Safety first when using jack stands
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
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From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Safety first when using jack stands
I saw a pic here recently where someone had their C4 up on jack stands with Rhino ramps under the wheels as back up.
I recently sold my tires and wheels to a Forum member and had the right rear supported with a good AC Delco jack stand while I took that wheel to the UPS store to get a shipping quote.
Last night I proceeded to remove the right front and remove its wheel and put a jack stand under one of the A arm bushings. I then jacked the entire left side up by placing the jack under the driver's door just aft of the mirror. Took the tires off, put jack stands on that side to match the right side and eased the jack down. OMG! The left side and right rear jack stands held perfectly but the right front slipped off and went up into the engine bay (no harm done though). The car looked like a horse with a broken right foreleg!
I jacked the right front up again and got the jack stand in a better spot then went around and shook the car real good to make sure it was on the stands to stay.
Still, I would really be reluctant to get under there without some backup support.
My AFS black chromies won't come until early January so there she sits.
I was sweating bullets even though it was 24 degrees in the garage!
I recently sold my tires and wheels to a Forum member and had the right rear supported with a good AC Delco jack stand while I took that wheel to the UPS store to get a shipping quote.
Last night I proceeded to remove the right front and remove its wheel and put a jack stand under one of the A arm bushings. I then jacked the entire left side up by placing the jack under the driver's door just aft of the mirror. Took the tires off, put jack stands on that side to match the right side and eased the jack down. OMG! The left side and right rear jack stands held perfectly but the right front slipped off and went up into the engine bay (no harm done though). The car looked like a horse with a broken right foreleg!
I jacked the right front up again and got the jack stand in a better spot then went around and shook the car real good to make sure it was on the stands to stay.
Still, I would really be reluctant to get under there without some backup support.
My AFS black chromies won't come until early January so there she sits.
I was sweating bullets even though it was 24 degrees in the garage!
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 93
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From: Santa Clara CA
That's a freightening story. I'm glad you weren't under there! I've gotten in the habit of shaking the daylights out of a car that's on jackstands before I'll crawl under it. I've heard too many nasty stories. Glad nothing was damaged.
Chuck
Chuck
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: In a 1995 M6 Coupe, speeding through Connecticut
As a firefighter, I'm always very cautious of vehicle stability when we're performing extrication. We use 4x4 doug fir cribbing. Pressure treated wood is substantially weaker so its not recommended. With a proper cribbing setup, the vehicle can only drop until it hits the crib box which should be right up to the frame rails. It seems a bit like overkill for a garage, but I know that if that car falls on me, I'm not coming out of there without an LT1 imprint on my head.
Some more info and pics on rescue cribbing...
http://www.res-q-jack.com/infocribbing.htm
Some more info and pics on rescue cribbing...
http://www.res-q-jack.com/infocribbing.htm
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 6
From: NW MN
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
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Wow! For a short thread, this is one helluva thread! First, glad you weren't hurt, Ron. And with all due respect, I gotta think the two who posted re cribbing and that very substantial wood "lift", are not being excessive at all.
Even shaking a car, which I've done in the past, just doesn't substitute for something substantial.
I was just yanking on a water heater line with a pipe wrench, two of us in fact. Betw. the two of us we must've been putting some substantial force on the whole thing. I know I've done some of that under a car, too. I'm not saying I can move a 4000 lb (or 3,000 lb) car off of jackstands. But I sure as hell don't want to find out the hard way.
Thanks for posting this warning, and thanks to the others for their suggestions and solutions! Really.
Happy Holidays!
Even shaking a car, which I've done in the past, just doesn't substitute for something substantial.
I was just yanking on a water heater line with a pipe wrench, two of us in fact. Betw. the two of us we must've been putting some substantial force on the whole thing. I know I've done some of that under a car, too. I'm not saying I can move a 4000 lb (or 3,000 lb) car off of jackstands. But I sure as hell don't want to find out the hard way.
Thanks for posting this warning, and thanks to the others for their suggestions and solutions! Really.
Happy Holidays!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
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.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Originally Posted by 86Pacecar
Nice work!
Curious though, do those center pieces attach to the corner trusses at all? Same for the ramps? I think a removable pin(s) would be a good idea. I could see that shifting while riding up on it as a potential problem. Looks quite stout though.
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Glad you weren't hurt! I'm totlly paranoid of crawling under these cars. Had my lowered 67 Camaro come down on top of me years ago while replacing the clutch...Thank God I was laying where the tranny tunnel was(tranny was out). Car had me pinned so hard I could barely breathe. It was about 15 minutes before someone came along and realized I was stuck under there Talk about scared spitless, I was lucky that day!
Be careful, guys!
Talk about scared spitless, I was lucky that day!Be careful, guys!
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
This is why I never use anything but concrete blocks to hold my car up.....
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KIDDING!
That's real stupid, never do that. I've worked under everything from cars to HD trucks with proper stands for over 30 years with no problems. Use well made stands, suitable for the vehicle weight and always make sure they are well placed and sitting square on the floor when all jacking is done. Be careful, friends!
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KIDDING!
That's real stupid, never do that. I've worked under everything from cars to HD trucks with proper stands for over 30 years with no problems. Use well made stands, suitable for the vehicle weight and always make sure they are well placed and sitting square on the floor when all jacking is done. Be careful, friends!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 6
From: NW MN
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Nice work! Curious though, do those center pieces attach to the corner trusses at all? Same for the ramps? I think a removable pin(s) would be a good idea. I could see that shifting while riding up on it as a potential problem. Looks quite stout though.
Curious though, do those center pieces attach to the corner trusses at all? Same for the ramps? I think a removable pin(s) would be a good idea. I could see that shifting while riding up on it as a potential problem. Looks quite stout though. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
I use 21/2 ton stands keep a floor jack under it etc. That's about the best one can do w/out a 4 post. My beef is what you have to work with , I mean no real frame rail, those stupid folded over feeler gauge lookin flanges under the actual rail is an accident waiting to happen, if it folds you are screwed. I've been using the frame extensionwere connected to the frame rail (near the starter). Even that did you ever take the extension off? The bolts while alright is not like having it all welded together. But the rear just blows no matter how you cut it. Sorry RANT OFF
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
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From: Lake Mary Florida
Just forward of the jack point on the side look from underneath you can see where the frame curves out, right there is a channel you can place the jack stand at so the vehicle is resting on its frame.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
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
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
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,111
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From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
Originally Posted by Corvette Kid NC
This is why I never use anything but concrete blocks to hold my car up.....
we now have a 2 post lift and metal carts for the bodies. we also have a couple of jacks that are older than i am and a portapower that has serious leaks.i always wonder about the stands especially when a truck comes off one of the stands
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
I'd like to see an underbody shot with an arrow photoshopped in to direct where to properly place a jackstand. On my first (and only, to date) oil change, I used a set of ramps. Just this past weekend, I replaced all 4 of my shocks, and it was the first time I'd ever put the car up on stands. I jacked the car up at the recommended points under the rockerpanel, and then placed the stand as close to that point as I could. With the shock R&R, though, I was never under the car. For any work that would require me to be so, though, I don't know how comfortable I would be. Even with the car on ramps during my oil change, I still couldn't wait to get out from underneath - and I'm not even clostrophobic!
At any rate, a proper image from a forum resident jacking "expert" would be a great thing for us novice wrenches, IMO.
At any rate, a proper image from a forum resident jacking "expert" would be a great thing for us novice wrenches, IMO.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,111
Likes: 1
From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
i spent the better half of monday under the rear of my car with it on stands and felt perfectly safe using the rectangular pockets at the rear jacking points. i think i felt safer though because it's my job to work under trucks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
Glad you were not hurt and there was no damage.
Back during school, a classmate was working on the
rear suspension of a car perched on jackstands when
it went down on him.
It was a long time ago and I forget the details but I
believe the stands were under the housing and when
he pounded out one of the attachment bolts, down
she went. I got some of the weight off him and called
others who arrived quickly with a floorjack.
Lucky devil escaped with just a bad scare. It was a
large shop, though and we often worked off on our
own, so it could easily have gone the other way for
him. This incident still plays through my mind on
nights when I'm out in the garage after others have
turned in.
.
Back during school, a classmate was working on the
rear suspension of a car perched on jackstands when
it went down on him.
It was a long time ago and I forget the details but I
believe the stands were under the housing and when
he pounded out one of the attachment bolts, down
she went. I got some of the weight off him and called
others who arrived quickly with a floorjack.
Lucky devil escaped with just a bad scare. It was a
large shop, though and we often worked off on our
own, so it could easily have gone the other way for
him. This incident still plays through my mind on
nights when I'm out in the garage after others have
turned in.
.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
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.