Topic: Rhino Ramps + Audi TT

[rrocket]

Just wanted to post up a couple of pics of what my lowered Audi TT looks like on Rhino Ramps.  I know a few here were wondering if ramps would work or be high enough for work on their cars.  Since an underbody aero panel had come loose on the Audi, I though I'd post a pic so you can see how much room there is underneath.  Plenty of room for doing oil changes, exhaust work, O2 sensors, and just about anything else that average do-it-yourselfer might tackle.  Just drive on and drive off.  When on the ramp, the rear of the car was 18" above the roadway.  In front of the rear tire near the rocker panel, it's a bit over 14" clearance.  So plenty of room.  BTW, another -poor German design..no nuts holding the aero piece on, rather some silly "starfish" looking washers that break and rusts easily.  Nothing more than a press fit.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[Gardiner Westbound]

I'm under the impression a car has to be level for all the oil to flow out of the pan, impossible with ramps. How do you get around that?

It's why I have considered buying a MityVac, but that doesn't help access an oil filter reachable only from underneath.

Other issues include pushing them around instead of driving up, not dead-center, overshooting, and paranoia about being under a car.

[rrocket]

I'm under the impression a car has to be level for all the oil to flow out of the pan, impossible with ramps. How do you get around that?

It's why I have considered buying a MityVac.

Actually no.  Many cars (and all that I've owned) the oil plug is either at the very back or at the back and off to the side of the oil pan.  Therefore, the car on the ramp tips the oil to the drain hole.  I have yet to have an issue in all the years I've done oil changes on ramps.  I suppose if the drain plug was at the very front of the pan, this might be an issue. 

FWIW, the Mity Vac works well enough (have used one before).  But you still have to get under the car to swap out the oil filter AND remove the shavings from the magnetic drain plug.  So either way, you have to get under the car.  Also, I've long suspected that the MityVac can't get out the small particles that sit on the bottom of the pan that would normally be forced out during the flush of a regular oil change.  YMMV.

[initial_D]

No nuts&bolts, to save weight? Have those hooks in my old Bimmers as well.

[rrocket]

No nuts&bolts, to save weight? Have those hooks in my old Bimmers as well.

No..it has the bolt end sticking out of the chassis...but no nut.  Just the washer things.

[dr_spock]

No nuts&bolts, to save weight? Have those hooks in my old Bimmers as well.

No..it has the bolt end sticking out of the chassis...but no nut.  Just the washer things.

I have the same bolts and star clips on my VW.  I used a piece of Lego to hold mine back in place when the fingers on the clips snapped from rust.

I think the clips speed up the assembly.  No screwing, just press and done.

[rrocket]

I think the clips speed up the assembly.  No screwing, just press and done.

Maybe so...but certainly by no more than 2-3 seconds in the factory.  I don't even want to know what VW charges for those.  With a nut, I could at least get one anywhere to replace it.  Not so much with this VW brain fart.

Another not-so-swift VW/Audi engineering idea..

[airbalancer]

screw the ramps
get this for 2gs

[rrocket]

^^^^Have seen it on sale for $1500 in the USA.  But ramps are still quicker for these little repairs.

[Snowman]

screw the ramps
get this for 2gs

German cars under repair, how appropriate 

[airbalancer]

screw the ramps
get this for 2gs

German cars under repair, how appropriate 

Must be $1000 abs sensors acting up again :0

[rrocket]

screw the ramps
get this for 2gs

German cars under repair, how appropriate 

Indeed.  I think the rejected engineers who fail to find work must all work for German manufacturers....