Member Since: 16 Feb 2017
Location: Kelso
Posts: 200
Correct way to lift Discovery 3 with a 2 post ramp
Is there a correct way to lift a discovery 3 with a 2 post ramp?
I have seen where it is said that you should have the suspension raised to off road, however as mine is not running due to LPFP failure I cannot do this.
The reason for asking is that when I initially tried to lift it by placing the arms under the chassis the car lifted awkwardly, i.e. not straight, so therefore I just dropped it back down, should it be lifted somewhere else or are there specific points on the chassis that the arms should be placed?
I have searched the web and cannot see anything to advise or even better any images or videos.
Any help would be appreciated so as I can get the car lifted and the pump changed.
Thanks
7th Sep 2018 10:38 am
LR3norway
Member Since: 25 Dec 2016
Location: NORWAY
Posts: 193
I lift it on the frame, the regular marks/holes. No problem.
7th Sep 2018 10:48 am
jeep948
Member Since: 16 Feb 2017
Location: Kelso
Posts: 200
Do you fix the suspension in access mode and does it lift the car straight?
7th Sep 2018 10:51 am
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2080
Surely on a 2 poster the wheels will just hang, whatever setting they are initially at . Not sure I understand when you say not straight. If the pads are level and you lift in the same place either side on the chassis, surely it will stay level.
7th Sep 2018 11:56 am
jeep948
Member Since: 16 Feb 2017
Location: Kelso
Posts: 200
I did lift at the same side of the chassis and the pads were level but the car seemed off when lifted.
7th Sep 2018 11:59 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20731
The car has to be absolutely central, with the lifting arms the same distance, and the same height, otherwise it will lift uneven.
In practice, this rarely happens as you'd spend all day arsing around to get it on the ramp, so a little uneven-ness is perfectly fine My D3 Build Thread
Member Since: 15 Jan 2014
Location: The Cotswolds
Posts: 1372
There is some guidance in the workshop manual if it helps.
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7th Sep 2018 12:03 pm
Discomadness
Member Since: 19 Jan 2015
Location: Caerphilly
Posts: 2256
Mine was in “all the air leaked out” mode when I lifted it. Because my ramp is hydraulic with a cable it lifts slightly down one side because of cable stretch. The suspension did some silly things after like thinking it was in off road mode etc when it wasn’t but it sorted itself out. What I do now is set the pads on the “cable” side one inch higher to compensate for the stretch. Also as Mikey has said try to keep the car central to the posts and position the pads under the holes in the chassis.Jarrod
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7th Sep 2018 12:19 pm
jeep948
Member Since: 16 Feb 2017
Location: Kelso
Posts: 200
Disco_Mikey wrote:
The car has to be absolutely central, with the lifting arms the same distance, and the same height, otherwise it will lift uneven.
In practice, this rarely happens as you'd spend all day arsing around to get it on the ramp, so a little uneven-ness is perfectly fine
Even harder to get lined up when it is not running, it is a heavy to push around, 1st time I have had this issue using the ramp but it is the 1st time I have used the ramp to lift the Discovery.
I will give it another try, do you have to lock the suspension or just lift it as it is?
7th Sep 2018 2:17 pm
jeep948
Member Since: 16 Feb 2017
Location: Kelso
Posts: 200
MikeO wrote:
There is some guidance in the workshop manual if it helps.
Thanks for that, it looks as though I had it in those positions more or less but I will double check again before attempting another lift.
7th Sep 2018 2:18 pm
jeep948
Member Since: 16 Feb 2017
Location: Kelso
Posts: 200
Discomadness wrote:
Mine was in “all the air leaked out” mode when I lifted it. Because my ramp is hydraulic with a cable it lifts slightly down one side because of cable stretch. The suspension did some silly things after like thinking it was in off road mode etc when it wasn’t but it sorted itself out. What I do now is set the pads on the “cable” side one inch higher to compensate for the stretch. Also as Mikey has said try to keep the car central to the posts and position the pads under the holes in the chassis.
The strange thing is that it looked like the chassis was lifting straight enough but the body looked all out of sorts and uneven.
I will follow the advice given and try again.
7th Sep 2018 2:19 pm
Globetrotter448
Member Since: 21 Mar 2017
Location: Londonderry NSW
Posts: 1783
If its the two post hydraulic/cable lift then the adjustment is out and should be adjusted for safe operation. Without anything on the lift it should go up with only one "clunk" sound, if you hear two "clunks" as it goes past the locking slots then it needs adjusting.
On mine, I put the vehicle so that the hoist uprights are level with the middle of the front doors. I have the front arms (short ones) just on the bends of the chassis (there is a welded ridge in the right place. The rear arms goes just level with the front of the rear wheels (watch compressor on LH side and fuel tank on RH side) and it goes up perfectly. You take it up past a "clunk" and then let it down to lock so you can work on it.
I leave my suspension in normal position. When it comes down it is in Off-road position but a flick of the lever sorts it out.
8th Sep 2018 9:28 am
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20731
Mine goes up with no load with a single clunk, but put 3T on it, completely different story
If the load is not 100% central, it puts uneven load on the cables, and lifts squintMy D3 Build Thread
Member Since: 11 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5095
Discomadness wrote:
What I do now is set the pads on the “cable” side one inch higher to compensate for the stretch.
Surely there shouldn't be a 'cable side' as there are hydraulic rams on both sides and the cable should only be balancing out any difference in load between sides and potential differences in efficiency of the rams to sync the lift.
If the cable is set for 'one clunk' but there is a consistent substantive difference between the rams lifting performance it may be the 'slower' ram needs looking at*
* not a lift expert but do own a 2PL and think I'm looking at it logically.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
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8th Sep 2018 11:13 am
jeep948
Member Since: 16 Feb 2017
Location: Kelso
Posts: 200
Disco_Mikey wrote:
Mine goes up with no load with a single clunk, but put 3T on it, completely different story
If the load is not 100% central, it puts uneven load on the cables, and lifts squint
The only issue I have off getting it 100% central is that the car is not running so I am pushing it get it as close as.
It is slightly closer to one side than the other at the moment.
My lift locks in as it goes up with a single clunk on some vehicles and slightly out on others, but not that far apart.
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to push around, 1st time I have had this issue using the ramp but it is the 1st time I have used the ramp to lift the Discovery.
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