4 axle stands - is it safe?
Discussion
I need to take my Mondeo's wheels off as the tyres are really bald. On my next visit to Kwik-Fit I'll drop the wheels in for a tyre change and then put them back on myself.
I have 4 2-ton axle stands - and a quick Google search reveals conflicting information (some forums say it's fine unless you start dropping engines and smacking stuff etc, some say don't do it unless you want 4 cracked brake discs). Bearing in mind all I'm doing is taking some wheels off (I'll loosen the nuts before I put the stands under) is it okay to leave the car on 4 axle stands while I get new tyres? Or should I switch the two rears for space savers (so they can stay on the ground) and just jack up two wheels?
I have 4 2-ton axle stands - and a quick Google search reveals conflicting information (some forums say it's fine unless you start dropping engines and smacking stuff etc, some say don't do it unless you want 4 cracked brake discs). Bearing in mind all I'm doing is taking some wheels off (I'll loosen the nuts before I put the stands under) is it okay to leave the car on 4 axle stands while I get new tyres? Or should I switch the two rears for space savers (so they can stay on the ground) and just jack up two wheels?
As with anything, its as safe as you make it. With proper stands, a trolley jack, on a flat surface, it can be done perfectly safely.
Jacking the car end to end to get it up onto the stands is safer in my experience, however not always possible.
My sequence of jacking would be to lift a front corner, and stand it (the rear will lift too) - Go round to the other front corner and lift (the other rear will drop back to the floor) - With the front now on stands, put the jack under a central rear jacking point, and lift the rear of the car onto stands. - During the course of this process, the front stands will have been pulled and loaded in different directions, and may be storing some residual invisible lateral energy - return to the front corner and lift the car off of the stands and resettle them on the ground and under the car.
This will be perectly safe for removing all four wheels to take for tyres, however I'd never want to be under the car grappling with a stuborn exhaust (for example) with the car on 4 stands ..... 99% of the time it will be perfectly safe, and nothing will happen, however there will always be the 1% of the time when something goes wrong that can be deadly - Never ever get complacent about working under cars. I've seen some shocking activities in rally and race paddocks over the years, and even heard Caterham crew comment that "it's ok! It don't weigh fuggall!"
Jacking the car end to end to get it up onto the stands is safer in my experience, however not always possible.
My sequence of jacking would be to lift a front corner, and stand it (the rear will lift too) - Go round to the other front corner and lift (the other rear will drop back to the floor) - With the front now on stands, put the jack under a central rear jacking point, and lift the rear of the car onto stands. - During the course of this process, the front stands will have been pulled and loaded in different directions, and may be storing some residual invisible lateral energy - return to the front corner and lift the car off of the stands and resettle them on the ground and under the car.
This will be perectly safe for removing all four wheels to take for tyres, however I'd never want to be under the car grappling with a stuborn exhaust (for example) with the car on 4 stands ..... 99% of the time it will be perfectly safe, and nothing will happen, however there will always be the 1% of the time when something goes wrong that can be deadly - Never ever get complacent about working under cars. I've seen some shocking activities in rally and race paddocks over the years, and even heard Caterham crew comment that "it's ok! It don't weigh fuggall!"
I do this all the time... Once resting on 4 axle stands I will happily take the wheels off and crawl under the car and pull bits off etc....
I use two trolley jacks, one either side to lift the back of the car up... put axle stands under the back preferably on wooden blocks to spread the load...
Then lift the front with the two trolley jacks and stand that again on two axle stands.... you can rock the car, jump up and down on it etc and its not likely to fall off unless you have precariously balanced the car on all the stands...
I use two trolley jacks, one either side to lift the back of the car up... put axle stands under the back preferably on wooden blocks to spread the load...
Then lift the front with the two trolley jacks and stand that again on two axle stands.... you can rock the car, jump up and down on it etc and its not likely to fall off unless you have precariously balanced the car on all the stands...
I used to work in a garage with no lifts, we used four axle stands all the time. As long as the stands are put under the car properly with all the legs on the ground and placed where the car can't slide/rock (I suggest using a part of the chassis, so suspension movement won't be an issue) they are fine.
Mr2Mike said:
As long as the stands are on flat ground and you make sure none of them are on two legs etc. then it will be fine. With the weight of the car on them it will very very hard to accidentally knock the car off the stands.
This.But bearing in mind that you dyed your hair ginger once, it might be best to let a pro do it.
Only joking, just make sure the ground is decent, flat hard standing.
rottie102 said:
ewenm said:
Put it on 4 stands and put the wheels under the sills so they catch the car in the very unlikely event it does fall off the stands.
Those wheels that are in KwikFit?
OP, can't you just drive it there and save yourself time and hassle?
twazzock said:
rottie102 said:
ewenm said:
Put it on 4 stands and put the wheels under the sills so they catch the car in the very unlikely event it does fall off the stands.
Those wheels that are in KwikFit?OP, can't you just drive it there and save yourself time and hassle?
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