Getting a car up on high axle stands - safely!

[jazzdude]

I have a set of 4 tonne axle stands which at the lowest setting are about 55cm high and can go up to about 75cm. These would be great for working under the car without it being an inch away from my nose.

My trolley jack can get the car high enough to get these stands under the car on their lowest setting but the jack arm was practically vertical. The garage floor is smooth so the jack moves inwards as it lifts.

Getting my Mini up on these though today was nerve racking as when I jacked one side up to put two axle stands under it was literally standing on the sides of the tyres. When I jacked the other side up and it was level again it was rock solid but noneless, getting it down, although without incident, still looked extreme.

What do you do to get the car up on stands as high as these, safely?

[jazzdude]

WinstonWolf said:

Side to side Front to back man, front to back...

It did look very wrong I must admit

So I should get a pair of low stands to start, get say the back on those, then move to the front, jack up and put the high ones on the lowest setting, then move back and put that on the high ones on lowest setting.... then what? My jack does not go higher.

[jazzdude]

What about a block of wood on top of the jack to get the car up a couple of notches on the axle stands?

[jazzdude]

B'stard Child said:

That's what I do - Wheel ramps one end and axles stands at full lift in the other end

Axle stands at all four corners is not that stable

That would mean one end is too low to work under wouldn't it?

[jazzdude]

My axle stands go quite high, its jacking the car up higher that then jack arm which is nerve racking.

I sounds safer to leave the jack on the ground where it can roll and placed larger and larger blocks of wood on top rather than putting the jack on blocks, is that right?

[jazzdude]

lostkiwi said:

Yes thats the way to do it if you need extra height.

From a safety perspective here are the simple things I bear in mind.
1. Never get under a car supported only by a jack.
2. Always use axle stands in pairs.
3. When jacking to put axle stands under always jack the end of the vehicle, never the sides.
4. A vehicle on 4 axle stands is not safe. It can still fall off the stands. Use ramps at one end and stands at the other if the whole vehicle needs lifting.
5. Always put something under the car so if a stand does fail it takes the impact before you do. If removing wheels put them under the car to give additional protection if the vehicle falls.
6. Always jack on hard, level surfaces. If necessary use a large 1" thick board under the jack if the surface is too soft.
7. Before getting under the vehicle give it a little shake to prove its stable.
8. Don't let anyone inside the vehicle whilst its supported and you're underneath. If you must have someone inside let them get in before you go under. Get out before they get out.

Thats great thank you.

I am doing a chassis and wishbone refurb on my Chimaera so the wheels and suspension will all be off. While it is up on stands (about 60cm up) what else would you put under the car?

[jazzdude]

My axle stands are quite big and have a large footprint but I take the point re back up and will provide some additional timber block supports in there.