Guys, my Dad and his Kia need some assistance.

Kinja'd!!! "Vimto" (smudgey)
08/25/2014 at 13:04 • Filed to: None

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Just to preface this, some food for thought. I'm 20, my Dad is 60. I drive a stock Mercury Grand Marquis...he drives a pretty extensively modified Kia Forte. The man's nuts.

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Anyway, about 1.5 years ago, my Dad wanted to lower his Kia because he thought it sat too high, so he bought some Eibach springs and we swapped them out. Took about 3 hours to do all 4 corners.

Well, we change the oil on our cars every 6 months (this one only does 7-8k miles a year) and on the most recent change, the jack didn't fit underneath the car anymore. The springs must have worn or settled a bit more.

Therefore, it looks like we will have to invest in ramps. What are some good ramps that will get the car high enough for an oil change? Also, is there anything we can do if the maintenance requires taking a wheel off?


DISCUSSION (16)


Kinja'd!!! Party-vi > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 13:07

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Were you using a low-profile jack? They run about $250 if I'm not mistaken. Otherwise, try some Rhinoramps from Amazon. I use them for my 330Ci, but even stock it sits too low to make a clean getaway from the ramps.


Kinja'd!!! FrederickLawOlmsteez > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 13:12

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If I were doing it on the cheap: a pair of 2x6s should give you enough clearance. If he likes to spend money, there are some cool racing ramps that split in two. Can't remember the name. My metal ramps make me nervous. Sometimes they seem to lose their footing a little bit and shift.


Kinja'd!!! Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 13:14

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Do you have a normal jack or a low-pro?

Also, if you just need a littleeee bit to get the jack under, you can use some 2x4s, cut one end into a wedge shape so the car an just drive up them.


Kinja'd!!! Vimto > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver
08/25/2014 at 13:18

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Yeah, another poster suggested that, it's a small distance. We've changed the oil twice since lowering the car and only this time did the jack get stuck underneath.


Kinja'd!!! CAR_IS_MI > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 13:21

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Get a low profile jack, the one I had was 1.75" tall and could fit under anything. The other, quicker, jimmy rig option is to use a small scissor jack to lift the car high enough to get the floor jack under it. Once one corner is off the ground the other three should be high enough to slip the jack under. This would be a temporary fix and I would still recommend a good, lo-profile jack.


Kinja'd!!! Vimto > CAR_IS_MI
08/25/2014 at 13:24

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Do you know what brand it was? 1.75" has got to be enough clearance. & yeah, we did that most recently. We managed to finagle our jack in after about half an hour, changed the oil, but then when we lowered the car back down it trapped the jack underneath, so we had to use the scissor jack spare to get it out.


Kinja'd!!! CAR_IS_MI > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 13:29

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I don't, and that one was not cheap. I sold it off many years ago before I moved. When I moved I grabbed one from Harbor Freight that was still ow profile enough to fit under the car but not nearly as expensive.


Kinja'd!!! Jayhawk Jake > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 13:30

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I like this.

I'm still bummed Kia went away from the styling of the previous gen. The aggressive angular looks of the first gen Forte were fantastic

^That's my old Koup. I'd still have it if it had a manual I think.


Kinja'd!!! Vimto > Jayhawk Jake
08/25/2014 at 13:38

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I think the current Forte is attractive, but not in the same way, and not quite as attractive as the first one. I feel like the generations should have been reversed, because now that all of the compacts have all sorts of crazy lines, vents, and grilles, an understated yet crisp design like the first Forte would stand out more.

Of course, I am biased, my Dad's had his '11 for 3 years now. But oh well.

I remember reading your review, shame about it being an automatic. I thought about being a Koup to go along with my Dad's sedan...just couldn't quite afford one at the time.


Kinja'd!!! JohnnyWasASchoolBoy > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 13:55

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You don't really need to invest in ramps. Just get some thin lumber (1x8 would be great) and build yourself some shims to get the front end off the ground.


Kinja'd!!! BigBlock440 > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 14:03

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As others have said, the cheapest/easiest thing is to probably just drive onto a pair of 2x6's to get that little bit extra you need.


Kinja'd!!! JGrabowMSt > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 14:06

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Invest in upper body strength and a back brace. Dead lifts will be best.

But in all seriousness, look at what Race Ramps has to offer, you should be able to find something suitable for your dads car. I trust those more than any other brand, they're light, and very easy to work with.

You can also look at low profile floor jacks to keep in the trunk. You might even be able to take the wheels off if if you just need a stationary jack.


Kinja'd!!! FrederickLawOlmsteez > FrederickLawOlmsteez
08/25/2014 at 14:18

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http://www.amazon.com/Race-Ramps-RR-…

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!


Kinja'd!!! Jayhawk Jake > Vimto
08/25/2014 at 15:52

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At the time you couldn't get a manual with nav, and I didn't know how to drive stick.


Kinja'd!!! Camry-Into-Canyon > Vimto
08/30/2014 at 11:07

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Needs the Koup Bumper.


Kinja'd!!! Vimto > Camry-Into-Canyon
08/30/2014 at 11:11

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Koup bumperS.

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I wouldn't put it past him.