Help! Need some advice or insight, most shops cannot get my car on their lifts.

[XFireXLR]

I currently have a power steering leak that seems to be coming from under the pump itself. It seems that my mechanic cannot get the car on any of his 5 lifts that have swing arms, there is not enough clearance for the swing arms to go under the front of the car. I have been to 8 other shops and they are having the same problem. I have not tried the dealership yet, I am leaving them as a last resort. The dealership that I purchased the car from has worked on the car for over 10 years, but the culture and quality of work has since changed. Right now in my garage the front bumper sits approx. 6.75 inches from the floor. I am just looking for some insight as to why this is happening. My car is at OEM height and has never been lowered. The only front end worked that has been done is a new power steering rack that was replaced about 7 years ago. Any advice, insight or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[mickeytee]

All they need is a couple of 2x 6 to drive the car up on. you can easily lift the car with a floor jack to stick the boards under the tires. I had 2x8 two foot long with one end cut at a taper for the mercedes sl On slick floor it can be hard to drive up on the boards as they slide. Thats why i just jack the car up with a floor jack under the front and rear center crossnembers and stick the boards under it. they need to make sure their lift pads are higher than the arms on the lift or they can crush the fiberglasS rockers. i also use the cheap hocky puck sold on ebay that twist into the frame holes so the lift does not hit. Any corvette shop would have them. if not buy yourself a set to use if you ever use a floor jack at the proper side lifting area.

 

[nvme]

What I did about 10 years ago...Don't know what is wrong with what I did but the car runs fine and no more hitting the wheel blocks in a parking lot. It's takes some time to do this but you only have to do it once. All 4 wheels have an ajustment on top of the stabeleizer to lower or raise the height of the car. In the front I raised it all the up and the back I lower it all the way down. It raised the front about 2" and the back about 1.5',' ,put on about 25,000 miles and no problems,.

 

[XFireXLR]

Thank you both for your replies nvme could you be a little more specific about the area where the adjustment was done? When you say "stabilizer" are you referring to the sway bar or something else? Just need clarification, because the stabilizer/sway bar would effect lateral movement only, I think and wouldn't raise the car vertically.

 

[mickeytee]

You really dont want to do this . it changes the position of the ride height sensors that control the mag shocks.and they would need a recalibration. Raising the front would also require a camber adjustment to properly align the front end. Hes talking about on the ends of each leaf spring there is a ride height adjuster. They are a bolt with a large rubber washer that lifts or lowers the control arm which raises the height of the car. They do wear out and might need replaceing. Unless tgey are broken or worn out its only going to make 1/2 inch difference in the clearance for a lift. Most likely not enough

 

[justdennis]

I agree, I would not mess with those adjusters unless their damaged. Just cut some 2X8's about 2 foot long and call it done.