OEM car lift re-instal

[JDillon15]

Got a flat on the way home. Used the OEM car jack to swap into my spare. Can someone grab a picture of their jack put away or help me with instructions? I can't get the darn thing back the way it came out.

[Sanjman]

it's a tight fit aint it. heh. that's what she said.

[JDillon15]

it's a tight fit aint it. heh. that's what she said.

Yes she is. I was more worried about being on the side of the State Road than I was about how the freaking thing fit in there.

[B-Time]

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x403/edepaolo21/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140127_143536374_HDR_zpskfgakmvw.jpg

[JDillon15]

http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x403/edepaolo21/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20140127_143536374_HDR_zpskfgakmvw.jpg

I think I can work with that. Thank you.

[moyenecorniche]

Only one place the widow maker fits. The recycling metal bin... If you are on perfectly level and solid ground, the oem jack works but is still like letting your drunk friend drive you home.
For a car brand where so much is over engineered, it's a puzzle as to what VAG was thinking on this cantilevered design.
(1) Option call AAA
(2) get one of those small hydraulic jacks NAPA sells for $150 and keep that in the trunk.

When the day comes and that jack decides to malfunction ( it will ) best hope you ( or any extremity ) are not under the car.
I had mine shift on a snow storm. Let's just say it wasn't a fun 2 hours waiting in the middle of nowhere for the platform tow..

[DannyDeez]

Got a flat on the way home. Used the OEM car jack to swap into my spare. Can someone grab a picture of their jack put away or help me with instructions? I can't get the darn thing back the way it came out.

Were you able to get it back in properly? When I bought my car, the PO couldn't it get it back in correctly either. The lid to the jack box never quite closed all the way and it drove me nuts knowing it was like that. So the other day I decided to fix it. Took me like 30 minutes to finally get that rod to sit properly so the lid closed.

[B-Time]

I think I can work with that. Thank you.

Mine was out for a year or two before finding this pic.

[FraggyA4]

I love the widow maker, it works great for changing tires. You just have to know how to properly set it up. Make sure that everything is perfectly in line and you shouldn't have a problem. Level ground is a plus but it's definitely doable on an angle if you set up the jack correctly. Also this is why you always throw your tire under the car once its off until you get your spare on.

The key to getting the jack back in is to make that final crank shut to get the handle to flop around the back of the jack. Usually you have to rotate it with the handle already bent in.

[Danaldson]

I had a widow maker bust and come down on me while working on my mk4 . Luckily none of my body parts were under the car, but i got a solid smack on the back of the head from the fender. Keep if for emergencies, but if you are on a long road trip throw a proper jack in the trunk.

[billyhoyle]

Only one place the widow maker fits. The recycling metal bin... If you are on perfectly level and solid ground, the oem jack works but is still like letting your drunk friend drive you home.
For a car brand where so much is over engineered, it's a puzzle as to what VAG was thinking on this cantilevered design.
(1) Option call AAA
(2) get one of those small hydraulic jacks NAPA sells for $150 and keep that in the trunk.

When the day comes and that jack decides to malfunction ( it will ) best hope you ( or any extremity ) are not under the car.
I had mine shift on a snow storm. Let's just say it wasn't a fun 2 hours waiting in the middle of nowhere for the platform tow..

You can get a way cheaper decent jack than $150 from Napa. Harbor freight has 2-ton hydraulic jacks on sale for $30 every once in a while, and sure they probably aren't the best quality, but for use once in a while they're more than adequate.

[XanRa]

I love the widow maker, it works great for changing tires. You just have to know how to properly set it up. Make sure that everything is perfectly in line and you shouldn't have a problem. Level ground is a plus but it's definitely doable on an angle if you set up the jack correctly. Also this is why you always throw your tire under the car once its off until you get your spare on.

I agree, I have never had a problem with it and I use it ALL the time

[moyenecorniche]

You can get a way cheaper decent jack than $150 from Napa. Harbor freight has 2-ton hydraulic jacks on sale for $30 every once in a while, and sure they probably aren't the best quality, but for use once in a while they're more than adequate.

This is the one with the led lights in the lift point. plus it is extremely low so for those with low cars, you can slip it under. It's well made stainless steel..

[moyenecorniche]

I agree, I have never had a problem with it and I use it ALL the time


Instead of a 4 point hydraulic jack ?? You have noticed that when we jack up our cars, its not just that corner that comes up but also the other wheel on the same side. Due to the rigidity of the Audi structure. The widow maker is not designed to be used ALL the time. Emergencies only and of those, it is still rather precarious.
Because of the design it is only a matter of time before it fails or at best shifts while under load...

[redcon1]

Always keep this in my Photobucket. [up]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v108/RedCon1/AudiJack.jpg

[kaz02a4]

I used the widowmaker once when I needed it in a pinch (didn't have a flat, but needed to get the front in the air). I must have spent an hour trying to fit it back into the spot in the trunk. Easily one of the most frustrating car moments I've spent with the B7.

I'm thinking of picking up this jack (http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Lift-F-767-Grey-Profile-Floor/dp/B00BG6IJA0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1434665081&sr=8-5&keywords=auto+jack). It should be more than adequate with what I need to do for the car, and it's only 50 washingtons. Not bad.

[billyhoyle]

I used the widowmaker once when I needed it in a pinch (didn't have a flat, but needed to get the front in the air). I must have spent an hour trying to fit it back into the spot in the trunk. Easily one of the most frustrating car moments I've spent with the B7.

I'm thinking of picking up this jack (http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Lift-F-767-Grey-Profile-Floor/dp/B00BG6IJA0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1434665081&sr=8-5&keywords=auto+jack). It should be more than adequate with what I need to do for the car, and it's only 50 washingtons. Not bad.

That looks like the Harbor Freight cheapo I was thinking of, but low profile. Good find!