almost broke my car

petesvx2 · #1 08-01-2002, 07:54 PM

ok my front rims were put on wrong after some rotor work a while back and i just decided to fix it today. well as i jack up the car and take all the lugs off the right front wheel, the jack decides to lean and fall almost to the ground, the only thing keeping it up was the last screw thing that the lug screws onto. well i am scared at this point so i get my mom's volkswagen jack from her car and jack it up again, i see it kinda moving around so i took the spare and put it under the car in case **** happened again, and well, to make a long story short, it happened. now i am really scared and decide the best thing to do is get a stronger jack. so i go get a 2 ton hydraulic jack from a nearby store and go to work, an hour after i started this ordeal i finallyl get the car high enough to put the donut on. from there i gave up and drove 10 min. to a local tire/wheel shop and they did it for free. all in all a very close call

dromano · #2 08-01-2002, 08:01 PM

PLEASE get a pair of jack stands!!!

#3 08-01-2002, 08:05 PM

Yes, jack stands and a decent floor jack if you are gonna "keep this up". Gravity and physics ane magical things, used in moderation.

Aredubjay · #4 08-01-2002, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dromano
PLEASE get a pair of jack stands!!!

AMEN! Can I get a witness up in heah!?!?

kuoh · #5 08-01-2002, 09:32 PM

You guys mean wheel chocks don't you? Jackstands don't help if you can't get the car jacked up first.

The only time I've had a jack move on me was when I forgot to set the parking brake and the car was already leaning over the side of an embankment.

FYI: You can break the lugs loose while the tire is on the ground, but don't take any lug nuts off the wheel until it has been safely jacked up.

KuoH

dromano · #6 08-01-2002, 10:05 PM

The message is: do not work on a car that is held in the air by the jack (unless you are at the side of the road changing a flat)use jack stands to hold the car off the ground or garage floor. DO NOT rely on the jack while you crawl under the car to work, USE JACK STANDS. This simply is a safety issue.

kuoh · #7 08-02-2002, 07:33 AM

I would've thought that was just common sense. I don't crawl under a car that is supported just by the jack, but I don't usually bother with a jack stand when just changing a tire. I suppose there is a risk with those cheap hydraulic floor jacks giving out at the wrong moment. I had one supposedly rated at 2 tons give out while trying to jack up the front end of a Mustang.

KuoH

solarsvx · #8 08-02-2002, 08:03 AM

jack stand "duh" LOL ..

mattski · #9 08-02-2002, 08:27 AM

The first thing I do when changing a tire along the road is throw the just removed tire under the car. That way if it decides to drop, I have something holding it up.

It is also a good practice to find a couple of rocks to use as chocks. Or jiggle the car before taking the wheel off to make sure that it is somewhat stable. All it takes is one close call to get you really thinking about consequences and how to prevent accidents.

When crawling under the car, it is always either on ramps, or on jack stands with the lifting jack in place just in case. And any removed tires go under the car as well.

1994SubaruSVX · #10 08-02-2002, 09:07 AM

hell the damn car could have fell on you.

Seraph · #11 08-02-2002, 09:10 AM

Try the same thing under extreme heat where the asphalt kind of melts on the slope on the interstate. I did that and I nearly peed my pants on my way to the 10th. Anni meet.

Lwin

Aredubjay · #12 08-02-2002, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kuoh
You guys mean wheel chocks don't you? Jackstands don't help if you can't get the car jacked up first.

The only time I've had a jack move on me was when I forgot to set the parking brake and the car was already leaning over the side of an embankment.

FYI: You can break the lugs loose while the tire is on the ground, but don't take any lug nuts off the wheel until it has been safely jacked up.

KuoH

For a single, quick, tire change, I'd say chocks would do. But, if you're going to be swapping wheels, I'd say get yourself a little more support than chocks and a jack. And, yes, break the lugnuts free BEFORE the tire gets off the ground. I almost lost my nuts (not llugs) while working on my friend's 66 Impala's brakes when the jack tipped -- and the car was chocked. Not a fun thing to think about.

jscorse · #13 08-02-2002, 11:29 AM

Not those little 'sheet' metal three legged ones you get at the Dollar Store.

Many moons ago my neighbor (a sheriff) was working on his boat trailer brakes. Here's the picture... A LARGE boat on a two wheeled trailer. Front of trailer is on that little 'plastic' wheel that folds up when in tow.

One wheel and drum is off and he has one of those little chinzy tripod 'stands' under the trailer frame. He is leisurely working on the brake with his LEGS UNDER THE TRAILER.

So here you have a HEAVY boat on a trailer that has three points of contact with terra firma. One tire, one dolly 'wheel' and one cheezy sheet metal jack.

As he's yanking on the brake parts the trailer twists and the jack crumbles and the metal disk that holds the brake parts up lands on his THIGH.

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

As I sprinted over with my dad's 2ton hyd. jack no less than five guys (other nieghbors) try to free is leg to no avail.

The disk severed one of his quadracepts (which was removed) and easily broke his femur. He didn't loose his leg but he had one hell of dent in it for a long time.

Long story I know, but....well enough said.

I prefer my car ramps (with extensions) for oil changes because it's such a pain to get the hyd. jack under the car. For the wheels I usually take it in for the free rotate (yes...front to back only) and balance.

As someone once said.....THAT's GOTTA HURT!

Aredubjay · #14 08-02-2002, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jscorse
I prefer my car ramps (with extensions) for oil changes because it's such a pain to get the hyd. jack under the car. For the wheels I usually take it in for the free rotate (yes...front to back only) and balance.

Ramps . . . for an oil change? My car never leaves the ground during oil changes. A) I don't like working under a raised car unless ABSOLUTELY necessary, B) If the car's "tipped" you don't get out as much dirty oil as if left flat, C) Because it isn't really necessary to raise the car for an oil change.

I have a set of ramps and use them when I have to and I also have a set of cast metal jackstands. I do, however, need to invest in a good floor jack.

Now, here's a question: How many of you have actually used the wheel chocks that came in the tool kit?

(Or ANY tool in the tool kit for that matter?)

jscorse · #15 08-02-2002, 11:46 AM

I like to take a look around under there every now and then to see things. It's nearly impossible to get a good look under the car if I can't get under it.

I take off the cover (I'm sure you ALL do). and it's quite challenging to do if you are not under the car.

I use the slight slope from the garage to the driveway to make the car 'mostly' level when it on the ramps.

and yes I do use those COOL little collapsable chocks.