"JACK STAND SAFETY" — UPDATE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-
Kwiklift.. www.kwiklift.com
I have had it for a month.. I really like it
I have had it for a month.. I really like it
Very nice set-up!!! Thats what Im takin about
Donne Trav,
I do that as cheap insurance, It has always made the car feel alot more stable. Some years ago (here is were the O/C behavior kicks in) it had once occured to me that the jack stands were only welded and what if.....well thats how it starts, plus my old hotrods were all B.B.s and I would also give a light push to the car before getting under it, w/floor jack to help it felt safer.. Mick
Currently I have 1- three ton, 1- two and a half ton floor jacks, 4 four ton stands and a couple 3 ton stands
Last edited by mseven; Jul 2, 2005 at 09:58 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 310
Likes: 48
From: Lafayette IN
Originally Posted by -=Jeff=-
I've had some experience with these types of lifts, but always for heavy vehicles which have frames quite a bit narrower than the tire track.
Dave
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Originally Posted by DaveN355
Since the jack points (or at least the spots to place jack stands) are along the outside near the wheel wells, how do you use this lift to change the tires?
I've had some experience with these types of lifts, but always for heavy vehicles which have frames quite a bit narrower than the tire track.
Dave
I've had some experience with these types of lifts, but always for heavy vehicles which have frames quite a bit narrower than the tire track.
Dave
But I have the center lift bridge option and I need to get a Bottle jack to try it out
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
In St L paper Sun, 7/3. "A man was killed when a car he was working on fell on him, Saturday in St. Ann. A jack holding up the car slipped, causing the car to fall about noon...... The car crushed the man's head and chest. He died at DePaul Health Center...."
St Ann is a burb of St L. Paper didn't say but I can just imagine he was relying on the "ever faithful" bumper jack.
St Ann is a burb of St L. Paper didn't say but I can just imagine he was relying on the "ever faithful" bumper jack.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
not in a million years.
justardneck told me once that he had a car slowly settle on him... the ground underneith could not support the weight of the jack stands... so he was stuck for like 8 hours waiting for someone to jack up the car. That is scary to me... shiver.
justardneck told me once that he had a car slowly settle on him... the ground underneith could not support the weight of the jack stands... so he was stuck for like 8 hours waiting for someone to jack up the car. That is scary to me... shiver.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 3
From: Huntsville AL
Leaving the jack extended under one side, or the front of the car is a requirement whenever I'm underneath the car. Most of the time I'll put an extra jackstand or two at some other point on the car (front cross member, rear diff, suspension) so that if everything else failed, the car would stay up in the air long enough for me to scramble out from under it.
I cannot say this with any more seriousness: If your Corvette comes off the stands and you are under it, IT WILL KILL YOU. So you can never have too many backups.
I cannot say this with any more seriousness: If your Corvette comes off the stands and you are under it, IT WILL KILL YOU. So you can never have too many backups.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 520
From: Texas
I know... 
Brother-in-law was fixing a clip on his brakes (non-Corvette). All he was using was a bottle jack. Went out to see if he needed help. About two minutes later, the car started to tilt and boom. He bearly missed having the rotor smash his legs.
I had my old 81 Vette's front end on jackstands (2.5 ton from Sears) for about a month and a half. Didnt adjust it a single time. Pretty much tore the entire front suspension and cooling system out at one time (could stand in front of the engine). It really has eveything to do with a) good equipment and b) putting the equipment in the right place.
IMO, the kwiklift is looking better and better. My house is too short for a real lift; so compromise is in order. 20" is better than what I get with the jackstands!
Brother-in-law was fixing a clip on his brakes (non-Corvette). All he was using was a bottle jack. Went out to see if he needed help. About two minutes later, the car started to tilt and boom. He bearly missed having the rotor smash his legs.
I had my old 81 Vette's front end on jackstands (2.5 ton from Sears) for about a month and a half. Didnt adjust it a single time. Pretty much tore the entire front suspension and cooling system out at one time (could stand in front of the engine). It really has eveything to do with a) good equipment and b) putting the equipment in the right place.
IMO, the kwiklift is looking better and better. My house is too short for a real lift; so compromise is in order. 20" is better than what I get with the jackstands!
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: oklahoma city ok
This is a Corvette story, but is very pertinent. This past weekend, every car in my mother-in-law's retirement village had their tires slashed. So, I used 4 jack stands [3 ton] and 2 3-ton jacks. It was almost 100 here in OKC, so the stands were literally melting down into the asphalt. The parking lot was not the best for jacking up a car either - slightly sloping and uneven. I even had my wife there as my spotter, cell phone at the ready. While working, I was slow and methodical. Now, the reason I said it wasn't a Corvette is because it was a GM front-wheel drive unibody, and jacking point choices weren't too great. The front end was okay, but all I had on the rear end of the car was the suspension. Sure as shooting, one of the jacks on the rear started to slide. Luckily, I had another jack under the rear end, and two jack stands in place underneath too. Stopped the whole thing. Still, that was unnerving to say the least. I must have jumped three feet.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 1
From: Kelowna BC
Yes, higher is better, but you still have to watch for overall clearance. Last winter, I put the Vette on jackstands and put the jack under the frontend for added safety. It was like that for a couple of months. I had enough clearance between the hood and the ceiling...untill I opened the overhead door 
Fred
Fred
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 861
Likes: 1
From: Hyde Park NY
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by Redeasysport
This is common practice. Nothing is 100% bulletproof and leaving the jack up near you gives you better odds of nothing going wrong.It is possible if your are wrenching hard enough to wiggle jackstands especially if the are not on a smooth hard(Read concrete) surface.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I hate working under cars; my first ride was a 67 RS Camaro, slammed. I had just pulled the Muncie, slid it out of the way and was starting on the clutch; the jack (I was too young and dumb to use stands) started to lose pressure and collapsed. That car came down fast! Pinned me under the trans tunnel. Could barely breathe, couldnt' move. Took about 30 min. or so til someone came along (couldn't yell for help). Still leery of crawling under them to this day. I got lucky!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
I hate working under cars; my first ride was a 67 RS Camaro, slammed. I had just pulled the Muncie, slid it out of the way and was starting on the clutch; the jack (I was too young and dumb to use stands) started to lose pressure and collapsed. That car came down fast! Pinned me under the trans tunnel. Could barely breathe, couldnt' move. Took about 30 min. or so til someone came along (couldn't yell for help). Still leery of crawling under them to this day. I got lucky!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Lake Lure NC
12 ton Norco Jack stands
I use 12 ton Norco jack stands. May be overkill, however I am extremly comfortable under the car. I have redone all the suspension, pulled the tranny and engine using these stands and never felt uncomfortable. Here are some pictures:
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Mountain View CA
Originally Posted by jerkyboy
Thanks...I have actually slept out there 
The little bar fridge is handy for refreshing beverages. I think the Kwik lift =Jeff= has is the best. One day when I reconfigure my garage for more depth, I'm getting one! I am petrified that the car will come down on me. Hence the 6 ton stands. I also keep the jack extended at some point near where I am working just for that extra bit of protection. Some use a tire and wheel. I've got a 54" chest, I need every BIT of height I can get to do anything under the car!
The little bar fridge is handy for refreshing beverages. I think the Kwik lift =Jeff= has is the best. One day when I reconfigure my garage for more depth, I'm getting one! I am petrified that the car will come down on me. Hence the 6 ton stands. I also keep the jack extended at some point near where I am working just for that extra bit of protection. Some use a tire and wheel. I've got a 54" chest, I need every BIT of height I can get to do anything under the car!You have a 54" Chest??? You should be able to hold the car up yourself even without the jack stands....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 243
From: Northern VA
Originally Posted by MARDAG
Nice garage...
You have a 54" Chest??? You should be able to hold the car up yourself even without the jack stands....
You have a 54" Chest??? You should be able to hold the car up yourself even without the jack stands....
I would but I usually need two hands to the pry bar that I seem to need to use on every stinkin' bolt under the car!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Bogus' jack is a good one. It reached all the way under my front end to the crossmember.... and mine's lowered and I have the bigmouth air dam in place.
Took about 30 seconds to have the car up in the air. Takes me much longer than that doing one side at a time.
Took about 30 seconds to have the car up in the air. Takes me much longer than that doing one side at a time.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,962
Likes: 708
From: WI
I just got a new jack and it works great! I got the 69 dollar SUV RV Craftsmen jack from Sears. It's a three ton. With a chunk of 2x4 on it, it clears under the car! My car is stock height. The jack arm is not super long so it doesn't hit the wall of my shop. I'm very happy with it. I've seen it with two jack stands for the same price, check the website.
My car is stock height. The jack arm is not super long so it doesn't hit the wall of my shop. I'm very happy with it. I've seen it with two jack stands for the same price, check the website.