Avoiding Damage When Lifting At The Auto Shop

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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KevAndAndi
Posts: 531
Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2014 12:14 pm
Your car is a: 1981 Fiat Spider 2000
Location: Chatham, NJ

Avoiding Damage When Lifting At The Auto Shop

Postby KevAndAndi » Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:59 pm

For the first time, I'm going to need to take my car to a local shop, to have them work on the differential. (There's a clunking sound when I put the car into reverse to back up my driveway.)

I'm uneasy about having anyone but me lift the car. I'm always careful to avoid the pinch welds, and I use wood blocks. I have to admit I'm wholly unfamiliar with how auto shop lifts contact the underside of a car.

What do I need to look for, ask, or point out to the mechanics? Or should I not worry about it, and assume that they are professionals and won't damage the car?

I remember reading one account here of pinch welds being damaged by a careless mechanic.
Kevin
1981 Spider 2000

Fiatlanta
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2016 6:00 am
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 124

Re: Avoiding Damage When Lifting At The Auto Shop

Postby Fiatlanta » Sun Apr 22, 2018 11:04 am

Don't assume anything lol. A sincere apology won't fix it if they jack something up. These aren't super complex cars, but they have a few little weird things that need attention and the right experience.

grrrdot
Posts: 224
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2012 11:14 pm
Your car is a: 1967 124

Re: Avoiding Damage When Lifting At The Auto Shop

Postby grrrdot » Sun Apr 22, 2018 1:51 pm

Man, I've seen lots of creative ways people have damaged 124s with lifts.
Last time I brought the car somewhere that was going to be lifted I went out and bought some bright yellow spray paint and painted the places under the car that were safe.
This way when I bring it to the shop I tell everyone there over and over, only lift where you see yellow paint.

-G

Fiatlanta
Posts: 184
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2016 6:00 am
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 124

Re: Avoiding Damage When Lifting At The Auto Shop

Postby Fiatlanta » Mon Apr 23, 2018 7:07 am

grrrdot wrote:Man, I've seen lots of creative ways people have damaged 124s with lifts.
Last time I brought the car somewhere that was going to be lifted I went out and bought some bright yellow spray paint and painted the places under the car that were safe.
This way when I bring it to the shop I tell everyone there over and over, only lift where you see yellow paint.

-G


I like it

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dinghyguy
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 453
Joined: Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:41 pm
Your car is a: 1981 spider
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Re: Avoiding Damage When Lifting At The Auto Shop

Postby dinghyguy » Mon Apr 23, 2018 11:15 am

so now all we need is the photo of the underside of your car with the yellow targets!

cheers
dinghyguy
1981 Red Spider "Redbob"
1972 blue Volvo 1800ES "Bob"
1998 Red Ford Ranger


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