Wow...this sucks..

[BodylessSHO]

So I was rotating my tires today after successfully fixing my misfire problem. I have my car up on a jack with the jackstand next to it as a safety. Well I had to jack it up a bit higher, and the jack and jackstand both tip over, landing my car on the ground. I severly damaged my front drivers side trim and quarter panel. I probably need to replace the rotor it landed on too, but it was braking fine once i got it off the ground. I guess a 2 ton jack isn't good enough? I borrowed my roommates 2.5 ton, and it got it up with no problems. I threw away that jack and those jackstands, and I'll be buying a much better setup.

 

[mlatten]

I keep a jackstand under the car as a precaution too when jacking up the front or rear. Last spring I was changing the oil and the 2.5 ton jack collapsed the subframe onto the stand - while I was loostening the bolt!

Ooo, my heart just skipped again thinking about it.

Glad you weren't hurt.

Matt

 

[NebraskaSHO]

Ooo, my heart just skipped again thinking about it.

I think I would have done something else, like in my drawers, if that would ever happen to me.

I just drive up on a small ramp we have to change oil, and other normal maintenance. Rotating tires could be a challenge. Might have to borrow someone else's lift for that chore.

Good to hear your alright bodylesssho

 

[mlatten]

To rotate tires I would always use the spare on the first wheel, and so on from there. Never used a ramp, but I'd love to get them.

Anyway,
Matt

 

[MeanGreen97]

i use ramps for oil changes, and a 2.5 ton jack with jack stands to do other work. glad to hear you are okay... sorry about the body damage.

 

[Motoman991]

I use a 3 ton jack and always use jack stands under whatever car I am working on as a precaution. I would probably shit myself if a jack colasped when I was using it.

 

[BodylessSHO]

I'm also working on asphault, which gives, not cement, which doesn't so much. I'm buying a 3 ton jack and jackstands before I do anything again. I might pick up some ramps too.

It's the last time I'll ever go cheap on anything. By the way, if anyone has any spare body panels laying around, see my WTB post .

 

[shoteen95]

not as bad as the incident I had jacking up my friends MX-6 parts car...

It involved a loud crunching noise, and the jack making an appearance inside the cabin...appearantly years of MI weather rusted the jacking point on the underside of the car so bad that it was useless.

 

[Porkchop]

if your on asphalt, get some small pieces of thick plywood and put the jack and stands on top of that.

Get a 3 ton or higher jack and a GOOD set of stands. my father has an old set that can support up to 5 tons, I worry more about the car giving in than the jacks giving out.

 

[SHOZ123]

The jack tipping over is really only a problem when jacking from the sides. I had this happen at Gingerman last year. And yesterday when I jacked up the left front from in front of the tire I could see the jack lean. Now the jack collapsing can happen anytime with any jack.

I use to get under cars with just the jack but never any more.

 

[BodylessSHO]

Is it weird that I didn't even think "I could have been under that" until everyone else around me kept saying it? It's kinda scaring me now.

I bought that jack and jackstands for 30 dollars at Wal Mart, as a set. That was my first mistake.

Where are you jacking up from in the center, Paul? The oil pan? I couldn't ever get the jack under that far without ripping off the bumper.

 

[SHOZ123]

Someone on the V6 forums had a son killed last year when a jack failed on him.

 

[Wess]

Always give the car a good, firm shake before you get under it and watch the jack and stands.

 

[Rubix]

glad to hear your ok, sorry bout the car.

put a scissor jack thru my sister's '98 626 floorboard, plastic piece of crap.

 

[thecrew2999]

you guys dont even wanna know what i did when i was stripping my 92 donor car... lets just say safty was about the last thing on my list..
i had the car jacked up with no subframe or anything on it so basicly was just a body but there was no tires and up front was 2 cinder blocks about mid way around the back of the drivers door and 1 jackstand in the rear. everytime i needed to move a block or jackstand out the car moved more and more down a slight hill... all together the car moved almost 2 feet. i kept crawling under the cars side that was moving lol...
but yeah as for what everyone is saying safty is important and not to do dumb moves...
i knew what i was doing and all and i dont recommdend it at all

 

[RStalveyARFF]

Someone on the V6 forums had a son killed last year when a jack failed on him.

I remember that, very tragic. I deal with small jacks all the time for work, (tow truck, could ya tell?) And I've had more fail on me than I can count. 9 times out of ten it's from the car rolling off it and tipping the jack over. Not only is a jack stand a good measure, a set of chock blocks around one of the wheels will only further increase safety.

 

[blackhawkboy]

sears mechanics

i remember when i was working at sears years back...like 89, they didn't lock the arm on the lift and they dropped a camaro off the lifts. was half up on the nose. good thing it was a bowtie

 

[Mr95Gl]

When I jack the car up, I usually remove a wheel and rest it underneath the frame of the car. In the event that the jack did fail, it would fall on the tire first. . . . . although I have no idea what would happen afterwards.

 

[PFA]

Sorry to hear about your accident. I have never used more than a 2 1/4 Ton jack. You just have to make sure you are on solid ground. Like mentioned above, get some thick plywood to place under the jack and stands if you need to. I currently am using an aluminum jack from Sears, 2 ton. It works great. It's also best to get a jack that has a wide stance. Good luck.

 

[DavidT]

before I put my "lawn edging" front air dam in, I could change the oil and filter without having to jack up the car.
You guys are making me shudder thinking about when I installed the rod shifter in my 90 sho. I don't like tight places... and getting COMPLETELY under a car, from head to toe, with just the front end jacked up is really kind of STUPID!