Get under your car?
Poll: Get under your car?
Total Members Polled: 125
Discussion
It's stupid, but I've done it before. Only when the wheels are on or under the sills, and preferably with my head out in the open. To be honest I don't have massive faith in axle stands either - unless a wheel or something is under the sill I'm not that happy being underneath. Never with a scissor jack.
Voted yes as I'm probally stupid enough to do it again in certain circumstances,I use ramps or axle stands if I plan on getting underneath.
Voted yes as I'm probally stupid enough to do it again in certain circumstances,I use ramps or axle stands if I plan on getting underneath.
MarkRSi said:
Possibly silly question, but do you all put the axle stands given the jack point will be in use by the trolley jack? Are the axles strong enough?
What about if lifting the front of a RWD car or back of a FWD car? (Or the the answer to that 'buy a 4WD?'
)
I usually put Jack on the jacking point and axle stands under the supension at the point where the suspension is mounted to the car (as these points are designed to take the weight of the car anyway)What about if lifting the front of a RWD car or back of a FWD car? (Or the the answer to that 'buy a 4WD?'
)Also chock the wheels that are on the ground and if jacking the rear of a FWD off the floor chock the front wheels and leave it in gear.
Neal
Edited by real4star on Wednesday 14th November 16:20
I went to an independant garage to get two new tyres on my old Fiesta
The guy parked my car facing up a slope, stuck one trolley jack under the axle beam and jacked the rear of the car up about a foot then proceeded to remove both rear wheels... leaving my only form of transport balanced on a single jack with no handbrake to hold it on a slope.
I never used that garage after that
Neal
The guy parked my car facing up a slope, stuck one trolley jack under the axle beam and jacked the rear of the car up about a foot then proceeded to remove both rear wheels... leaving my only form of transport balanced on a single jack with no handbrake to hold it on a slope.
I never used that garage after that
Neal
Edited by real4star on Wednesday 14th November 16:28
I find sometimes when working under the car my eyes focus on whatever chunk of metal is directly above my head, and I think about how horrific it would be to be crushed by it. Also how unpleasant it would be for whoever had to find me. That is enough to ensure I never go under the car without putting it on stands and checking it's stable.
I have had a trolley jack fail too. It didn't just drop, it slowly and silently let the car down.
I have had a trolley jack fail too. It didn't just drop, it slowly and silently let the car down.
Marf said:
thinfourth2 said:
Other options include
Using a pit
A 2 or 4 post lift
a scissor lift
or
roll the car onto its side and get to work
Meanwhile for the non professional mechanics lacking these items, a jack and axle stands will be the weapons of choice.Using a pit
A 2 or 4 post lift
a scissor lift
or
roll the car onto its side and get to work
Ki3r said:
Next time ill be getting a trolley jack.
One thing to watch out for with trolley jack is the massive point load the steel front wheels of the jack put on your driveway or garage floor. It's not uncommon for the jack to punch it's way down through tarmac or even concrete. Use a piece of 15mm plywood or MDF as a "spreader" to avoid unfortunate surprises....
Someone I worked with was killed when an XJ6 he was working on fell on him, yeah that would do it, right. He had it jacked but not chocked and no stands. We were similar ages and once we had girlfriends who were sisters. He was a bit of a nutcase always buying and selling fun cars and a great laugh. It hit home, you remember something like that. I always chock 2 wheels, use axle stands and I also have chunky piece of timber I can put somewhere where it will leave me wriggle room. I wont work on a car on axle stands both ends either. You cant chock it and if it moves a certain distance its going to keep on going. I am aware a lot of people do this, well their choice. edit Re trolley jacks comment above, I read about someone being killed when the jack punched through the tarmac on a warm day when it was a bit soft.
Edited by SMGB on Wednesday 14th November 17:40
As I seem to have had a bad run of DIY based injuries (including one earlier this year with an angle grinder with a wire brush attachment 
) I'm particularly careful about getting under my car. I use axles stands, put the removed wheel under the car and leave the trolley jack under the jacking point too.
These days the hardest part is me getting back up afterwards.
) I'm particularly careful about getting under my car. I use axles stands, put the removed wheel under the car and leave the trolley jack under the jacking point too.These days the hardest part is me getting back up afterwards.
Ozzie Osmond said:
One thing to watch out for with trolley jack is the massive point load the steel front wheels of the jack put on your driveway or garage floor. It's not uncommon for the jack to punch it's way down through tarmac or even concrete. Use a piece of 15mm plywood or MDF as a "spreader" to avoid unfortunate surprises....
Good advice (says he after forgetting to do it...)Marf said:
thinfourth2 said:
Other options include
Using a pit
A 2 or 4 post lift
a scissor lift
or
roll the car onto its side and get to work
Meanwhile for the non professional mechanics lacking these items, a jack and axle stands will be the weapons of choice.Using a pit
A 2 or 4 post lift
a scissor lift
or
roll the car onto its side and get to work
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUPERB-BRAND-NEW-RAMP-2-...
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