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Chocking the rear wheels and putting in gear when jacking up the front

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fishyboy

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Hi all,
I've allays assumed that one should chock the rear wheels and apply the handbrake and put in gear when jacking up the front end.
Yesterday I watched a video from John Twist of University Motors on "how to jack up a MG" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmxuqA4qvVI), normally a great source of information. He says not to chock the rear wheels and leave in neutral. Is he right?
Phil
 
No he's not right. The jack has wheels for a reason. Let the jack move, not the car.
 
Hi Phil, I agree not sure why one wouldn't and I can't see any harm at least when using a trolley jack since the jack should roll under the car as it goes up keeping the load centered. It certainly gives me confidence that the car won't roll away and become unstable. I usually jack with the h brake on then chock to be sure. My car has the rear jacked up now on axle stands and the front chocked.
But who knows if thats right ? To be honest I don't care as its always worked for me.

Andy
 
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Well I gotta say he ain't right either, at least use the chocks.
 
If the jack is on a surface where those small wheels won't easily roll, it may make sense to let the car roll. Once it's up, definitely chock the wheels at the other end.
 
Guys, why are you chocking the rear wheels? To stop the car moving I suspect. Wait until your trolley jack wheels don't roll for whatever reason then see what happens.

You car won't move, your jack doesn't move,,, as the jack goes up the jack point moves, as it moves the wheels on the jack should move accordingly. But when they don't move the jack point still moves, if it's a "U" section around the frame the jack wheels drag, if it's flat it moves away from the original jacking position and the next thing you know, the car comes off the jack. :sorrow:

Been there, done that. Smashed my horn to bits, a 100-4 horn, have you seen the price of these things?
 
fishyboy said:
Hi all,
I've allays assumed that one should chock the rear wheels and apply the handbrake and put in gear when jacking up the front end.
Yesterday I watched a video from John Twist of University Motors on "how to jack up a MG" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmxuqA4qvVI), normally a great source of information. He says not to chock the rear wheels and leave in neutral. Is he right?
Phil
Click to expand...

At around 9 minutes he finally jacks up the front of the car. He has a level floor and by his conversation, it seems his jack has a way of gripping the front cross member; ditto the rear diff.

My comment: my garage is slightly sloped due to a tree root. I use a Harbor Freight jack with a thin rubber pad which has been known to slip off the front cross member. Now I use a piece of 3/4" plywood to better grip the cross member. I feel more comfortable chocking the car and letting the jack roll, though I can see how his setup works on his level floor.
 
I agree with Twist. I do not chock the car's wheels and I let it do the rolling.
The car will move more easily than the trolley jack, esp. if on an irregular surface.
 
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