Why you should use Jack stands

Equinox · 10-31-2009, 04:54 PM

Okay, some of you may not know, but you should NEVER get under a car that is held up only by a jack. You should chock the rear wheels, put the car in gear, put the e-brake on, and use JACK STANDS. If you want proof of why you should, just read below.

When I jacked this car up to install my ladder bar, I left the jack snug up against the car as a back up to the jackstand, just out of paranoia. Well five minutes into the install, in the back of the below picture, you can see the jack has slowly leaked down to a couple inches lower than the jackstand. If that car was only held up by a jack, I would have been slowly crushed.

Just FYI. Lol.

Togo · 10-31-2009, 04:56 PM

extra precautions FTW

ejrives · 10-31-2009, 04:59 PM

looks clean under there

kenchan · 10-31-2009, 07:06 PM

time to buy a better hydraulic too... lol

modshack wanting to show off his lift....

Island_370 · 10-31-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

time to buy a better hydraulic too... lol

modshack wanting to show off his lift....

Second. If your jack is dropping with NO LOAD, then that jack needs to be serviced, or thrown out.

Big snaps for using jack stands. top notch....TOP NOTCH!!

10-31-2009, 08:02 PM

someone just died on my campus because he didnt use stands

10-31-2009, 08:03 PM

here

Quote:

A S.U.N.Y. Maritime student who jacked up his car to do an oil change was killed in a tragic accident when the lift gave way and his car crushed him.

The accident occurred at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday, September 18 on the campus of S.U.N.Y. Maritime College. Cadet Benjamin Bragg, 20, was brought to Jacobi Hospital.

Bragg, was given C.P.R. in route, died shortly after the accident.

There was an outpouring of support on the campus for the family of the victim. A special ceremony was held on Monday, September 21, with students placing a memorial wreath on campus in remembrance of their classmate.

“The Maritime College community is deeply saddened by this tragic loss,” the college said in a statement.

Benjamin Bragg was originally from Mandeville, Louisiana, and will be buried there.

Togo · 10-31-2009, 08:06 PM

^thats horrible

carfr3ak · 10-31-2009, 08:35 PM

Holy crap, thank goodness you are alright. Good thinking by the way. Now about that jack.... lol

dcrew1x · 10-31-2009, 10:13 PM

Jack stands and chock blocks don't even cost too much; it's always good to be extra careful.

I try to use lifts as much as possible to avoid even the potential occurrence.

Pointman · 11-01-2009, 12:14 AM

Tall ramps go along way

2ZORNT2Z · 11-01-2009, 12:24 AM

Even with ramps, I'd always suggest chocking the rear tires too. Can never be too careful.

For jack stands, I own Husky stands that are sold at Home Depot. They are the only ones I saw which had the 2nd locking slide-through pin, and it gives me that much more piece of mind when I'm under there.

schrute · 11-01-2009, 12:34 AM

I was under a full size truck (Nissan Titan, my last vehicle) installing something suspension related and had the truck on jackstands. I had to raise the truck a little to make something fit and the jackstands were already at their full extension so the truck was an inch or two above the jackstands with the weight of the truck supported by the jack. The jack slipped and the truck fell onto the jackstands. The sound of 5000+ lbs. of truck coming down onto the jackstands is something I will never forget.

1st Morale of the story is have the right jackstands for the job (mine were not tall enough). I was a dumbass for not following this rule at the time.

2nd Morale of the story echoes the OP - use jackstands if you or any of your body parts are going under the vehicle, even for just a moment. As someone else mentioned ramps are also a good option if the job allows.

If I hadn't used jack stands that day I would probably be dead. It's sad to hear about the guy that wasn't so lucky above.

m4a1mustang · 11-01-2009, 12:39 AM

Always give the car a good shake to make sure it's secure on the stands, too!

Supergoji · 11-01-2009, 02:44 AM

race ramps ftw.

or lots of 2x4's

10-31-2009, 04:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Equinox Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 685 Drives: 06 Porsche Carrera S Rep Power: 18	Why you should use Jack stands Okay, some of you may not know, but you should NEVER get under a car that is held up only by a jack. You should chock the rear wheels, put the car in gear, put the e-brake on, and use JACK STANDS. If you want proof of why you should, just read below. When I jacked this car up to install my ladder bar, I left the jack snug up against the car as a back up to the jackstand, just out of paranoia. Well five minutes into the install, in the back of the below picture, you can see the jack has slowly leaked down to a couple inches lower than the jackstand. If that car was only held up by a jack, I would have been slowly crushed. Just FYI. Lol. __________________ Check out my Albums '13 Subaru WRX STi \| '06 Porsche 911 Carrera S (SOLD) \| '96 Mazda RX-7 6.0L V8 RHD (SOLD) \| '09 Nissan Nismo #0058 (SOLD)

10-31-2009, 04:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Togo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: E. Northport, NY Posts: 7,597 Drives: Stuff Rep Power: 657	extra precautions FTW __________________ This will decimate all after you put about fifteen grand in it or more, and if we have to, overnight parts from Japan. Joe Clem and Koeppel Nissan

10-31-2009, 04:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
ejrives A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,449 Drives: 09-6MT-T/S/N Rep Power: 18	looks clean under there __________________ "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Stillen G3 CAI \|\| 35% tints \|\| FI CBE coming soon...

10-31-2009, 08:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Togo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: E. Northport, NY Posts: 7,597 Drives: Stuff Rep Power: 657	^thats horrible __________________ This will decimate all after you put about fifteen grand in it or more, and if we have to, overnight parts from Japan. Joe Clem and Koeppel Nissan

10-31-2009, 10:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
dcrew1x Track Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 821 Drives: Graphite Bullet Rep Power: 369	Jack stands and chock blocks don't even cost too much; it's always good to be extra careful. I try to use lifts as much as possible to avoid even the potential occurrence. __________________ 2009 PG 6MT Sports Stillen Gen3 CAI \| Stillen CBE \| AMS Short Shifter \| Nismo Brace Kit

10-31-2009, 07:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	time to buy a better hydraulic too... lol modshack wanting to show off his lift....

10-31-2009, 08:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
blue660r01 Guest Posts: n/a	someone just died on my campus because he didnt use stands

10-31-2009, 08:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
carfr3ak Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 71 Drives: Nissan SUV Rep Power: 16	Holy crap, thank goodness you are alright. Good thinking by the way. Now about that jack.... lol

11-01-2009, 12:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
Pointman Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 128 Drives: 370Z Sport/Tour Nav Rep Power: 276	Tall ramps go along way __________________ JTTF SQ8

11-01-2009, 12:24 AM	#12 (permalink)
2ZORNT2Z Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 15 Drives: 14 Nissan 370Z Sport Rep Power: 16	Even with ramps, I'd always suggest chocking the rear tires too. Can never be too careful. For jack stands, I own Husky stands that are sold at Home Depot. They are the only ones I saw which had the 2nd locking slide-through pin, and it gives me that much more piece of mind when I'm under there.

11-01-2009, 12:34 AM	#13 (permalink)
schrute Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: utah Posts: 781 Drives: my z every day Rep Power: 17	I was under a full size truck (Nissan Titan, my last vehicle) installing something suspension related and had the truck on jackstands. I had to raise the truck a little to make something fit and the jackstands were already at their full extension so the truck was an inch or two above the jackstands with the weight of the truck supported by the jack. The jack slipped and the truck fell onto the jackstands. The sound of 5000+ lbs. of truck coming down onto the jackstands is something I will never forget. 1st Morale of the story is have the right jackstands for the job (mine were not tall enough). I was a dumbass for not following this rule at the time. 2nd Morale of the story echoes the OP - use jackstands if you or any of your body parts are going under the vehicle, even for just a moment. As someone else mentioned ramps are also a good option if the job allows. If I hadn't used jack stands that day I would probably be dead. It's sad to hear about the guy that wasn't so lucky above. dts3 likes this. __________________ my journal \| 2009 370z touring \| 6mt \| platinum graphite \| my album second skin \| mr works \| fast intentions \| ssr \| eibach \| hotchkis \| spc \| toyo \| bluebatmobile \| v-led \| jwt \| ventureshield \| tinted tails Last edited by schrute; 11-01-2009 at 12:36 AM. Reason: fixed a typo

11-01-2009, 12:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	Always give the car a good shake to make sure it's secure on the stands, too! __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

11-01-2009, 02:44 AM	#15 (permalink)
Supergoji Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Westchester NY Age: 35 Posts: 311 Drives: Z32tt / Supra tt Rep Power: 256	race ramps ftw. or lots of 2x4's

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