183​

Thank you. They look the same!

Nice and clean garage

 

[45bvtc]

Thank you. They look the same!

Nice and clean garage

Note: I do not use the 'black-puks' shown, seen 'em 'split!' And way too darn thick for my cars!
Much prefer to make my own 'lifting-pad,' one that reflects the AUDI supplied scissor jack 'pinch' as supplied for each vehicle (TT/RS3/SQ5).
And for sure, ZERO issues, like ever!

Oh, and NEVER had to maintain these Clarke CTJ1250AB 1.25 Tonne Aluminium Racing Jacks, they've been 100% perfect.

 

[Nex2]

Much prefer to make my own 'lifting-pad,' one that reflects the AUDI supplied scissor jack 'pinch' as supplied for each vehicle (TT/RS3/SQ5).
And for sure, ZERO issues, like ever!

I was looking to buy these for my jack stands but i read that they can slide. So i will make my own pad if necessary. For stands i used a little cloth between them and chassis

You don't use jack stands?

 

[45bvtc]

I was looking to buy these for my jack stands but i read that they can slide. So i will make my own pad if necessary. For stands i used a little cloth between them and chassis

You don't use jack stands?

Not usually no. But it depends on the job in hand. If swapping wheels over or a changing a set of brake pads then no - as the RS3 photo above shows. However, I do have 'blocks' and would use 'em as and when I felt necessary.

 

[S4 Muzza]

If you plan on using it regularly, spend a little more get a good one. After years of using cheap things, I bought a decent Sealey jack about 5 years ago and I’m so glad I did. Piece of cake lifting the car up now, nice low entry and it offers good height.

I paid just over £100 for this although it looks to have gone up a little now.

 

[Nex2]

Not usually no. But it depends on the job in hand. If swapping wheels over or a changing a set of brake pads then no - as the RS3 photo above shows. However, I do have 'blocks' and would use 'em as and when I felt necessary.

I think first for safety and second to not keep pressure your floor jack you should use jack stands.

 

[Nex2]

If you plan on using it regularly, spend a little more get a good one. After years of using cheap things, I bought a decent Sealey jack about 5 years ago and I’m so glad I did. Piece of cake lifting the car up now, nice low entry and it offers good height.

I paid just over £100 for this although it looks to have gone up a little now.

I will spend about 250 euro for floor jack. Similar type we posted.

Are you sure that sealey jacks have better quality?

In that price i think they and lot others buying from here and just changing labels.

Bahco maybe is something better if you want to spend more https://www.bahco.com/int_en/catalogsearch/result/?q=trolley jack

 

[45bvtc]

I think first for safety and second to not keep pressure your floor jack you should use jack stands.

100% right, you've answered your own question

As you can see from my photo (post #8) I went the long route and dug a pit - total safety if and when I want/need to get underneath.

Take care, stay safe and enjoy audi-sport.net

 

[S4 Muzza]

I will spend about 250 euro for floor jack. Similar type we posted.

Are you sure that sealey jacks have better quality?

In that price i think they and lot others buying from here and just changing labels.

Bahco maybe is something better if you want to spend more https://www.bahco.com/int_en/catalogsearch/result/?q=trolley jack

Better than the Halfords one posted above? Yes I’m sure. And considerably better than the garage on your Alibaba site.

 

[45bvtc]

! always PRAY TO my 1960's LOTUS back-stick-logo in the background:

Better than the Halfords one posted above? Yes I’m sure. And considerably better than the garage on your Alibaba site.