Has anyone cleaned and protected the under side of there mx5 using just axle stands i was thinking of jacking it up taking wheels off and having a go i have a jet washer so was wondering if anyone has any pics they could show me of what they have done themselves ?
There are many, many people who have undersealed their own cars and MX5’s specifically using axle sands.
Wayne over at http:\www.mazdamenders.net has shown a number of these projects on that website as have a few other brave souls on that site.
A few others have done it here or on mx5nutz
There are plenty other photo how to’s publised if you are prepared to do some simple webseaching.
I have done Mk3 and Mk4 car how to’s but I treated myself to a two post lift some years ago to do that.
I would suggest you look about and hire a lift local to you to do the job if that is possible as there are few prizes for rolling about on the ground these days.
There just has to be one available, beg if you need to.
I have done it as you are suggesting but, you must wear a pair of tight fitting goggles around your eyes to stop falling rust and debris getting into your eyes. Eyes can’t be bought for love nor money. It is a s…y dirty job but worth doing if you are up to it. a bandero? may be useful to if you have a head of hair, which I don’t.
I wouldn’t use axle stands as my first choice - for a start they will get in the way.
When I spent days underneath our Eunos and MX5, drove the front onto ramps and jacked the back wheels up so they sat on solid 6 inch concrete blocks.
I would say this is safer to work with and easier to work around.
If you do use axle stands just do one end at a time just to be safe. A car on 4 axle stands can be unstable.
I did our Mk4 with axle stands, if you are young it will be no problem, if you are older it is quite a work out. A hot bath and a few glasses of wine and you will be ready to fight another day.
I did much of the underside of mine, with 1 axle stand, backed up by trolley jack,
while making sure my head never went completely under the car.
For the bits further in, I ran the car up on ramps.
I don’t really trust axle stands on their own.
I never trust either jacks or axle stands if I’m going right under the car - both can be unstable if you exert some load on the supported body.
I did mine front first with the front wheels on ramps (needed a bit of plank to get it on and miss the front spoiler), back firmly on the ground and chocked.
Then swap around - rears on ramps, fronts chocked.
Filthy job, but well worth doing if you catch it in time…and the advice re goggles is worth taking. Ask me how I know…!
Waxoyl isn’t the same as hair gel, no matter what they tell you! And you MUST keep it warm to get it to flow into the crevices where it’s needed.
Good Luck!
Aldi
You can and I do ‘water’ the Waxoil down with white spirit to make it flow better. I did the MX5 in winter admittedly in a garage but had no issues with flow.
As Eddie, suggests, I would personally use a garage lift than dare to trust axle stands, which have no sideways stability at all, Fore and aft possibly, sideways - NO. Never seen an axle stand that caters for sideways motion, the footing is suspect most of the time. If I were forced to do this, then it would be in our garage, with someone on standby while I was under the car, “hands off” at all times.
As Eddie also comments, being brave enough counts for more than just crawling under the car, the prospect of a high side wind or an inquisitive neighbour pushing on one side of the car to see if it’s ‘well anchored’ doesn’t bear thinking about. Also, in the limited space available, you would need to work with your hands around your head most if the time, or you can’t see what you are doing - safety goggle are a must, and a good old hat as well- Plus a boiler suit. To protect you face, you could wear a ski mask, otherwise don’t swear or talk to yourself either, of you’ll get some gunk in your mouth.
Years ago, I had to fit a new exhaust to a V8 engine, twin pipes and no means of getting under the car. I was lucky, though, while the car was in a lean to, it had a dirt floor, so I dig a shallow trench to one side - under one pipe, so I could work on that and then reverse the car over the pit to do the other side pipe. Time consuming, but worth the effort. A few skinned knuckles, but hey, you expect that. These days I’m well past that, so a local garage is my best option. I am frankly, surprised to see many new car owners doing this, as few keep the car longer than a few years, then it’s onto the next model. Resale? that’s someone else’s problem, how do you prove endless time sealing every crook and cranny, when selling the car.? You’ll never get paid the extra you thought that was worth. Nor do you get paid for all the goodies you’ve added, so what’s the point anyway?
^^^ Any more doom and gloom whilst your at it? ^^^
I did mine, I’ll do it again but also I must admit I’m getting a bit past all this grovelling under cars. If you are young enough and able then do it yourself, be safe and most of all do not go under a car not properly supported.
Oh and move if your neighbours are going to rock your car whilst you are under it.
[quote=Drumtochty]
There are many, many people who have undersealed their own cars and MX5’s specifically using axle sands.
Wayne over at http:\www.mazdamenders.net has shown a number of these projects on that website as have a few other brave souls on that site.
A few others have done it here or on mx5nutz
There are plenty other photo how to’s publised if you are prepared to do some simple webseaching.
I have done Mk3 and Mk4 car how to’s but I treated myself to a two post lift some years ago to do that.
I would suggest you look about and hire a lift local to you to do the job if that is possible as there are few prizes for rolling about on the ground these days.
There just has to be one available, beg if you need to.
[/quote
Copy and paste into your search bar…
http://www.mazdamenders.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=6868
M-m
I do get a little nervous these days laying underneath cars but have always found axle stands fine if you are careful about using them properly and as intended. A tripod is a very stable thing.
I managed to get hold of two sets of these which makes life so much easier. Did take the precaution of adding timber struts just for a bit of insurance and peace of mind though.
Were you undersealing???What did you do about the wheel arches etc for a proper protection with the rims still being on???, or servicing??? as for axle stands, it all depends on which ones you use and lifting equipment, and the jobs being undertaken, the reason i show the use of axle stands and try to use the most basic of tools for the menders walk through guides is that i take into consideration what most drive way spanner throwers have or can get their hands on to repair these Roadsters, i can use a load of top of the range items but not everyone as that kind of budget, i will use fixed ring and flat spanners etc and show the struggles owners may or will hit ,but even with the most basic tools the high standard can be hit easy , and that is what i show…if i can do it anyone can.
M-m