When it comes time to dismantle suspensions or any other monkey wrenching agenda where the wheels come off the car, a sturdy jack and jack stands are the tools for the job. A set of drive-on ramps can be the answer for less involved chores like changing the oil and filter, greasing the chassis, or replacing a leaky lower radiator hose. Thanks to the miracle of space-age polymers, drive-up ramps are now made of light yet strong injection molded plastics, and an inexpensive solution for those who like hanging out under their cars.
Drive-On Ramps E-Z Instructions
Common sense rules should always be followed anytime you intend to crawl under thousands of pounds of anything. So it goes for rolling automobiles up on steel or plastic ramps. The first and most important rule of ramps is to make certain the automobile in question does not exceed the rated capacity of the ramps! Next is to always work on a hard, level surface. Last is to take care not to drive over the top of the ramps. Don’t ask how we found out this was a bad idea in 1980 with a 1964 Volkswagen Bug, snow tires, and a set of Macho Ramps.
Eerie.
Last night, I used the exact same ramps and oil receptacle to change my oil while wearing the exact same pants and high-top black chucks.
No blue gloves, though.
Oh: and the same metal drip-tray. Although I use it to contain my oil receptacle because the drain cap leaks just a little when it’s full.
Not that any of this stuff is that rare…it’s just that from the looks of things, this could’ve been shot in my garage/driveway.
I have those same ramps (far fewer Starions and Starlets, though). The cheap-ass tires on my girlfriend’s Intrepid can’t get enough traction to dive up them. It’s amazing and horrible.
…and they’re too steep for my xB.
Suddenly, I find myself standing at the information desk in the Now-Why-Didn’t-I-Think-Of-That Department…
Anyone ever come across ramps that compensate for cars unfortunate enough to have been engineered by morons who felt the best location for the oil filter is perpendicular to the ground, halfway up the block, requiring a reach around of the exhaust? I *hate* that.
Here’s to Mitsubishi and the conveniently located oil filter. So what if it’s the lowest point on the engine and most likely to catch a fatal rock or something. Convenience when I change the oil is paramount imo.
While reading that, I was really confused…then I remembered why I don’t own any front wheel drive cars.
Place a cinder block in front of each ramp to keep your car from pushing the ramps forward instead of climbing them.
The worst car I have had for DIY oil changing was a ’92 Lincoln Town Car. When the front wheels are pointing straight ahead, a necessity with ramps, the steering linkage is in the way of the oil filter. You can unscrew the filter but it is nearly impossible to get it out of the space it drops into. It will come out, with difficulty, only after you turn it sideways and make an oily mess.