Working under a car
Discussion
What is the minimum amount of 'failsafe's' people would use to work under a car? Obviously this is just for the amateur mechanics that may need to change their oil etc.
I know people will say if you have to ask you shouldn't be doing it, but im just curious what risks people have taken in the past, that now thinking back they regret? Or has anyone witnessed anything really dodgy?
I know people will say if you have to ask you shouldn't be doing it, but im just curious what risks people have taken in the past, that now thinking back they regret? Or has anyone witnessed anything really dodgy?
I think that I'm pretty normal amongst PHers in that I chick the wheels, jack the car up, take the wheel off and slide it under the sill before putting an axle stand or two under a structural member and giving the car a good shove to make sure it's steady.
The axle stand(s) support the car, I'd that fails then the jack will take the strain and if the shock pops the o-ring out sufficiently then the wheel will stop it.
Even with all that, I still get the willies any time I have to put a body part underneath the car... I'll rarely even stick my head inside the wheel arch. I've never dropped a car, but heard too many horror stories of crushing injuries to the point of making me neurotic about it!
The axle stand(s) support the car, I'd that fails then the jack will take the strain and if the shock pops the o-ring out sufficiently then the wheel will stop it.
Even with all that, I still get the willies any time I have to put a body part underneath the car... I'll rarely even stick my head inside the wheel arch. I've never dropped a car, but heard too many horror stories of crushing injuries to the point of making me neurotic about it!
You need a pair of axle stands as a minimum to be safe working underneath, but I've wedged a wheel underneath before.
Back in the day I jacked one side of my 205 up, put an axle stand under it, went to jack the other side up and the car slipped off the stand and jack, and was beached on its back axle with no rear wheels on! Rather embarrassingly I had to get a neighbour to come round with his hydraulic jack to lift the car back up for me.
Back in the day I jacked one side of my 205 up, put an axle stand under it, went to jack the other side up and the car slipped off the stand and jack, and was beached on its back axle with no rear wheels on! Rather embarrassingly I had to get a neighbour to come round with his hydraulic jack to lift the car back up for me.
donkmeister said:
I think that I'm pretty normal amongst PHers in that I chick the wheels, jack the car up, take the wheel off and slide it under the sill before putting an axle stand or two under a structural member and giving the car a good shove to make sure it's steady.
The axle stand(s) support the car, I'd that fails then the jack will take the strain and if the shock pops the o-ring out sufficiently then the wheel will stop it.
Even with all that, I still get the willies any time I have to put a body part underneath the car... I'll rarely even stick my head inside the wheel arch. I've never dropped a car, but heard too many horror stories of crushing injuries to the point of making me neurotic about it!
This is me, doesn't matter how many times i do it i still picture my head been squeezed like Phil Leatardo!The axle stand(s) support the car, I'd that fails then the jack will take the strain and if the shock pops the o-ring out sufficiently then the wheel will stop it.
Even with all that, I still get the willies any time I have to put a body part underneath the car... I'll rarely even stick my head inside the wheel arch. I've never dropped a car, but heard too many horror stories of crushing injuries to the point of making me neurotic about it!
I put my ramps under there as well, wheels and whatever else is to hand.
Told this before but was under a car (Old Fiat 500) and had the engine out and was just dealing with the gear linkage and the car started moving, some had reversed into it and pushed it four or five inches, the axle stand moved a bit on the path, the car moved on the axle stands.
Never moved so fast and it was an older lady turning round, she had reversed up my drive a bit, she pulled forward then, turned and parked outside next door.
I collared her and asked her what the hell she though she was doing, denied she had hit it, but I showed her the scuff on her car, she changed tack and said I shouldn't have hidden the car behind the hedge ffs !
I was about to be very rude indeed but next door appeared and so did my wife, she sort of tutted at me and went in next door.
Another one was my dads neighbour, working doing brake shoes on the rear of a Princess, fell off the bottle jack he was using and he was squatting with his head in the wheel arch, the car pinned his head into his knees. Only him being spotted and my dad and another neighbour lifting the car enough for him to fall back out saved him, he would have been a goner and it gave him life long back injuries.
My best bench press ever was like 120 kilos, about 900 short of a modest hatchback, so I dont mess about.
Told this before but was under a car (Old Fiat 500) and had the engine out and was just dealing with the gear linkage and the car started moving, some had reversed into it and pushed it four or five inches, the axle stand moved a bit on the path, the car moved on the axle stands.
Never moved so fast and it was an older lady turning round, she had reversed up my drive a bit, she pulled forward then, turned and parked outside next door.
I collared her and asked her what the hell she though she was doing, denied she had hit it, but I showed her the scuff on her car, she changed tack and said I shouldn't have hidden the car behind the hedge ffs !
I was about to be very rude indeed but next door appeared and so did my wife, she sort of tutted at me and went in next door.
Another one was my dads neighbour, working doing brake shoes on the rear of a Princess, fell off the bottle jack he was using and he was squatting with his head in the wheel arch, the car pinned his head into his knees. Only him being spotted and my dad and another neighbour lifting the car enough for him to fall back out saved him, he would have been a goner and it gave him life long back injuries.
My best bench press ever was like 120 kilos, about 900 short of a modest hatchback, so I dont mess about.
I did my first “lifted” working my car last year (rear brakes + suspension). Axle stands, jack, one wheel underneath the sill (pref 2), chocks both sides of each wheel.
I need to do work on the front end - going to get another pair of axle stands to going along with the above just to be on the safe side.
And a good shove too. My garage, though a double, is pretty full and not that wide, so not a lot of room for manoeuvre.
Better safe than dead!
I need to do work on the front end - going to get another pair of axle stands to going along with the above just to be on the safe side.
And a good shove too. My garage, though a double, is pretty full and not that wide, so not a lot of room for manoeuvre.
Better safe than dead!
Like many here, axle stands. I have used wheel ramps, but never found them that useful.
Even if I change a wheel (long time since I’ve done that), I would never use the vehicle’s jack without the spare wheel or the replaced wheel being under the sill. I have had two vehicle jacks collapse, they are not that sturdy.
Even if I change a wheel (long time since I’ve done that), I would never use the vehicle’s jack without the spare wheel or the replaced wheel being under the sill. I have had two vehicle jacks collapse, they are not that sturdy.
I'm VERY wary about working under a car, for a couple of reasons:
- when I was about 20, I had a Rover P6 3500 on which I needed to change the diff. Lived with my parents then, and fortunately, we had a pit in the garage. I was under the car in the pit, car on axle stands, and somehow (it was over 40 years ago, I can't remember the full details!) the car fell off the stands. The pit was only sitting-deep but I was able to duck down. The only funny part about it was, the garage was remote from the house, and no mobiles etc back then. I managed to grab hold of a long bit of wood on the garage floor, and slid it repeatedly against the door until the old man heard the noise and came to investigate, and dug me out. I didn't trust axes stands for a very long time after that (still don't, really).
- around the same time, a friend's brother was working underneath his Dolomite Sprint. For those who are familiar, there is a big crossmember towards the back of the engine. The car fell on him (I never did find out what supports he was using) and crushed his head. A group of blokes lifted the car off him, he survived but was brain damaged, never the same again.
My preferred option, of which I still have a lot, is sections of railway sleeper wedged and placed strategically under the car to support it. They're never going to fall over and neither are the seals going to pop.
- when I was about 20, I had a Rover P6 3500 on which I needed to change the diff. Lived with my parents then, and fortunately, we had a pit in the garage. I was under the car in the pit, car on axle stands, and somehow (it was over 40 years ago, I can't remember the full details!) the car fell off the stands. The pit was only sitting-deep but I was able to duck down. The only funny part about it was, the garage was remote from the house, and no mobiles etc back then. I managed to grab hold of a long bit of wood on the garage floor, and slid it repeatedly against the door until the old man heard the noise and came to investigate, and dug me out. I didn't trust axes stands for a very long time after that (still don't, really).
- around the same time, a friend's brother was working underneath his Dolomite Sprint. For those who are familiar, there is a big crossmember towards the back of the engine. The car fell on him (I never did find out what supports he was using) and crushed his head. A group of blokes lifted the car off him, he survived but was brain damaged, never the same again.
My preferred option, of which I still have a lot, is sections of railway sleeper wedged and placed strategically under the car to support it. They're never going to fall over and neither are the seals going to pop.
Car on axle stands, give it a shove to make sure it is stable.
I leave the trolley jack that lifted it up in place, locked under very slight load so that there is no shock if the stands collapse. I generally make sure the jack is somewhere near where I am working.
I’m hopefully getting a proper lift soon.
I leave the trolley jack that lifted it up in place, locked under very slight load so that there is no shock if the stands collapse. I generally make sure the jack is somewhere near where I am working.
I’m hopefully getting a proper lift soon.
Axle stands, jack left in place but "slack" so it's not bearing much weight and if wheels are off then they are placed under the sills.
If it's a rear drive car then a front wheel chocked if it's the rear up in the air. Probably would with front drive too and have it in gear. Thinking about it, I haven't owned a front drive car for about 4 years.
The thought of being crushed by a car falling off a stand is terrifying. Especially when simple steps can massively reduce the chances.
If it's a rear drive car then a front wheel chocked if it's the rear up in the air. Probably would with front drive too and have it in gear. Thinking about it, I haven't owned a front drive car for about 4 years.
The thought of being crushed by a car falling off a stand is terrifying. Especially when simple steps can massively reduce the chances.
As a teenager I had a jacking point fail on a MK1 fiesta, I was using the jack the car came with which attached via a welded loop on the bottom of the car.
As I slid out from under the car the loop failed and the whole thing crashed down, missed me by a few inches.
I've been more careful since!
I usually use a trolley jack to lift then put in a couple of axel stands while leaving the trolley jack in place too. With the pickup I only need to jack it up for some things, the rest I can do just by parking it and sliding under.
As I slid out from under the car the loop failed and the whole thing crashed down, missed me by a few inches.
I've been more careful since!
I usually use a trolley jack to lift then put in a couple of axel stands while leaving the trolley jack in place too. With the pickup I only need to jack it up for some things, the rest I can do just by parking it and sliding under.
One thing I do is when getting it up on 4 stands for bigger jobs, is when it’s up to go to each corner and re-adjust the stands.
What I tend to find is the act of lifting that high loads the stands laterally as the lift is more an arc than directly up. Sometimes it’s scary how when a car is “up” there, if I place my Jack next to a stand to take the load, you see the whole car rock/shift and the stand tilt over, showing how much lateral tension there was when it was apparently just sat on 4 stands - that sideways load is not good.
So mini lift, adjust stand, lower, much more “relaxed” system with the forces going down through the centre of the stand, rather than twisting/bending it and loading off its centre line
So that’s my tip
What I tend to find is the act of lifting that high loads the stands laterally as the lift is more an arc than directly up. Sometimes it’s scary how when a car is “up” there, if I place my Jack next to a stand to take the load, you see the whole car rock/shift and the stand tilt over, showing how much lateral tension there was when it was apparently just sat on 4 stands - that sideways load is not good.
So mini lift, adjust stand, lower, much more “relaxed” system with the forces going down through the centre of the stand, rather than twisting/bending it and loading off its centre line
So that’s my tip
As with many others it seems I go for a pair of axle stands and something else as a back-up - a wheel; the trolley jack; a pile of wooden blocks;... anything reasonably solid will do. If jacking up the rear I'll chock the fronts; if jacking up the fronts or one side I'll happily rely on the hand brake to stop the rear rolling.
Two sets of stands is handy for things like bleeding brakes.
Two sets of stands is handy for things like bleeding brakes.
CAPP0 said:
My preferred option, of which I still have a lot, is sections of railway sleeper wedged and placed strategically under the car to support it. They're never going to fall over and neither are the seals going to pop.
I do exactly the same. Even the heaviest car is going nowhere with those underneath. Even so, I limit myself to wheelarches now. Fortunately the days of changing exhausts, clutches and diffs under a jacked up car in a freezing garage are long gone.Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff