Getting under car
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
With jacks you relax the suspension, this enables you to move the front wheels to service and clean as required. I can raise the car easily and just as quick as with ramps. I have used ramps in the past and jacking is better.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
ramps are nice but you will spend more money for the good ones than you will for a pair of jacks & jack stands. If you get cheap ramps you have to modify them somehow so they won't scoot out from under the front wheels. There is no absolutely 100% safe way to get under a car so it depends on how many backups you use. I use my jacks to raise it as stated then place jackstands at a secure point, then leave the jacks in place if you can. If you will be working where the jack is in the way then move it so it is clear but raise it up again. Sound like overkill? NOT! I've almost gotten caught under a car twice now, once when I was young & foolish and again when there should have been no problems. Don't take shortcuts when raising & securing your car. Last but not least, do not buy cheap jackstands.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
thanks for all the replies,, I want to get under my 96 to see where the drain tube for the ac is.. It is cooling fine, but I am not seeing much water draining out of it.. i would like to try and clean it out...
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
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Advanced
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: San Ramon CA
I jack the car up and use something for gyms called elephant stools from newyorkbarbells.com you could park the whole car on just one they are so strong.
I put one or two under the tires and one under the car for backup.
http://newyorkbarbells.com/8075.html
I put one or two under the tires and one under the car for backup.
http://newyorkbarbells.com/8075.html
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I borrowed some jack stands from my brother in law. One of the welds on a brace broke and the legs of the jack stand did "the splits". Fortunately the legs dug into my asphalt driveway and saved my car from damage.
My current jack stands look like the one in the upper right corner of this picture (12" of 8x8 redwood -- this is actually a picture of my 700r4 boost valve spring compressor):
:
My current jack stands look like the one in the upper right corner of this picture (12" of 8x8 redwood -- this is actually a picture of my 700r4 boost valve spring compressor):
:
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,459
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From: Fredonia WI
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I will echo the comment about getting good jack stands - don't skimp on these!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 917
Likes: 25
From: College Station Tx
I never feel safe under a car, so I usually use jack stands and back them up with the floor jack (and sometimes even the vehicle jack) if I'm doing suspension work. If not, I use ramps backed up with jack stands and the floor jack. A little overkill, but I've read too many stories of people crushed under cars.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: San Ramon CA
My mothers best friend lost her husband to a faulty jack stand that caused his motor home to crush him. Ever since that happened I have always put an old steel rim or now the Elephant stools under the car in addition to jack stands and the floor jack. Better to be safe than dead.....