Paging car mechanics

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Martin amazed us all with this pearl of wisdom:

Would trying to push the back end sideways work, like on old Cortinas?

I don't have anything more substantial than the jack that came with it.

 

Dunno, never had a cortina, my dad did and it was shit.

If the wheel is on the ground then the tyres will take up some of the
slack and won't be "accurate" FWOABW.

Another option is to stand beside the car and have a friend drive
forward a bit and brake hard and then reverse and brake hard, this
should show up any major faults (the wheels move in a bad way) however
it isn't very scientific.

Bricks and some wood?

A couple of old wheels?

Anything solid enough to keep the wheel off the ground and allow you to
give it a vigorous shake will do, IYSWIM. The jack will just fall over.

You're looking for any movement between components that shouldn't be there.

--
Martin:
"For a minute there, you bored me to death."
VTR1000 Firestorm
TDR250 http://ukrm.net/BIKES/Yamaha/tdr250.html
martin dot smith nine zero three at ntlworld dot com

 

No, but I do.