Jacking up just one corner of car

[MakaveliX]

Is it safe to do so ?
I need to do a quick bit of bushing lubrication on the rear passenger. Will only take 5 mins.

Question is. Is it safe to just jack up and put one axle stand on the corner I will be working on ? OR should the whole of the rear be supported both sides

Doesn't make sense jacking the whole of the rear up when I'm only working on one corner of the car


Car will only be an inch or two off the ground, just enough so I can take the wheel off, do some lubrication then put it straight back on

Thanks

[ZedLeg]

I wouldn’t, it’s not going to sit straight on one stand.

[President Merkin]

I would. So long as you use a stand it's very unlikely to be seesawing, especially if it's just an inch or so off the deck. As ever, satisfy yourself honestly it's stable before going anywhere near a raised car.

[Caddyshack]

Perfectly safe as long as the front wheel isn’t lifting. My dad taught me that the removed wheel goes under the car too, just in case the axle stand fails.

[markymarkthree]

Thousands do it every day when changing a wheel. Crack on.

[V8 Animal]

Pop into a tyre garage and have a Quick Look at what’s happening.

[MakaveliX]

V8 Animal said:

Pop into a tyre garage and have a Quick Look at what’s happening.

Yeah when I got my PS5s fitted they jacked up the front ( on the pinch weld ) so far that it lifted the rear tyre too, then the same for the other side.

[Jazoli]

Yes it's safe and normal, I can get both wheels off the ground jacking one corner with no issues, support with a stand and crack on, no need to go to a tyre fitters to observe, no need to jack up both sides and no need to visit a main dealer to have it done (just in prep for the next silly comment)

[jimmytheone]

How does your rear passenger feel about this?

[Master Of Puppets]

MakaveliX said:

Is it safe to do so ?
Car will only be an inch or two off the ground, just enough so I can take the wheel off, do some lubrication then put it straight back on
Thanks

Absolutely safe as houses, no issues with that whatsoever if the car itself is sitting on firm level ground.

[Haltamer]

Totally fine. Pop it in gear & handbrake on.

I've used a single jack and lifted one side whilst doing quick cleaning / wheel rotations, just by adding a jackstand to catch and making sure I'm not putting any part of me underneath

If you normally keep tools and things inside the car, depending on how flexy the chassis is you may have trouble opening / closing the boot / doors.

[TwinKam]

Absolutely fine... if it's a decent well positioned axle-stand, and the car is not an Allegro*.

• (just for those of us over the age 50)

[GreenV8S]

Just make sure that you don't accidentally lift both back wheels. Depending on the car and where you position the lifting jack, that can be quite easy to do. Without substantial weight on at least one rear wheel the car will be free to roll/slide in any direction and could potentially fall off the jack.

[Pica-Pica]

Caddyshack said:

Perfectly safe as long as the front wheel isn’t lifting. My dad taught me that the removed wheel goes under the car too, just in case the axle stand fails.

I always do that, the wheel usually just slides under nicely, plus it’s the easiest place to keep it out the way.

[Bainbridge]

I'd also chock the front wheels, especially if it's RWD.

[E-bmw]

Bainbridge said:

I'd also chock the front wheels, especially if it's RWD.

What difference does RWD make?

[TwinKam]

E-bmw said:

Bainbridge said:

I'd also chock the front wheels, especially if it's RWD.

What difference does RWD make?

Because simply putting it in gear won't 'lock' the front wheels...

Edited by TwinKam on Sunday 10th December 17:56

[GreenV8S]

TwinKam said:

Because simply putting it in gear won't 'lock' the front wheels...

Putting it in gear is no substitute for a parking brake or chocks.

[TwinKam]

GreenV8S said:

TwinKam said:

Because simply putting it in gear won't 'lock' the front wheels...

Putting it in gear is no substitute for a parking brake or chocks.

No one stated that, did they?

[GreenV8S]

TwinKam said:

GreenV8S said:

TwinKam said:

Because simply putting it in gear won't 'lock' the front wheels...

Putting it in gear is no substitute for a parking brake or chocks.

No one stated that, did they?

I think you and Bainbridge both implied that putting the car in gear with the driven wheels on the ground was an alternative to chocking.