Working UNDER your car. (aka, do you really trust your jack stands?)

[Blades]

Build wooden stairs using at least 6 inches for at most a one inch step.. make sure to brace the wooden 'planks' together on both sides.. use a recessed hole to bolt the wood together top and bottom..

 

[hotlavaaaa]

Also, I dont have the worry of earthquakes where I live. If I did, Id FOR SURE have some sort of back up - be it tires or blocks. But shit... if your under a car and an earthquake happens youre probably effed anyways.

I was replacing an oxygen sensor on my car and wouldn't you know it the ground started to move. I didn't even realize what was happening at first, but I got out from under the car pretty damn fast. Luckily it was a small earthquake.

 

[Rifter]

Well i fit under my truck without jacking it up so this isnt usually an issue for me, However i have to raise it to get more room to work, or am working on a hub/brake and i need to remove a tire or two i have no issue with jackstands on the axles(i have solid axles front and back so i can lift it very high and stable with 4 stands)

If im really in a hurry and dont feel like jacking it up ill climb one side of the truck up on one of these:

and then go to work on it. I have 4 of those in my side parking lot at my building

 

[slag]

Don't buy cheap shitty jack stands. I have good ones. About 5 sets. I have one of my cars completely off the ground right now about 18 inches off the floor. I have no problem being under a car for hours if need be. I know how to do it safely and I have good equipment.

Ditto, but I only have two sets. Don't buy crappy stands and there is no problem. When I worked on my jetta a month ago, I had it on jack stands, up pretty high to drop the transmission out underneath and spent considerable time on my back under the car.

Once you do it and get used to it, its not a big deal. Have faith in your equipment and dont skimp on quality.

 

[mvbighead]

If you're worried, push sideways as hard as you can from all four directions. Feel free to get a running start. If you can move a car or truck you're doing it wrong.

I'd say this. I maybe don't get a running start, but I usually give it some good force pushing on things in all directions. If it doesn't move, it's a good bet I am fine working under it.

The only thing that scares me is having to apply a lot of torque while it is jacked up.

Thing is, I replaced tie rod ends a couple/few weeks ago, and I had to apply a great deal of torque while the car was jacked up. I was able to do this not under the car of course, but the fact that it didn't so much as budge was all I needed to see that the equipment will do its job properly.

Also, jlee's method of stands plus jack is solid as well. For me, if I am really antsy about it, I'll get two jack stands to secure the front, maybe slide another with a little clearance (1/4 or 1/2 inch) somewhere in the middle, and leave the jack with a little pressure elsewhere. If jack 1 or 2 fails, it should fall on the other stand, or be supported by the jack. Meanwhile, if one of those fails, I am hauling arse to get out from under the car.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I'd say this. I maybe don't get a running start, but I usually give it some good force pushing on things in all directions. If it doesn't move, it's a good bet I am fine working under it.

The only thing that scares me is having to apply a lot of torque while it is jacked up.

Thing is, I replaced tie rod ends a couple/few weeks ago, and I had to apply a great deal of torque while the car was jacked up. I was able to do this not under the car of course, but the fact that it didn't so much as budge was all I needed to see that the equipment will do its job properly.

Also, jlee's method of stands plus jack is solid as well. For me, if I am really antsy about it, I'll get two jack stands to secure the front, maybe slide another with a little clearance (1/4 or 1/2 inch) somewhere in the middle, and leave the jack with a little pressure elsewhere. If jack 1 or 2 fails, it should fall on the other stand, or be supported by the jack. Meanwhile, if one of those fails, I am hauling arse to get out from under the car.

Only problem with jack stands thrown whereever is that it's possible to punch through or badly dent the floorplan. I like wheels/tires because pretty much worse case is a scuffed wheel

 

[slugg]

I put it on stands, grab my roll bar, and shake the hell out of it. If it feels stable, I put spare steelies under the car in case the stands fail. It's never not felt stable...

 

[twinrider1]

Thanks guys. I like the idea of putting wheels under the truck. That, multiple stands, and the floor jack and I should be fine.

 

[Squisher]

I guess I am a little cavalier when getting under cars after working around, under, and in heavy machinery all my life. I've been in 3500 ton presses with dies that weighed 20 tons right over me using a hi-lo to apply torque on a wrench.

If a car is set up with the weight running down the center of the stands without any of the stands having any lateral misalignment and have the stands well cradled under secure structures of the car it should take a running start.

 

[twinrider1]

Squisher.....that name, in this thread, isn't very comforting.

I know it doesn't make sense, but I've been halfway under the thing plenty of times and been just fine. There's just something about being completely under that gets me thinking. I'm not claustrophobic, but maybe it's pushing those same buttons.

 

[BoberFett]

if I ever build a house i'm going to make a garage with a pit/stairs between the wheels.

Unfortunately that's now illegal in some (most?) places.

 

[vshah]

well i'll get a lift then i'm sure the wife won't mind

 

[boomerang]

 

[mvbighead]

Only problem with jack stands thrown whereever is that it's possible to punch through or badly dent the floorplan. I like wheels/tires because pretty much worse case is a scuffed wheel

Honestly, if I throw an additional jack stand under there, I put it under something that looks solid.

As for a punch through or dented floor pan, I'd consider either of those optimal to the car landing on my head. And in the case that none of the backup methods saved me, I guess I shouldn't have screwed up in the first place, but I probably won't be around to worry about it.

 

[Mxylplyx]

That looks like something you would see in Mexico.

I dont think he could be in any worse position under that thing if those boards gave way.

 

[Raduque]

I plan on putting a 2.5" level on the front of my truck. Then I don't have to use jacks or jack stands for anything except stuff that requires the tires to come off.

That looks like something you would see in Mexico.

I dont think he could be in any worse position under that thing if those boards gave way.

It also looks like he's welding on the gas tank. D:

 

[bruceb]

Jack stands are fine, when properly placed and are of good quality. I have some that are nice and solid with a notched post that can be raised as needed. You do need to be sure the lever is in the tooth all the way so the post does not move down once it it set. They are solid materials, not cheap thin steel. I may have gotten them from Harbor Freight and have them in a Small version and a Large one. Be sure to position them properly, preferably under the suspension or a main chassis member.
These are the 3 ton models:

http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...tands/3-ton-heavy-duty-jack-stands-38846.html

 

[JCH13]

Jack stands are fine, when properly placed and are of good quality. I have some that are nice and solid with a notched post that can be raised as needed. You do need to be sure the lever is in the tooth all the way so the post does not move down once it it set. They are solid materials, not cheap thin steel. I may have gotten them from Harbor Freight and have them in a Small version and a Large one. Be sure to position them properly, preferably under the suspension or a main chassis member.
These are the 3 ton models:

http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...tands/3-ton-heavy-duty-jack-stands-38846.html

]http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_19651.jpg

With the possible exception of solid-axle vehicles, I wouldn't put a jack stand on a suspension link. They're not designed for bending loads, so they could get damaged, and if the suspension is moved, the suspension link with move and possibly tip over the jack stand.

A suspension sub-frame should be fine though, if that's what you were referring to.

 

[Ferzerp]

Somewhat unrelated:

At 16, I tried to change a rear flat in a pickup and forgot the emergency brake.

That was an interesting experience. Nothing was damaged though.

 

[Zargon]

yes my old car spent almost a month on them, no worries

I doubt much wheels are any stronger than the jackstands, since wheels are engineered for most of its loading being vertical not lateral

 

[JCH13]

yes my old car spent almost a month on them, no worries

I doubt much wheels are any stronger than the jackstands, since wheels are engineered for most of its loading being vertical not lateral

False. There is a serious lateral impact test that every wheel must undergo. The most rigorous testing a wheel goes through is a cornering fatigue test. Radial fatigue is also tested, but if a wheel passes the cornering fatigue test it generally passes all other tests.

 

[Ferzerp]

False. There is a serious lateral impact test that every wheel must undergo. The most rigorous testing a wheel goes through is a cornering fatigue test. Radial fatigue is also tested, but if a wheel passes the cornering fatigue test it generally passes all other tests.

What he said....

The G-meter on my car shows that wheels can withstand some serious lateral forces

 

[Squisher]

Squisher.....that name, in this thread, isn't very comforting.

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

[Imported]

I remember I had to tighten part of the exhaust when it came loose on one of my former cars.. and all I had was a scissor jack. Luckily I got out before it came crushing down on me. Didn't help I was doing this on a hill. I learned my lesson that day.. Oh the joys of being a teenager.

 

[Bignate603]

Could be worse, at least he used something to chock the wheel!