Safety Reminder- Jack Stands

Gary Smith · 03-05-2009, 11:34 PM

My son Andrew has become very anal when it comes to jacking up cars after a pit incident I had not long ago. While jacking the car up on un-even ground Andrew started shouting at "stubborn ol' dad" that the car is unstable and should be moved forward to a flatter surface although I felt the car was plenty secure....until it fell off the stands...

I guess your kids know best sometimes.

That is a real shame about your neighbor. There's no doubt that tragedy that won't escape your mind and will most likely keep you up many nights, for a long time.

bobby · 03-06-2009, 07:06 AM

Sorry to hear about your neighbor.

One thing I learned when placing a vehicle on jack stands is to leave the jack under it but down about 1/2 inch. without anyone under the car, stand next to it and shake it back and forth. This will settle the vehicle on the stands and if it's going to fall off, it will do so before you go underneath it.

treessavoy · 03-06-2009, 03:19 PM

Don't forget to make sure the stands are on a level surface and for heavens sake don't use them in the dirt or you'll find the car shifting or worse falling on your dumb butt!.......unless you're in Texas, in that case the dirt will suffice!

Sean Haning · 03-06-2009, 04:07 PM

I learned a valuable lesson in high school one evening while working on the Belvedere, I had it up on ramps and was changing out a shifter cable. Our driveway had a very slight incline but it was enough to help the car roll off the ramps when I accidentally pulled the trans lever out of park while removing the cable. Luckily I got out from under the car in time, but my sisters car which had just been picked up from the body shop 2 hours prior wasn't so lucky,

lol. It went back the next day to have that 24 hour old fender replaced again and I figured out why wheel chocks are so important. As I've gotton older I have wisened up and always use jack stands and keep the jack in place whenever possible as a little extra insurance.

03-05-2009, 11:34 PM	#1
Gary Smith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 820 Likes: 9 Liked 132 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Safety Reminder- Jack Stands My son Andrew has become very anal when it comes to jacking up cars after a pit incident I had not long ago. While jacking the car up on un-even ground Andrew started shouting at "stubborn ol' dad" that the car is unstable and should be moved forward to a flatter surface although I felt the car was plenty secure....until it fell off the stands... I guess your kids know best sometimes. That is a real shame about your neighbor. There's no doubt that tragedy that won't escape your mind and will most likely keep you up many nights, for a long time. __________________ Gary Smith "another broke racer spectating"

03-06-2009, 07:06 AM	#2
bobby Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 243 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Safety Reminder- Jack Stands Sorry to hear about your neighbor. One thing I learned when placing a vehicle on jack stands is to leave the jack under it but down about 1/2 inch. without anyone under the car, stand next to it and shake it back and forth. This will settle the vehicle on the stands and if it's going to fall off, it will do so before you go underneath it. __________________ Next time wave all of your fingers at me.

03-06-2009, 03:19 PM	#3
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Safety Reminder- Jack Stands Don't forget to make sure the stands are on a level surface and for heavens sake don't use them in the dirt or you'll find the car shifting or worse falling on your dumb butt!.......unless you're in Texas, in that case the dirt will suffice!

03-06-2009, 04:07 PM	#4
Sean Haning Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jacksonville Fl. Posts: 290 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Safety Reminder- Jack Stands I learned a valuable lesson in high school one evening while working on the Belvedere, I had it up on ramps and was changing out a shifter cable. Our driveway had a very slight incline but it was enough to help the car roll off the ramps when I accidentally pulled the trans lever out of park while removing the cable. Luckily I got out from under the car in time, but my sisters car which had just been picked up from the body shop 2 hours prior wasn't so lucky, lol. It went back the next day to have that 24 hour old fender replaced again and I figured out why wheel chocks are so important. As I've gotton older I have wisened up and always use jack stands and keep the jack in place whenever possible as a little extra insurance. __________________ Hired gun w/o gun.