When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm getting ready to pull my wheels to do a proper cleaning of the barrels and need some info. I see on the web a lot of posts about jacking up the entire back, or front. I just want to do one wheel at a time. I have a low profile floor jack and pucks installed, but I don't have any jack stands. Is a jack stand necessary when jacking up just one wheel?
I'm getting ready to pull my wheels to do a proper cleaning of the barrels and need some info. I see on the web a lot of posts about jacking up the entire back, or front. I just want to do one wheel at a time. I have a low profile floor jack and pucks installed, but I don't have any jack stands. Is a jack stand necessary when jacking up just one wheel?
For safety you should use jack stands, with the right tools you probably will not use them. If you have a lightweight jack and puck in place you can lift the one side completely off the ground from the front jacking point. If you have an impact gun and have done it hundreds of time you can have the nuts off, wheel off and new wheel on and tighten them to about 80 lbs in three minutes. If the jack were to let go the C5 is very rigid and will still hold up on three wheels. Since you are not under the car at any time you will be safe. However you first few times it will take longer and if you have battery operated impact--my 20 yr old HF--you can tighten them to the max and it will be almost 80 ft-lbs. Let the jack down so the tire will not rotate but not completely down and then torque the lugs the rest of the way. Jack up again and do the rear tires. If you go to an autocross meet or HPDE you will see this done numerous times throughout the day.
Obviously any time the tires are off the ground it is safer to use jack stands. They are pretty inexpensive for the peace of mind. Plus, once you start taking off wheels, you will most likely advance to other components under the car. Get the jack stands.
Obviously any time the tires are off the ground it is safer to use jack stands. They are pretty inexpensive for the peace of mind. Plus, once you start taking off wheels, you will most likely advance to other components under the car. Get the jack stands.
I agree. A jack should be viewed as a lifting device not a holding device. As stated, you will pull the wheel and clean it. Then job creep steps in and you're brushing brake dust off the caliper. Then, then, then.... All the while you're now potentially under the car that isn't supported by jack stands.
It takes a couple of minutes to get the jack stands out and in place. It takes a second to change your life forever by skipping a step.
If you don't have jack stands at least put something under the car that will support the weight if the jack comes down. Could be a stack of 2x6 boards, a wheel from another vehicle, a log, etc.
The right tool for the right job. Ok back in the day when money was tight I would use a cinder block as last resort. Keep in mind besides the damage to your vettte
if your jack fails you could get pinned under the car or the very least lose a finger.
Good luck.
This works well when you need to pull a wheel: “use the official lifting location and place a jack stand at the control arm attachment as a safety stop. Lower the jack so the control arm attachment just touches the stand but leave the majority of weight on the jack.” I never trust a jack, but it’s never failed either.
I just did the engine/trans oil and filters and backed the car up on ramps for when I don’t need to pull a wheel. I still put jack stands loosely under the control arm pivots as an added safety measure when I’m lying under the car. I don’t care what the ramps are “rated for”, hard for me to trust my life to plastic ramps.😉 100% sure the car will support itself at the control arms (if needed) as I do this on other cars.
It only takes one time of a car shifting on the jack, even if you are not underneath, to convince pretty much anyone to use a stand (or cinder block) every time.
If you don't have jack stands at least put something under the car that will support the weight if the jack comes down. Could be a stack of 2x6 boards, a wheel from another vehicle, a log, etc.
.
Exactly,,,, use something substantial, for just in case.
Even though I've never had any jack fail on me in 50yrs of playing with vehicles, its good to be prepared. You'll want to enjoy the car later, not repair more stuff on the car or on yourself, ,
This is an old post, but the recent replies got my interest. First time ever for having to jack the car up. I resolved the jack/jack stand "challenge" by placing appropriate 4X4 and 2X4 under the floor jack lifting points. The hydraulic jack would naturally bleed down after a while (as compared to a scissors jack) . Next time around I will cut 4X4 to desired height instead of using two blocks. BTW, the rigidity of the frame was very impressive when lifted in just one corner!
Jacking a C5
Safety First
