Oops - another jack failure
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 28
From: Escondido CA
Wow I can’t beli what a lively discussion I have started. Certainly some strong opinions and advice here. I think some of y’all are more upset than me!
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
Wow I can’t beli what a lively discussion I have started. Certainly some strong opinions and advice here. I think some of y’all are more upset than me!
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
I am curious as to why USAA initially told you it wouldn't be covered?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,169
Likes: 861
From: Naples FL
A four post lift with travel jacks is my dream.
For now i love my quick jacks. I bought them because this very same thing happened to me on a Nissan 370Z. I was jacking with a Delrin puck for the pinch rail. The puck flexed and then slipped off the rail. Bye bye rear fender and rocker.
I feel for ya. Those are the moments you close your eyes and wish you could go back in time 20 seconds. Do yourself a favor and buy Quickjacks. They're cheaper than that repair.
For now i love my quick jacks. I bought them because this very same thing happened to me on a Nissan 370Z. I was jacking with a Delrin puck for the pinch rail. The puck flexed and then slipped off the rail. Bye bye rear fender and rocker.
I feel for ya. Those are the moments you close your eyes and wish you could go back in time 20 seconds. Do yourself a favor and buy Quickjacks. They're cheaper than that repair.
Last edited by spearfish25; Feb 12, 2018 at 10:28 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,319
Likes: 436
Wow I can’t beli what a lively discussion I have started. Certainly some strong opinions and advice here. I think some of y’all are more upset than me!
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Wow . . . that's a very surprising outcome Pappa, and good on you for actually being honest. I learned something here today and admit to being one of the doubters that it would covered. I'm happy for you.
Last edited by Foosh; Feb 13, 2018 at 12:07 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 546
From: Chicago Burb
Wow I can’t beli what a lively discussion I have started. Certainly some strong opinions and advice here. I think some of y’all are more upset than me!
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,887
From: Toronto
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Those rockers as part of the whole surround are epoxied onto the frame. It is NOT easy to remove and then comes all the cleaning up so the next set will be properly installed and expoxied. I just sincerely hope this shop knows what it is doing and has actually replaced rocker/etc. on more than a few Corvettes. If not, it's going to be all-new for them and something they will definitely curse for a long time. Kinda like the tire mounting guys who take not minutes or an hour but hours to remove and replace runflats on Corvettes.
Good luck, Pappa. As others have said (and most on here have shown real empathy with your issue because truly, we all have been there, one way or another---I just had the "safer" scissors jack start to slip out on another car less than six months ago---forgot to use chocks!), you have done a very good Public Service to CF members who read your thread.
Good luck, Pappa. As others have said (and most on here have shown real empathy with your issue because truly, we all have been there, one way or another---I just had the "safer" scissors jack start to slip out on another car less than six months ago---forgot to use chocks!), you have done a very good Public Service to CF members who read your thread.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10,247
Likes: 888
From: Hickory NC
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '17 thru '26
Good point, so that others may learn:
I cheaped out on not getting the jack pucks, I used some wood blocks that I used before when removing all 4 wheels to plasti-dip them. I must not have had the jack and wood blocks far enough underneath the frame and fully on the jack point. There is a bit of a curve towards the edge of the frame and I think that got the best of me. I made my own ramps before but they are too steep for the corvette, so for next time I am going to rebuild them so I don't have to use the jack. I am also going to buy the jack pucks.
Its a hard lesson learned and really emphasizes the point to not skimp on safety gear. One mistake erased a lifetime of savings doing my own oil changes. I am curious if anyone has attempted to repair such extensive damage themselves with fiberglass repair kits. Either way I am going to have to do as much as the repairs myself as possible. I bought the car while still in the Navy and I took a big pay cut getting out, so I don't really have $6k laying around. I may have to bench the vette for a while to save up and only drive the bar car and bike to work.
Enough of the sob story, lets hear what ideas and recommendations you have.
I cheaped out on not getting the jack pucks, I used some wood blocks that I used before when removing all 4 wheels to plasti-dip them. I must not have had the jack and wood blocks far enough underneath the frame and fully on the jack point. There is a bit of a curve towards the edge of the frame and I think that got the best of me. I made my own ramps before but they are too steep for the corvette, so for next time I am going to rebuild them so I don't have to use the jack. I am also going to buy the jack pucks.
Its a hard lesson learned and really emphasizes the point to not skimp on safety gear. One mistake erased a lifetime of savings doing my own oil changes. I am curious if anyone has attempted to repair such extensive damage themselves with fiberglass repair kits. Either way I am going to have to do as much as the repairs myself as possible. I bought the car while still in the Navy and I took a big pay cut getting out, so I don't really have $6k laying around. I may have to bench the vette for a while to save up and only drive the bar car and bike to work.
Enough of the sob story, lets hear what ideas and recommendations you have.
Sorry about your accident but thankfully you were not already under the car working when it slipped!
Also, thank you for your service to our country.
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 10
Likes: 7
From: Ontario
Making a cheap Jacking puck.
Buy some hockey pucks and screw in a large eye screw that will locate in the frame and hold the hockey puck in correct location on the frame.
Makes a great jacking pucking puck. Hard enough to jack the car without deforming and soft enought not to make any sctaches.
Buy some hockey pucks and screw in a large eye screw that will locate in the frame and hold the hockey puck in correct location on the frame.
Makes a great jacking pucking puck. Hard enough to jack the car without deforming and soft enought not to make any sctaches.
Melting Slicks<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/3k-4k.gif" border="0">
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,055
Likes: 276
From: Enterprise AL
The USAA certified shops do, from my experience, great work. I collected a small deer or large dog (it was DARK of night) with my C6 ZR1 and they did a first class job on replacing and painting the front bumper cover (black no less). They were initially reluctant to replace the cover since it only had a light scuff and they mentioned exclusiveness of the car while trying to retain original parts. Turns out when they removed it, one of the mount holes was torn through so they called me and said they were replacing it. Turned out good as new.
So I wouldn't be too concerned about the USAA designated shop.
So I wouldn't be too concerned about the USAA designated shop.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
!
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
Anyways here my update: I filed a claim online where I didn’t have to talk to anyone. I filed it under “other” for what cause the damage and put in that it fell on a jack. Simple 5 minute process and I even got to pick a body shop that USAA endorsed AND a user here personally recommended near my house.
A few few hours later the body shop called to say they got the work order from my insurance company and asked that I bring it it. They said it should be pretty straightforward replacement job and I should have it back in 10-15 days. All in, it’s the best to come out of the situation I could hope for.
Very Very good to hear !!!
What a RELIEF!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 545
From: Land of the free, home of the brave...
Don't use plastic jacking pucks!!!
Here's what happened to one of the plastic jacking pucks installed on my C7. Almost caused the same damage to my rocker panel, fender, etc. as the OP......
Last edited by Crossed Flags Fan; Feb 13, 2018 at 08:59 PM.
