Axle stands on a sloped drive
Discussion
I need to get under the TVR and sort out some chassis rust , the plan is to put it up on axle stands while I do the work. The complication is that my drive has a gentle slope with the car parked down the slope. I have previously jacked it up on the drive to change wheels with no problems so I think I should be ok with axle stands.
Its not the north face of the eiger, just a gentle slope down from the road to the front of the house.
Anyone done similar care to comment ?
Its not the north face of the eiger, just a gentle slope down from the road to the front of the house.
Anyone done similar care to comment ?
Been pondering this myself. Some of them long ramps look a good idea, been thinking if the bib spoiler will take it then set the ramp section in the garage but start the long ramp section on the drive slope. Only problem is the cost and storage.
Failing that some jacked ramps look like a good idea but only on the level of my garage.
I would not trust an axle stand or jack on my drive.
Failing that some jacked ramps look like a good idea but only on the level of my garage.
I would not trust an axle stand or jack on my drive.
Put it carefully on the stands, then give the car a good shake about before you take any wheels off. Although you can pull a car off stands if you're using a giant breaker bar on a rusty suspension bolt, I can't see ou'll have any problems with a bit of light grinding/painting. Leaving a wheel under the sill is a good tip if you're at all worried.
aww999 said:
Put it carefully on the stands, then give the car a good shake about before you take any wheels off. Although you can pull a car off stands if you're using a giant breaker bar on a rusty suspension bolt, I can't see ou'll have any problems with a bit of light grinding/painting. Leaving a wheel under the sill is a good tip if you're at all worried.
Leaving a wheel under the sill is a good tip full stop.i'd be very careful with axle stands on any kind of slope, especially if the slope goes across the car rather than with it, last year my car came off 1 of it's jack stands as i was removing the other, the slope was not very steep, i have since opted for using jack ramps unless i need to remove a wheel
Will be fine as long as the slope isn't anything major.
Make sure you point one of the angles of the axel stands (presuming they are of triangular shape) down the slope rather than one of the sides. Will just make it that little bit harder to topple down the slope if it was going to.
My mums drive is quite a slope and I used stands on that for years.
Make sure you point one of the angles of the axel stands (presuming they are of triangular shape) down the slope rather than one of the sides. Will just make it that little bit harder to topple down the slope if it was going to.
My mums drive is quite a slope and I used stands on that for years.
jmorgan said:
Been pondering this myself. Some of them long ramps look a good idea, been thinking if the bib spoiler will take it then set the ramp section in the garage but start the long ramp section on the drive slope. Only problem is the cost and storage.
Failing that some jacked ramps look like a good idea but only on the level of my garage.
I would not trust an axle stand or jack on my drive.
I use the shorter ramps sometimes. It's a nightmare getting cars up on them so I usually just jack the car up as far as it'll go and then slide them under the wheels. Definitely the most secure of the lifting solutions IMO.Failing that some jacked ramps look like a good idea but only on the level of my garage.
I would not trust an axle stand or jack on my drive.
davepoth said:
jmorgan said:
Been pondering this myself. Some of them long ramps look a good idea, been thinking if the bib spoiler will take it then set the ramp section in the garage but start the long ramp section on the drive slope. Only problem is the cost and storage.
Failing that some jacked ramps look like a good idea but only on the level of my garage.
I would not trust an axle stand or jack on my drive.
I use the shorter ramps sometimes. It's a nightmare getting cars up on them so I usually just jack the car up as far as it'll go and then slide them under the wheels. Definitely the most secure of the lifting solutions IMO.Failing that some jacked ramps look like a good idea but only on the level of my garage.
I would not trust an axle stand or jack on my drive.
Unless it really is a very slight slope, I would definately put one set of wheels on ramps and the other end on axle stands (or another set of ramps). I have a pretty steep driveway, and I can only safely use axle stands if I either use ramps at one end or only jack up one end and chock the wheels at the other.
davepoth said:
I use the shorter ramps sometimes. It's a nightmare getting cars up on them so I usually just jack the car up as far as it'll go and then slide them under the wheels. Definitely the most secure of the lifting solutions IMO.
I have never though of thisi generally piss my pants when driving up the ramps expecting them to shoot out or generally go wrong
do you then drive the car off them when you are done if you have room?
ging84 said:
i'd be very careful with axle stands on any kind of slope
^^^ ThisI too have had a car fall off axle stands.
I wouldn't use them to do any work under a car it's surprisingly easy to dislodge them.
I use the drive up ramps - raises the car higher and is MUCH SAFER.
Want it really high - jack the other end up and put a second pair of ramps (facing the other way) under the wheels.
Great, so long as you don't need to take the wheels or suspension off...
For what it's worth, I live on a pretty steep hill and have spent many years tinkering with the car on a side-slope on axle stands with no issues, doing it safely is more down to the way you jack the car initially and the axle stand placement than anything.
For what it's worth, I live on a pretty steep hill and have spent many years tinkering with the car on a side-slope on axle stands with no issues, doing it safely is more down to the way you jack the car initially and the axle stand placement than anything.
I put mine on four stands, then I put the wheels underneath when I take them off and my ramps with a stout piece of wood between them and the floor of the car, I tend to leave the trolley jack under, with some of the pressure released so it isnt resting on it, basically unless you can bench press your car, take lots of precautions, two things scared the crap out of me, one a story on Scoobynet where some guys wife found him dead with a Transit van on top of him, and a car reversing into our Fiat 500 whilst I was under it, an older lady visiting next door and turning round using our drive, she just touched the Fiat a little but enough to move it a couple of inches, she was unrpentant when I challenged her, she said I shoudlnt hide the car behind the hedge, daft old bat !
Oh, and be careful jacking older cars, a chap I know got a Stag as a doner car for his, jacked it up, put it on stands, was preparing to remove the rear suspension and one one side the stand went right through the floor, which caused it to fall off the other stand.
Oh, and be careful jacking older cars, a chap I know got a Stag as a doner car for his, jacked it up, put it on stands, was preparing to remove the rear suspension and one one side the stand went right through the floor, which caused it to fall off the other stand.
Edited by J4CKO on Monday 22 April 12:29
Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff