Safety first when using jack stands
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,362
Likes: 2,282
From: Central Maryland
Originally Posted by hippy
Anytime I am under my cars I have a backup support system in place, which is normally the jack that lifted it high enough to put the car on the jackstand. I jack the car up, put the stand under the car, lower the car on the stand and then jack it back up until a little pressure is back on the floor jack.
Be well,
SJW
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
In my younger days of crawling under a car, I had 4 old wheel rims that I would place under each tire when jacked up. If I was working on a tire/wheel problem, then I would place the rim in another location, with a 1x6 board across it for flat support. That always gave me piece of mind. Can't count the times I've driven down the street and seen someone working on their car (underneath) at the curb, supported by a bumper jack or single, anemic, bottle jack. Gives me an uncontrollable shiver.
Be safe, don't be the reason for sadness.
Be safe, don't be the reason for sadness.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
Originally Posted by PierEagle
Can't count the times I've driven down the street and seen someone working on their car (underneath) at the curb, supported by a bumper jack or single, anemic, bottle jack.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 44,773
Likes: 1
From: 63.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
I'm glad you didn't get hurt, but...it sounds like you choose a very poor support point for the front end. The front can be supported by the frames that curve in toward the engine. They are much wider and flater than the curved area of the 'A' arm that you used. I'm not trying to flame you or anything like that just passing on information. Be carefull.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by 96_LT4_FE1
DAYUM! Is that the Lincoln Logs Deluxe edition??
j/k Pretty slick idea, though.
»keith
j/k Pretty slick idea, though.
»keith
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Where exactly did you have the front jackstands? Doesn't seem like the best of places. My brother had a scary experience working under his Chevelle with a leaky floor jack and no jackstands.
I try to make a habit of placing the tires underneath the frame rails.. If all else fails, they'll catch the car before it squishes me. I notice the car tries to shift toward the other side when you jack it up.
I try to make a habit of placing the tires underneath the frame rails.. If all else fails, they'll catch the car before it squishes me. I notice the car tries to shift toward the other side when you jack it up.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
If you are going to make a safety error make it in the positive direction. I use 6 ton jack stands and,when possible keep a 4 ton jack touching the car. You get one guess who had a car fall on them using less than adequate equipment?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
From: Downriver Mi.
Originally Posted by countylawdog
Can you show a photo of your supports for the ramps - I have started the same basic idea - haven't gotten to the ramp yet 
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
From: Downriver Mi.
Originally Posted by 86Pacecar
I refuse to trust jackstands to do work "under" a car. Couldn't afford a Qicklift so I decided to build these for those situations. The center sections can be removed for easy access anywhere under the car
the rest looks like it would hold,hope you don't have a termite problem
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 4
From: Severna Park MD
There was a story in the local crab wrapper last night. Some idiot decided to replace his brakes and killed himself. He had his truck up on a bumper jack and it let go and crushed him. Now when I do brake work the car might crush my legs, but how do you get your chest under the car while doing brakes? I am sitting outside the vehicle working in with my arms and sometimes my legs under the vehicle. Any time I have to slide under the car I make sure the thing is properly supported.
Rednecks wil do anything stupid. Some of the things I've heard about the locals make me
I hope we all think about what we're doing before we go under the car.
BTW, rednecks are not an official favored minority by the Dems so I can talk about them.
Rednecks wil do anything stupid. Some of the things I've heard about the locals make me
I hope we all think about what we're doing before we go under the car.
BTW, rednecks are not an official favored minority by the Dems so I can talk about them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 798
Likes: 116
From: OAKLEY CA
Jacking
When I was a kid, I saw my older brother narrowly escape a falling car he was working on. He had it suspended by a huge branch from a giant willow tree. It let out a loud crack before it came off, giving him just enough warning to roll out from under it. The branch was about 3 feet in diameter and fell next to the car. Ever since, when I get under a car I think about it. Made me real careful. I put everything I own Two floor jacks, four jack stands under the car every time its up. Be careful.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 802
Likes: 0
From: What do I know anyway? I'm just a 50 year old No0b
I actually witnessed my best friends father die when the car he was working on fell. It was a VW supported only by a chain-fall. The chain broke and the car fell right on his head. I was 16 (1972) and I'll never forget that lesson!! It was not a pretty sight..Always use caution when working under cars. 
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Perfusion,
This is the best article (with photos of were to place the stands) that I have come across
http://zr1netregistry.com/jackupzr1/sld001.htm
Rich
This is the best article (with photos of were to place the stands) that I have come across
http://zr1netregistry.com/jackupzr1/sld001.htm
Rich
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Originally Posted by rws.1
Perfusion,
This is the best article (with photos of were to place the stands) that I have come across
http://zr1netregistry.com/jackupzr1/sld001.htm
Rich
This is the best article (with photos of were to place the stands) that I have come across
http://zr1netregistry.com/jackupzr1/sld001.htm
Rich
