How Reliable Are Jackstands?

[Patrick T.]

This weekend I will be switching over the brake fluid from Glycol to Silicone. What I'd really like to do is mount the 3020 lb car on 4 jackstands, just like on the cover of the red '67 of Noland Adams restoration guide. This seems like the most efficient way to do the job.

But if you see the picture, it just doesn't LOOK that safe. I do have 4 bullet proof jackstands. The front end of the car of course, is top heavy, but what if the rear body accidently received a good bump? I'm extremely cautious when placing jackstands on either the front or back, but I've never done all 4 at one time.

I hate to think of the consequences if the car tipped over. How many of you do this on a regular basis,is this a normal work procedure and HOW safe is it, or am I just worrying about nothing? Many Thanks

[Joe Fisher]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Pat, You say your stands are "bullet proof". What does that mean? I have used 5 ton jacks stands to hold up everything from a VW Bug to trucks and never felt unsafe. The key is to use quality safety stands, mine are USA made. I own an autoparts store and sell them, some of the stands my tool distributor sends me I would not put under a gocart! Just make sure you position your stands on a flat part of the chassis, or if under the "A" frames or rear that you use common sense and when the wieght is applied to them, the car cannot shift. What I was taught from the old timers who never used lifts is before you get under the car, push the car to one side and the other to set the car on the stands. It will scare the daylights out of you if the car shifts on the stands and you are under it. Be safe. Joe

[mike hom]

It depends . . .

I spent a good portion of the winter under my car which was supported by 4 good, american made jack stands. I was a little apprehensive at first, but never had a problem. The most important considerations are good stands, and where they are placed.

I read some interesting info recently on the zr-1 net. One of the members suggested to another that he purchased these 15 dollar stands, and he reccomended them highly. Two days later, sure enough, was a post from someone who bought those $15 specials, only to have one snap! Fortunately, he was not under the car, so the only thing damaged was the floor pan.

Cost and quality may not always have a direct correlation but IMHO it is NEVER worth taking the chance to save a buck where safety devices are concerned. This is especially true when, as in the case of jack stands, the consequences can be fatal. My .02

[g.r.rogers]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Pat, I'm sure your going to have the car jacks on a flat cement or equal hard permanent surface area like a garage floor. Good jacks, proper lighting, proper surface area for jacks to contact the cars frame. No sweat.I've been doing it that way for over 30 years. Just be safe. Push on the bumpers and check for any movement when you get the car up on all fours. Or any other ways that may come to mind to check the cars stability your concerned about.I'm sure others will give better input but just be safe.GRR#33570

[dale pearman]

Re: It depends . . .

Many years ago, the gentleman who owned and published "Keepin Track Of Vettes" was killed when his jack stands toppled. I like to keep a floor jack under the differential and another under the front end while working with floor jacks just to have a back-up in case anything goes wrong. ALWAYS work with a helper nearby just in case.

Varooom!

[Joe L.]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Patrick-----

Something that I do as an extra safety precaution when the car is up on jackstands is to push the wheels and tires under it. That way it can't fall down any further than the wheels and tires will allow and it will have some big rubber "bumpers" to break it's fall.

[Stephen B.]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

jack stands also make me a nervous wreck so i put a lift in the garage no problem since

[Ed Jennings]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Jack stands scare the hell out of me. Especially when the car is up on all four corners. Like most other respondents, I have high quality, made in USA, jackstands. I don't worry about the stands failing, I worry about the car slipping off the stands. I usually put the rear stands under the axle on a C1 if I don't have to drop the axle down for anything. If they go under the frame where they are supposed to, there is very little contact area. I believe the safest way to hold a car up is probably with wood cribbing. I have been involve with moving and setting up industrial equipment weighing 50 tons and more, and properly cribbed with pieces of railroad ties the equipment won't budge. It is time consuming to do it right, but the load isn't going to slip off. I want a lift too, but I'm short on overhead height and $3000+ to spend on something I use once every two or three months.

[Duke W.]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

My SWC has been through several earthquakes on jackstands including the Northridge quake in 1994, which did several billion dollars in damage. I'm about 20 miles south of the epicenter. No problems, but it's a good ideal to have someone around just in case of an unforseen emergency.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Ed------

I'm with you! I, too, feel most comfortable using wood cribbing. Actually, I often use a combination of wood cribbing and concrete blocks (set on END as they are used in the walls of buildings). I consider that this provides a much stronger and FAR MORE STABLE support for a vehicle. I usually don't suggest it to others because folks start getting all upset when you start talking about using wood and/or concrete blocks to support a car. But, the strength of the wood is well-verified in the applications you mentioned and I've checked on the strength of the concrete blocks which, as it turns out, FAR exceed any loading which I could put on them with a Corvette(or a Peterbuilt truck).

The fact of the matter is that the VAST MAJORITY of accidents involving vehicles "falling" is not due to instantaneous collapse or breakage of the supporting mechanism, be that mechanism jackstands, wood, or concrete blocks. The vast majority of the accidents are caused by vehicles SLIPPING OFF the supporting mechanism or the supporting mechanism "tipping over" due to instability. I would bet that the number of vehicle falling incidents due to structural failure of the supporting mechanism to be VERY SMALL.

The stability provided by properly designed wood and/or concrete block platforms VIRTUALLY ELIMINATES the problems associated with vehicles falling due to support mechanism instability. There is absolutely no way that a jack stand support mechanism, regardless of how fundamentally strong the jack stand, itself, might be, is going to be as STABLE as a properly constructed wood and/or concrete block platform. Since, in my opinion, lack of STABILITY is BY FAR the major failure mode, the choice for me is usually obvious.

Of course, everyone will have their own ideas on this, but this is my opinion and evaluation of the matter.

[dale pearman]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Who has time to go under a Corvette anyway? We're all addicted to the computer monitor asking and answering questions on Discussion Board.

!MoooooooooooooooooooooooooraV

[Don O'Connell #33101]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Patrick,

As everyone else has stated, using 4 well made stands is the rule. My addition, living here in earthquake country (So. CA), is I ALWAYS have the floor jack next to me, snugged up to the frame when I'm underneath. Was underneath my '77 Ramcharger years ago when it was up on just 2 stands and we had a "small" quake. Scared the sh## out of me. Been using the jack as a backup ever since.

Don

[Joe L.]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Dale-----

You REALLY HIT HOME with that observation. That has been EXACTLY my problem for quite some time now------too much DISCUSSING Corvettes and not enough WORKING ON Corvettes. My "ZL-1" is not going to get on the road any time soon under this set of circumstances.

[John H.]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Have been using jackstands (good ones) for about 45 years, have always paid particular attention to how they contact the frame and stability once up on the jacks, and use either a tire or a jack at each end of the car as backup. Never had a problem. Got sick and tired of laying on my back on a cold floor watching the tools roll off the wrong side of my belly, am ordering a 4-post lift for my new garage ("Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me..........").

John

[dale pearman]

Re: How Reliable Are Jackstands?

Don't feel bad Joe. I've got a 59 and nine 62's and not a damn one of them is running. My "kicks" on Rt.66 are in a rusted-out 1976 4 x 4 chevrolet pickum-up!

Someday......maybe...............I'll get my new Dodge Diesel...........or else get off the keyboard and put an enginge in my driver!

Varooom!