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I know there has been a lot of discussion on the inability of easily using jack stands on the C8 without removing under panels. There are the options of using products like RennStands or Jackpoint jack stands which will work in conjunction with the floor jacks. I just discovered a product which seems like a fantastic solution made by AGM Products called Jack Rods. It turns most floor jacks into a jack stand and seem pretty safe. They cost under $100 a piece. So I purchased an additional floor jack and (2) Jack Rods for less money than what Rennstands or Jackpoint jack stands would have cost. Now I can lift both sides of the car safely and have them resting on the Jack Rods instead of the jack itself. Has anybody else used these and what are your thoughts of them? I am looking forward to trying them out and getting rid of the dust making Z51 pads.
Looks good but wondering about front bar on jack... will it support the car weight, is that a structural bar or just for wheels on jack?
Good questions. I didn't like the way he slammed the jack down. And, is the bar holding all the weight or is there still hydronic pressure? I'll stick with my quick lift.
Well, you definitely lose the use of your jack, so I don't think this is a good comparison to something like a Rennstand (where you re-gain the use of your jack after the stand is set up).
When a jack is supporting weight, that weight is concentrated in the area surrounding where the axles pass through the jack frame... this redistributes a lot of that weight to the center of the front axle, which was not designed with that force in mind. Will it bend/break? Probably the former long before the latter, but that also depends upon jack design (some have way wider front wheels, putting proportionately more bending stress on the longer axle) and jack quality. Should the axle snap (for whatever reason), that thing will slide right out of there like a bullet, and with no pressure on the ram (as they show in the video) the entire thing is coming down.
The engineer in me sure as hell wouldn't trust it as a safety mechanism with my body under the car, but I could see it as a useful "Don't let my car collapse to the ground if the jack fails while changing my tire" device (which has happened, but the rim I had placed under the rotor saved the car). I wouldn't let out all pressure on the ram and assume the device will handle all of the pressure, either, but that's just me.
Good questions. I didn't like the way he slammed the jack down. And, is the bar holding all the weight or is there still hydronic pressure? I'll stick with my quick lift.
He slammed because he was making a video- need short or folks stop watching! All weight looks like it is on the device (just checked, $99 on Amazon.) Cleaver device!
What is the difference if the jack has some tension? If the jack creeps down all load on the device.
Heck I often use two jacks with jack stands and maintain a small amount of pressure in the jacks as a precaution.
Forum Member Big Lebowski responding to my How To change C8 brake pads used approach noted below with a small base jack stand. I think this approach is also useful.
Note, I often used two jacks with jack stands keeping a small amount of tension on jacks o=for extra safety.
Big Lebowsi used this approach when changing Brake Pads on his C8. Works. If I used I would use two jacks keeping slight tension of both jacks.
I have a small Jack Stand ($10) with a small footprint that would work as above. Just put as close to the jack pad with jack. No need to use the round hole if you can place closer. I have plastic pads for my Jack Stands that protect frames etc.
Well, you definitely lose the use of your jack, so I don't think this is a good comparison to something like a Rennstand (where you re-gain the use of your jack after the stand is set up).
When a jack is supporting weight, that weight is concentrated in the area surrounding where the axles pass through the jack frame... this redistributes a lot of that weight to the center of the front axle, which was not designed with that force in mind. Will it bend/break? Probably the former long before the latter, but that also depends upon jack design (some have way wider front wheels, putting proportionately more bending stress on the longer axle) and jack quality. Should the axle snap (for whatever reason), that thing will slide right out of there like a bullet, and with no pressure on the ram (as they show in the video) the entire thing is coming down.
The engineer in me sure as hell wouldn't trust it as a safety mechanism with my body under the car, but I could see it as a useful "Don't let my car collapse to the ground if the jack fails while changing my tire" device (which has happened, but the rim I had placed under the rotor saved the car). I wouldn't let out all pressure on the ram and assume the device will handle all of the pressure, either, but that's just me.
The engineer in me sure as hell wouldn't trust it as a safety mechanism with my body under the car, but I could see it as a useful "Don't let my car collapse to the ground if the jack fails while changing my tire" device (which has happened, but the rim I had placed under the rotor saved the car). I wouldn't let out all pressure on the ram and assume the device will handle all of the pressure, either, but that's just me.
Hmm, as an engineer, I consider what is different than the pawl supporting my jack stands possible failing?
One thing I will not do, warned on a safety label on pair of my jack stands, ONLY use on one end of car. I follow what my Dad taught me when I was ~10. After putting a car of jack stands hit car hard with your shoulder! He'd say, "If it's going to fall will be without you underneath!" We often had wheels on one end on stanchions.
I use stanchions under wheels on one end!
I have 12-inch-high stanchions but took a twostep jacking process. Was worth the effort when I spent several months under my street rod when building. Still have but not worth the extra jacking effort for what's needed for my Vettes. The wood ones I made for my 2014 C7 work fine for the C8 and my new E-Ray.
Looks good but wondering about front bar on jack... will it support the car weight, is that a structural bar or just for wheels on jack?
[QUOTE=Dan Hintz;1607679259]Well, you definitely lose the use of your jack, so I don't think this is a good comparison to something like a Rennstand (where you re-gain the use of your jack after the stand is set up).
When a jack is supporting weight, that weight is concentrated in the area surrounding where the axles pass through the jack frame...this redistributes a lot of that weight to the center of the front axle, which was not designed with that force in mind. Will it bend/break?Probably the former long before the latter, but that also depends upon jack design (some have way wider front wheels, putting proportionately more bending stress on the longer axle) and jack quality. Should the axle snap (for whatever reason), that thing will slide right out of there like a bullet, and with no pressure on the ram (as they show in the video) the entire thing is coming down.
Go to 50 seconds into this video and this will answer your question.
One thing I will not do, warned on a safety label on pair of my jack stands, ONLY use on one end of car. I follow what my Dad taught me when I was ~10. After putting a car of jack stands hit car hard with your shoulder! He'd say, "If it's going to fall will be without you underneath!" We often had wheels on one end on stanchions.
I use stanchions under wheels on one end!
The intent of only using them on one end of the car is so they don't end up as a tilt/topple point... but you've effectively defeated that by jacking up the other end of the car. You may as well put two more stands at the other end of the car and be done with it.
I can see the use case for these to make the jack safer when changing a tire or brakes or something when you don't need to physically get underneath the car. However, I still wouldn't get underneath a car with just this. The floor jack still has wheels on it and could potentially move on you. I'm not risking my life unless I know for sure it's a solid base.
He slammed because he was making a video- need short or folks stop watching! All weight looks like it is on the device (just checked, $99 on Amazon.) Cleaver device!
What is the difference if the jack has some tension? If the jack creeps down all load on the device.
Heck I often use two jacks with jack stands and maintain a small amount of pressure in the jacks as a precaution.
Forum Member Big Lebowski responding to my How To change C8 brake pads used approach noted below with a small base jack stand. I think this approach is also useful.
Note, I often used two jacks with jack stands keeping a small amount of tension on jacks o=for extra safety.
Big Lebowsi used this approach when changing Brake Pads on his C8. Works. If I used I would use two jacks keeping slight tension of both jacks.
I have a small Jack Stand ($10) with a small footprint that would work as above. Just put as close to the jack pad with jack. No need to use the round hole if you can place closer. I have plastic pads for my Jack Stands that protect frames etc.
Be very careful with the jacket stand on the left. I have these and if you are standing all 4 wheels these can tip when lifting other wheels. You must watch them and recheck as lifting next wheel. I moved to a Quickjack and now rarely jack stand all 4 wheels.
I think those are actually pretty clever. I'd feel safe using them.
But, as I said on other posts, you can use the transport locations to lift the car and then put jack stands at the official lifting location.
That's what I do... I trimmed the tabs on an extra set of poly pucks and use two jacks to lift at the inner slots then put flat top ESCO short stands at the main jack points.
I would never use a traditional saddle stand top on these cars.
Be very careful with the jacket stand on the left. I have these and if you are standing all 4 wheels these can tip when lifting other wheels. You must watch them and recheck as lifting next wheel. I moved to a Quickjack and now rarely jack stand all 4 wheels.
I can't read the warning label but I bet is says to only support one end of the car at a time when using the jack stands.
Jack Stands
