Royal 32 Report post Posted November 16, 2014 A question for S4 and S4S owners regarding these. I don't have a single jacking point under the car. I note from the history file that one was replaced in '98 by B&C. The service notes show they are held on by two rivets, probably why there are none on the car now. Can any of you confirm that the points should be 'tongues' as per the pics in the manual/service notes please? I have the correct jack with the groove which fits the tongue. Even managed to find a genuine Lotus wheel spanner with name and part number on it! Thank you Lotusbits. Martin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Winter 17 Report post Posted November 16, 2014 Hi Martin Yes, they are tongued. If you are interested, I have three brand new ones in stainless plus another that is used but perfectly serviceable. £25 all in i.e. including carriage. If you would like them, please send a pm to [email protected] with your contact details. Best wishes Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacques 765 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 17, 2014 I won't interfere in this deal of course. But I would surely like to know where to get those stainless ones? Kind regards, Jacques. Quote Nobody does it better - than Lotus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Royal 32 Report post Posted November 21, 2014 Hi Jacques, In reply to your question, the gent concerned had a rusty original which he then used to have 3 copies made up. He had I think, an Esprit SE and was intending to put the tongues on his car, but never did and sold the car without them. This is where I was fortunate when asking for a set. Whoever made them up did a first class job. This seems to be the answer. They are on their way to my mechanic to be fitted. The common cause for their demise is, I have been told, clumsy garages squashing them. You can only straighten them so many times before they break. My mechanic won't be breaking any of them! He values his life. Best wishes, Martin. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mysterae 72 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 21, 2014 Could something be designed and fabricated so that trolley jack can be used without risk? All my jacking plates were lost years ago so I currently use a block of wood. Not ideal but does the job. Quote Signature not working... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibs 8,945 4 Vehicles Report post Posted November 21, 2014 You can buy flat trolley jacks... Quote 88 Esprit NA, 89 Esprit Turbo SE, Evora, Evora S, Evora IPS, Evora S IPS, Evora S IPS SR, Evora 400, Elise S1, Elise S1 111s, Evora GT410 Sport Evora NA For forum issues, please contact the Moderators. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mysterae 72 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 21, 2014 Bibs, I have two of that very same jack, the 2.5 ton version of it, as I like to jack each side up a little at a time (the red jack in the image releases far too quickly so lost faith in it). The seat/cup of the jack isn't actually flat, it has four metal "castellations" that are higher than the rubber pad. The only disappointment with an otherwise very good trolley jack. I was thinking that the jacking plates discussed could sit on the rubber pads of the jack, effectively making them flat, know what I mean? Quote Signature not working... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacques 765 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 21, 2014 I too have such a blue alu low jack. But I use a large 32mm top between the Little metal lifting point and the jack. Fits like a glove and makes a nice circular hole in the rubber pad I place a Wheel underneeth the car as close as possible to the Jack as well. Or I Work from a mechanics grave (or whatever it's called). Anyway, thanks for the description of the metal plates. I'll see if I can find someone willing to copy them in stainless. Mines are intact buta bit rusty. And I really dislike any rust. Cheers, Jacques. Quote Nobody does it better - than Lotus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
s4simon 152 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 21, 2014 A Loti friend from Sydney made 4 of these up for me. Spreads the load on the trolley jack. Quote Simon (94 S4) My Esprit will be for sale in late 2017 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mysterae 72 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 21, 2014 Why the slot / groove? Quote Signature not working... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
s4simon 152 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 23, 2014 To fit the tongued jacking points, when used with the trolley jack. Quote Simon (94 S4) My Esprit will be for sale in late 2017 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mysterae 72 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 23, 2014 Ah right, I've never had the jacking plates, must have fallen off a long time ago. Quote Signature not working... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 3,570 Report post Posted November 24, 2014 My car has no jacking plates at all, either. I'm guessing they must have fallen off, or been taken off. At the moment I'm using pieces of 40x60x15 hardwood pads with a piece of rubber on them. Seems to work OK. Quote Margate Exotics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
s4simon 152 1 Vehicles Report post Posted November 24, 2014 Pic of my front one. Quote Simon (94 S4) My Esprit will be for sale in late 2017 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaveS4s 1 Report post Posted December 6, 2014 I bought 4ea. used hockey pucks from Ebay, cut a slot in the center for jacking bracket and then I can use my floor jack. If you do not have the brackets on the car any more , the pucks work better than wood . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 3,570 Report post Posted December 7, 2014 Good call, Dave. I'd been thinking about using some kind of dense plastic material, shaping it to fit the square of each jacking point, and using Sikaflex to bond them on to they protrude enough to accept a flat jack pad underneath them Quote Margate Exotics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Advantage 856 Report post Posted December 7, 2014 It's worth remembering that the metal plate which forms the factory jacking point is only shaped that way so it can locate and secure the emergency jack used with the spare wheel. The strength to lift the car is within the fibreglass construction. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites