Just read this up on another forum. Becareful guys.
05-03-2010, 07:44 PM
#22
All four on stands when working on the rear end. Safety first. I have had my car fall off jack stands before but I was young and stupid (working on it in a gravel driveway) and was lucky enough to learn my lesson. I still get goosebumps when going under a car though.
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05-03-2010, 08:04 PM
#24
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RIP. I use two jack stands and always keep my rolling jack up and around me. Can't be too careful when underneath a vehicle.
On that note, almost had a 240sx kill me at the shop I used to work at. It was on a 4 arm hoist, all the way to the top. Went underneath it to drain the transmission fluid & start disassembly(doing an sr20 swap), and then the rear quarter panel caved in. The car dropped a bit before it caught enough metal. The owner found the car in a field and yah, it was rusted to hell. Not cool.
On that note, almost had a 240sx kill me at the shop I used to work at. It was on a 4 arm hoist, all the way to the top. Went underneath it to drain the transmission fluid & start disassembly(doing an sr20 swap), and then the rear quarter panel caved in. The car dropped a bit before it caught enough metal. The owner found the car in a field and yah, it was rusted to hell. Not cool.
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05-03-2010, 08:54 PM
#25
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It's funny that you say that.
My one really stupid wrenching mistake was about 15 or 16 years ago. I was changing the transmission oil on my '71 Beetle, and for whatever reason, decided just to raise it up with an old scissors jack. So I'm down under the car wrenching on the transmission trying to get the damn drain plug out, and sure as ****, I rocked it right off the jack and the car fell on me.
Now, Beetles have a fair amount of ground clearance (and I was thinner then) so it didn't really injure me, however there was no question that I was stuck under the car and clearly not going anywhere. Fortunately, this took place out in the driveway, so eventually my shouting attracted one of the neighbors, who very kindly jacked the car back up so that I could get out from under it.
After that, I became really ---- about jackstands.
My one really stupid wrenching mistake was about 15 or 16 years ago. I was changing the transmission oil on my '71 Beetle, and for whatever reason, decided just to raise it up with an old scissors jack. So I'm down under the car wrenching on the transmission trying to get the damn drain plug out, and sure as ****, I rocked it right off the jack and the car fell on me.
Now, Beetles have a fair amount of ground clearance (and I was thinner then) so it didn't really injure me, however there was no question that I was stuck under the car and clearly not going anywhere. Fortunately, this took place out in the driveway, so eventually my shouting attracted one of the neighbors, who very kindly jacked the car back up so that I could get out from under it.
After that, I became really ---- about jackstands.
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05-03-2010, 08:59 PM
#26
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It's funny that you say that.
My one really stupid wrenching mistake was about 15 or 16 years ago. I was changing the transmission oil on my '71 Beetle, and for whatever reason, decided just to raise it up with an old scissors jack. So I'm down under the car wrenching on the transmission trying to get the damn drain plug out, and sure as ****, I rocked it right off the jack and the car fell on me.
Now, Beetles have a fair amount of ground clearance (and I was thinner then) so it didn't really injure me, however there was no question that I was stuck under the car and clearly not going anywhere. Fortunately, this took place out in the driveway, so eventually my shouting attracted one of the neighbors, who very kindly jacked the car back up so that I could get out from under it.
After that, I became really ---- about jackstands.
My one really stupid wrenching mistake was about 15 or 16 years ago. I was changing the transmission oil on my '71 Beetle, and for whatever reason, decided just to raise it up with an old scissors jack. So I'm down under the car wrenching on the transmission trying to get the damn drain plug out, and sure as ****, I rocked it right off the jack and the car fell on me.
Now, Beetles have a fair amount of ground clearance (and I was thinner then) so it didn't really injure me, however there was no question that I was stuck under the car and clearly not going anywhere. Fortunately, this took place out in the driveway, so eventually my shouting attracted one of the neighbors, who very kindly jacked the car back up so that I could get out from under it.
After that, I became really ---- about jackstands.
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05-03-2010, 10:14 PM
#29
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That is really sad. I always make sure to have 2-3 fail safes. No matter what I always use all 4 jack stands, either 2 on the pinch and 2 on the subframe if just working on front or rear, plus the jack where I can find room. Also always keep my cell within reach.
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05-03-2010, 11:34 PM
#32
I am not poking fun here at all, just making sure that I have been doing it right. I would only get under a vehicle once on all four jack stands. On RWD jack up the front first and then the back. I also use 6 ton jack stands for my little Miata for the wider base, makes it more stable. I use a floor jack with long handle so that I am not under while rasing the jack.
Be carefull people and learn from other peoples mistakes, as I try to tell me son... you won't live long enought to make them all yourself.
RIP
Be carefull people and learn from other peoples mistakes, as I try to tell me son... you won't live long enought to make them all yourself.
RIP
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05-03-2010, 11:41 PM
#33
In high school a friend of mine was working on his buddies mini truck. Remember those?
He had a floor jack holding it up, with jack stands under it, but not quite supporting the weight. The floor jack failed and the truck landed on the jack stands bouncing them out of the way. The truck fell on him flat. Broke all the bones in his face, collapsed a lung, and he was in coma for like a month. Totally screwed him up.
He had a floor jack holding it up, with jack stands under it, but not quite supporting the weight. The floor jack failed and the truck landed on the jack stands bouncing them out of the way. The truck fell on him flat. Broke all the bones in his face, collapsed a lung, and he was in coma for like a month. Totally screwed him up.
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05-04-2010, 12:36 AM
#36
http://www.kwiklift.com/
I've had mine for about 5 years now. Have yet to find a job I couldn't do on it. I do pull engines when the car is sitting on the ground because my engine hoist is too short but that is about it.
Just checked and it is $1539 shipped now instead of $1400 (not sure what I actually paid years ago including shipping).
Just so you know, the rear lifts up with a floor jack and then locks in place. We usually keep it in the "ramp" mode and park the MSM on it.
I've had mine for about 5 years now. Have yet to find a job I couldn't do on it. I do pull engines when the car is sitting on the ground because my engine hoist is too short but that is about it.
Just checked and it is $1539 shipped now instead of $1400 (not sure what I actually paid years ago including shipping).
Just so you know, the rear lifts up with a floor jack and then locks in place. We usually keep it in the "ramp" mode and park the MSM on it.
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05-04-2010, 01:39 AM
#37
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http://www.kwiklift.com/
I've had mine for about 5 years now. Have yet to find a job I couldn't do on it. I do pull engines when the car is sitting on the ground because my engine hoist is too short but that is about it.
Just checked and it is $1539 shipped now instead of $1400 (not sure what I actually paid years ago including shipping).
Just so you know, the rear lifts up with a floor jack and then locks in place. We usually keep it in the "ramp" mode and park the MSM on it.
I've had mine for about 5 years now. Have yet to find a job I couldn't do on it. I do pull engines when the car is sitting on the ground because my engine hoist is too short but that is about it.
Just checked and it is $1539 shipped now instead of $1400 (not sure what I actually paid years ago including shipping).
Just so you know, the rear lifts up with a floor jack and then locks in place. We usually keep it in the "ramp" mode and park the MSM on it.
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05-04-2010, 01:44 AM
#38
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I stopped using jack stands unless absolutely necessary after being bitten by a freakin black widow that was nesting in one of mine. If I'm doing something like an oil change where it's not going up far, I use my hydraulic jack and shove a block or something of the sort under the subframe and get to work. Otherwise I have plenty of places I can use lifts when necessary.
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05-04-2010, 02:07 AM
#39
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Seriously though, the thing about that is that everyone has a time or 20 when they just ducked under the car with nothing but a jack, knowing it was stupid. I just helped a freind change a flat (just getting home now), sure enough the stupid styrofoam tool holder thingy blew under the exact center of the car. I am continualy amazed at the wonderous physics that dictate that any object dropped, rolled, blown, or disturbed in any way while within 50 feet of both myself and any automobile will end up under the exact geometric center of the vehicle. It's uncanny.
My stupid *** did the following:
Tell freind:
"This is a huge no-no, never ever go under the car when its supported only by a jack."
And I then quickly got in there and pulled out the styrofoam.
The tires idea is a great one. They are free. disposable, easaly slide under hard points and can be moved around. Cinder blcoks are useless, hit one with a hammer some time, at like half force. It wont even slow down a 1 ton car. Wood blocks will be much better.
Grease pits FTW.
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