Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[blur911]

Truck is fixed.  Had alternator rebuilt at local shop (Astro), $245 and ready in 24 hours or so.

Threw in a new tensioner as bearing in the old one sounded dry.  New belt too.
Hardest part was connecting cable to the alternator, could have made it a bit longer there Datsun

[Railton]

Changed the brakes on Mrs. Railtons Infiniti today. Man, SUV's are tall fackers - had to use the Infiniti scissors jack and interlock to get the damn thing up in the air high enough to take a wheel off. My Floor jack would not lift it high enough.
Man, a lift would be nice.
Railton

[Gurgie]

^how low is your floorjack? Mine never had an issue lifting any of the SUV's I've had (Wrangler, JGC & now the Passport).

Good work though, weather looks decent down there as well... much nicer than the crap we have had here today.

[Arthur Dent]

I add a bit of wood between the car and the jack. A nice small, solid, square piece to get the extra height.

[Railton]

^how low is your floorjack? Mine never had an issue lifting any of the SUV's I've had (Wrangler, JGC & now the Passport).

Good work though, weather looks decent down there as well... much nicer than the crap we have had here today.

It's one of those Michelin 2 Ton units like this one. Not enough throw with it. Works fine for the G though as its lower to the ground.
Railton
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/michelin-2-ton-trolley-jack-0090006p.html

[Firm]

For an SUV to work with a typical floorjack you've usually gotta lift it by the suspension/control arm rather than using the jack points as Railton is doing. If the suspension can't hang down most jacks have plenty of lift. 

Good work regardless! Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

[Railton]

For an SUV to work with a typical floorjack you've usually gotta lift it by the suspension/control arm rather than using the jack points as Railton is doing. If the suspension can't hang down most jacks have plenty of lift. 

Good work regardless! Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

Yeah, but I found it difficult to get at the control arm working from the side with the tire on. That’s why I always use the jack lift points instead.
Railton
Here’s the Jack below.

[HeliDriver]

I went jack shopping years ago, when I had the lowered Civic and the Xterra. Was tough to find one jack that would work for both, but I found a Michelin 3-ton at CT that did the job.

Kind of like this Motomaster unit they sell now. Goes from 3 1/4" to 24". https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-eliminator-heavy-duty-low-profile-long-reach-garage-jack-3-ton-0090244p.html

Mine is also steel and weighs a ton, which is a PITA. You can get aluminum jacks that do the same thing, but are lighter, but they're also usually $$$. And if you don't need the super-low clearance, that opens up your options considerably.

[Bubba]

For an SUV to work with a typical floorjack you've usually gotta lift it by the suspension/control arm rather than using the jack points as Railton is doing. If the suspension can't hang down most jacks have plenty of lift. 

Good work regardless! Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

Yeah, but I found it difficult to get at the control arm working from the side with the tire on. That’s why I always use the jack lift points instead.
Railton
Here’s the Jack below.

Hi, Jack!

[ArticSteve]

The old steel floor jacks were always built like tanks and had huge lifts but they wouldn't fit under low sung cars.  About 15 years ago for $100 in KW at Princess Auto I bought their PowerFist brand aluminum 2 1/2 ton, dual piston refillable, and it has seen a huge amount of work as my son was repairing and selling cars continually for a good while.  Never know what your getting.  It's probably my best tool purchase.  Should have bought two.

[bridgecity]

For an SUV to work with a typical floorjack you've usually gotta lift it by the suspension/control arm rather than using the jack points as Railton is doing. If the suspension can't hang down most jacks have plenty of lift. 

Good work regardless! Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

Yeah, but I found it difficult to get at the control arm working from the side with the tire on. That’s why I always use the jack lift points instead.
Railton
Here’s the Jack below.

I've got the same jack Railton, but it may be bigger.  Michelin brand anyway.  I think its a 21" lift.  No issues with my truck or MDX.  I should mention that with my truck I lift from the control arm on the front and the diff pumpkin on the back.  With the MDX I place on the center front and rear lift points.

[Railton]

For an SUV to work with a typical floorjack you've usually gotta lift it by the suspension/control arm rather than using the jack points as Railton is doing. If the suspension can't hang down most jacks have plenty of lift. 

Good work regardless! Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

Yeah, but I found it difficult to get at the control arm working from the side with the tire on. That’s why I always use the jack lift points instead.
Railton
Here’s the Jack below.

I've got the same jack Railton, but it may be bigger.  Michelin brand anyway.  I think its a 21" lift.  No issues with my truck or MDX.  I should mention that with my truck I lift from the control arm on the front and the diff pumpkin on the back.  With the MDX I place on the center front and rear lift points.

Yes, they make a 3.5 Ton unit as well - maybe that's what you have.
Railton

[draghon]

I have this one from CT:

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-hybrid-aluminum-steel-garage-jack-3-ton-0091036p.html#srp


It barely fits under my lowered civic and has enough lift to get the Acadia's tires off the ground using the jack points on the side. Doesn't have quite enough if I use the trailer hitch to get both rear tires up at the same time, need a couple of 2x4s for that.

[Railton]

Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

No, thank god. I would need a special tool/scanner tool to have the system release the brakes if it did.
Railton

[rrocket]

The old steel floor jacks were always built like tanks and had huge lifts but they wouldn't fit under low sung cars.  About 15 years ago for $100 in KW at Princess Auto I bought their PowerFist brand aluminum 2 1/2 ton, dual piston refillable, and it has seen a huge amount of work as my son was repairing and selling cars continually for a good while.  Never know what your getting.  It's probably my best tool purchase.  Should have bought two.

Yep...I have American Princess Auto (Harbor Freight) low profile jack.

Has been bullet proof so far.

https://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-low-profile-rapid-pump-floor-jack-64264.html

[Firm]

Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

No, thank god. I would need a special tool/scanner tool to have the system release the brakes if it did.
Railton

Yeah, that's why I asked. I've dealt with a couple now and it's a PITA in some cars.

[jamie1]

Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

No, thank god. I would need a special tool/scanner tool to have the system release the brakes if it did.
Railton

You can just pull off the actuator and push the piston back. On FCA vehicles, you can use the Uconnect and use the 'service brakes' mode. Don't know why other makes can't do that.

[Triple Bob]

For an SUV to work with a typical floorjack you've usually gotta lift it by the suspension/control arm rather than using the jack points as Railton is doing. If the suspension can't hang down most jacks have plenty of lift. 

Good work regardless! Does that Infinity have the electronic parking brake? Can't tell from the photos.

Yeah, but I found it difficult to get at the control arm working from the side with the tire on. That’s why I always use the jack lift points instead.
Railton
Here’s the Jack below.

I've got the same jack Railton, but it may be bigger.  Michelin brand anyway.  I think its a 21" lift.  No issues with my truck or MDX.  I should mention that with my truck I lift from the control arm on the front and the diff pumpkin on the back.  With the MDX I place on the center front and rear lift points.

Yes, they make a 3.5 Ton unit as well - maybe that's what you have.
Railton

That's the one I have, great for SUV's, could barely get it under the C63. Gets an SUV way up in the air though. It is really frickin' heavy to even pull around. I had to ask someone in the parking lot for help getting it in the car when I bought it. 

[Bubba]

That's the one I have, great for SUV's, could barely get it under the C63. Gets an SUV way up in the air though. It is really frickin' heavy to even pull around. I had to ask someone in the parking lot for help getting it in the car when I bought it. 

Not only can it lift 3.5 tons, the jack actually weighs 3.5 tons.   

[Gurgie]

Bought a battery charger/maintainer for the SLK (for storage) a while back when it was on sale, got around to wiring in the leads today so I can just use the quick connect.



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