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kcbugeye1275

kcbugeye1275

Jedi Knight
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I've often said safety is the habit you use that takes care of you in that mindless moment. Today a safe work practice saved me potential harm. I recently got back from a long trip. The brakes had gotten a bit mushy. Although I hadn't noticed before, there was a puddle beneath the drivers rear wheel. Can't tell you the last time I had even looked at the rear slaves. So, got out the floor jack and put it under the diff and jacked it up. Getting the stands to put under the rear axle I noticed that the jack wasn't centered on the diff, merely partly against the back side of the diff towards the tank. I feel extremely lucky that I caught my blunder before it compounded itself. Be careful!!!
 
I doubt if I'm the only one, but I'm creeped out at the thought of getting under a car that has been raised. I usually put one end up on ramps, which seems safest, but obviously not practical for work on the wheels. For that, gotta use jack stands. Even then, I put the floor jack under the diff as a back-up. Probably silly, but I feel a lot more comfortable that way.
 
Sarastro said:
I doubt if I'm the only one, but I'm creeped out at the thought of getting under a car that has been raised. I usually put one end up on ramps, which seems safest, but obviously not practical for work on the wheels. For that, gotta use jack stands. Even then, I put the floor jack under the diff as a back-up. Probably silly, but I feel a lot more comfortable that way.
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I do the same thing and then shake the crap out of the car to ensure there's no way it's coming down while I'm under it.

Some day, I shall own a proper lift......
 
And... if I have to take the wheels off I also slide them under the car for added insurance (plus it keeps me from tripping over them)
 
Trevor Jessie said:
And... if I have to take the wheels off I also slide them under the car for added insurance (plus it keeps me from tripping over them)
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Cheap insurance, indeed - good one, TJ!
 
One should also block the wheels that are still on the ground, just for that added bit of insurance...I HAVE had a car drop on me and always triple-check things ever since!! :wink:
 
So, I had one up on a bumper jack on the side of the road (no jack stands available) and was belt buckle deep under the car trying to fix whatever, when I felt the car/jack begin to move. When the car hit the ground, I was standing about ten feet away watching it. I was young and stupid.....and AGILE!
 
I jack my rear by using a floor jack under the third member, but always put two jack stands under the spring shackles before I scoot under there. I had a bad experience when I was 16 years old. I had a big old dodge polara that weighed just over 3 tons and had it lifted with a screw jack like from a pickup truck and went under to check a "clunk" coming from the drive shaft. I felt ok with the jack but at the point in time there occured an actual earth tremor and the car jerked back and forth and I was able to get out from under just a split second before it crashed down hard. I always use something under there even if it is the spare tire layed down sideways to help if it fell.
 
Two weeks ago my neighbor was repairing the rear brakes on his car. Actually took him three weeks to complete the job.

Anyway, about 10:30pm I heard a crash outside and was thinking of investigating. Then there was a knock on the door and a visibly shaken neighbor asked if I thought I could raise his car back up so he could get his wimpy junk store jack (my words, not his) out from underneath. I took my heavy Matco floor jack over along with a pair of jack stands and got it back up so he could finish the job.

I did not realize he had been working under that car for three weeks with that miniature floor jack and no stands. A lecture ensued.
 
We lost a relative 2 years ago when his truck fell on him. I shove jack stands under the car.
 
I take all of the precautions mentioned above. Even though our cars do not require it, I use 6 ton axel stands with double safeties, and a 3 ton floor jack. I put my 2 ton 'stuff' up in the attick a long time ago! Would never get under it with anything less. I dont think I've used a car trunk jack since the 1970's! And I didnt particularly like them then.
I too do the car 'shake' before sliding under!

All of you guys be carefull! I need you all for the next year to get me through the rebuild!
 
Glad I'm not the only one with a phobia about working under the car. Over the past four years I have spent weeks on end working on the under carriage. I use four 2X10's 24" long that are nailed together to support the car, front and rear.Before I retired from the Fire Department I spent quite a few years as a Paramedic and I saw to many deaths and serious accidents that could have been prevented. As you said..... THINK SAFETY .....ALWAYS!!!!!!!!
 
Yes, think safety even when others don't. Not to worry as he's likely using the best pieces of wood he could find.

Mike

safetyfirst.jpg
 
Heard a story of a guy who's hydraulic jack had a slow leak so the car slowly lowered on him as we was under it late at night, he waited for his dad to get up and come into the garage to get him, several hours later. He lived. He uses axle stands too now.
 
jvandyke said:
Heard a story of a guy who's hydraulic jack had a slow leak so the car slowly lowered on him as we was under it late at night, he waited for his dad to get up and come into the garage to get him, several hours later. He lived. He uses axle stands too now.
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Is that like the frog who boils to death as the water temp is slowly increased? :smile:
 
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