RE: [DMCForum] How to safely lift the car onto 4 jack stands
From: "timnagin" <timnagin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004 20:01:31 -0400
Crap on a steek! I am glad you weren't under there when that happened. I
would use ramps under all four wheels. Never cheap out on tools, especially
the ones that could effect your life like those Wal Mart blue-light special
discounted flea market close-outs.
Greg
-----Original Message-----
From: ryanpwright [mailto:yahoo1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 3:21 PM
To: DMCForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [DMCForum] How to safely lift the car onto 4 jack stands
Yesterday I had the car ~18" off the ground, sitting on four 2 ton
jack stands. Took the tranny out, no problem, but I realized that if I
was going to put it back in (with an appropriate transmission jack)
I'd need a little more room, and my jack stands were fully extended.
So I bought four new jack stands. 6 ton rated "Powerbuilt" from
Schuck's that can go up to ~24". I used my jack to lift the rear of
the car another ~3-4" to begin putting the larger stands in place, at
which time something bad happened: The car began moving toward me. I
can only guess the wheels of the jack allowed it to roll and/or the
front jack stands failed, because the front of the car came crashing down.
Quick survey, no damage to the car, although the stands are toast.
Thank God I wasn't under there. Stands were Wal-Mart cheapies, I can't
help but wonder if that contributed to the problem.
Pull out the angle meter, survey says my garge floor is a 0.75 to 1
degree slope in the direction the car moved. Damn.
Now what do I do? I have the car back up on four stands, about 15" at
this point, transmission sitting next to it. I am hesitant to try to
get it any higher. Should I go an inch or two at a time, alternating
front and back? Is this simply too dangerous? Jack stands say not to
support a car on four of them...