I'm getting two jack stands and a floor jack to use for my oil changes. Is it safe to place the jack stands on diagonal corners in order for me to work underneath and rotate tires, or should I use 4 stands?
Jack Stands
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Originally Posted By: defektes
not safe, the weight of one end will be on one jack, and if the woman comes to bring you cookies and beer and sits in the car. you die.
Well... tell her to bring the beer and cookies, but DON"T SIT ON THE CAR (problem solved).
not safe, the weight of one end will be on one jack, and if the woman comes to bring you cookies and beer and sits in the car. you die.
Well... tell her to bring the beer and cookies, but DON"T SIT ON THE CAR (problem solved).
Quote:
Well... tell her to bring the beer and cookies, but DON"T SIT ON THE CAR (problem solved).
I don't care if it was a woman, man, my own children, parents, or my most trustworthy friend/family ever I would never trust the OP question about placing jackstand at diagonal corners.. You can pick up a nice set of jackstands at a pawn shop like new for under $20... so skip the cookies, and beer for one oil change, or use conventional to run out the normal OCI (of course if your engine specs conventional) and forget any frugal jackstand placement.
Now if your wanting to spread them further apart in the front while working under the car, then you can support more weight working with a rigid structure, and having a rigid structure for support with the jackstands spread further apart BUT you must use the points intended for placement of jacking/lifting or when the car falls it will just crumble the parts supported on the car itself, or knock the jackstand out of the way.
I get nervous about jackstands myself, and I hate them. If changing the oil I will choose the rhino ramps at walmart every time, which is in my opinion the best way to change oil in a low to the ground vehicle. I also understand the ramps can not be used while doing many repairs on a vehicle.
Well... tell her to bring the beer and cookies, but DON"T SIT ON THE CAR (problem solved).
I don't care if it was a woman, man, my own children, parents, or my most trustworthy friend/family ever I would never trust the OP question about placing jackstand at diagonal corners.. You can pick up a nice set of jackstands at a pawn shop like new for under $20... so skip the cookies, and beer for one oil change, or use conventional to run out the normal OCI (of course if your engine specs conventional) and forget any frugal jackstand placement.
Now if your wanting to spread them further apart in the front while working under the car, then you can support more weight working with a rigid structure, and having a rigid structure for support with the jackstands spread further apart BUT you must use the points intended for placement of jacking/lifting or when the car falls it will just crumble the parts supported on the car itself, or knock the jackstand out of the way.
I get nervous about jackstands myself, and I hate them. If changing the oil I will choose the rhino ramps at walmart every time, which is in my opinion the best way to change oil in a low to the ground vehicle. I also understand the ramps can not be used while doing many repairs on a vehicle.
I have to clarify, my post with "tell her to bring the beer and cookies, but DON'T SIT ON THE CAR (problem solved)" was a JOKE.
In all seriousness, DO NOT USE TWO JACK STANDS ON DIAGONAL CORNERS TO SUPPORT A CAR. This would create a very unstable configuration and could result in damage, serious injury, or death.
To support a car fully off the ground, use four (4) jack stands. Follow the jack stand user instructions. If you are unfamiliar with the appropriate places to locate jack stands on the bottom of the car (jack points), have someone qualified assist you.
In all seriousness, DO NOT USE TWO JACK STANDS ON DIAGONAL CORNERS TO SUPPORT A CAR. This would create a very unstable configuration and could result in damage, serious injury, or death.
To support a car fully off the ground, use four (4) jack stands. Follow the jack stand user instructions. If you are unfamiliar with the appropriate places to locate jack stands on the bottom of the car (jack points), have someone qualified assist you.
4 jack stands it is. I'm going to go the old fashioned way get a a breaker bar and deep socket to take off my lug nuts. Save some $$$. I'm still young, what's a little work?
Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
I have to clarify, my post with "tell her to bring the beer and cookies, but DON'T SIT ON THE CAR (problem solved)" was a JOKE.
In all seriousness, DO NOT USE TWO JACK STANDS ON DIAGONAL CORNERS TO SUPPORT A CAR. This would create a very unstable configuration and could result in damage, serious injury, or death.
To support a car fully off the ground, use four (4) jack stands. Follow the jack stand user instructions. If you are unfamiliar with the appropriate places to locate jack stands on the bottom of the car (jack points), have someone qualified assist you.
I knew that when reading your post you were just playing with the beer cookies post, I was not trying to slam you in any way either, I was just trying to imply how important it was no matter what... I guess I used your comment by doing so.. no harm meant, and I think for sure everyone here agrees about the use of jackstands, and how many to use.
I have to clarify, my post with "tell her to bring the beer and cookies, but DON'T SIT ON THE CAR (problem solved)" was a JOKE.
In all seriousness, DO NOT USE TWO JACK STANDS ON DIAGONAL CORNERS TO SUPPORT A CAR. This would create a very unstable configuration and could result in damage, serious injury, or death.
To support a car fully off the ground, use four (4) jack stands. Follow the jack stand user instructions. If you are unfamiliar with the appropriate places to locate jack stands on the bottom of the car (jack points), have someone qualified assist you.
I knew that when reading your post you were just playing with the beer cookies post, I was not trying to slam you in any way either, I was just trying to imply how important it was no matter what... I guess I used your comment by doing so.. no harm meant, and I think for sure everyone here agrees about the use of jackstands, and how many to use.
From a practical standpoint I would not rotate tires diagonally unless you have a lift, or intermediate tires (snows or the spare). LOTS more work and stress on the car. Cars don't like getting twisted diagonally, though they're stiffer now than they used to be.
It's also waaay nicer to use two jacks to lift a side/axle of a car to keep the twisting down.
It's also waaay nicer to use two jacks to lift a side/axle of a car to keep the twisting down.
Originally Posted By: rclint
I knew that when reading your post you were just playing with the beer cookies post, I was not trying to slam you in any way either, I was just trying to imply how important it was no matter what... I guess I used your comment by doing so.. no harm meant, and I think for sure everyone here agrees about the use of jackstands, and how many to use.
No offense taken whatsoever. My humor can be a bit dry at times and this is a serious subject. Sometimes I'll make a "stupid joke" at work, and somebody will look at me like "Are you NUTS?" NO NO NO I'm joking.
People seem to get use to it after a while...
I knew that when reading your post you were just playing with the beer cookies post, I was not trying to slam you in any way either, I was just trying to imply how important it was no matter what... I guess I used your comment by doing so.. no harm meant, and I think for sure everyone here agrees about the use of jackstands, and how many to use.
No offense taken whatsoever. My humor can be a bit dry at times and this is a serious subject. Sometimes I'll make a "stupid joke" at work, and somebody will look at me like "Are you NUTS?" NO NO NO I'm joking.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
From a practical standpoint I would not rotate tires diagonally unless you have a lift, or intermediate tires (snows or the spare). LOTS more work and stress on the car. Cars don't like getting twisted diagonally, though they're stiffer now than they used to be.
It's also waaay nicer to use two jacks to lift a side/axle of a car to keep the twisting down.
It's not really that much more work, put the spare on one corner and carry on. Sure you end up jacking one corner twice but that's really not a big deal.
And +1 on the rhino rams...love them
From a practical standpoint I would not rotate tires diagonally unless you have a lift, or intermediate tires (snows or the spare). LOTS more work and stress on the car. Cars don't like getting twisted diagonally, though they're stiffer now than they used to be.
It's also waaay nicer to use two jacks to lift a side/axle of a car to keep the twisting down.
It's not really that much more work, put the spare on one corner and carry on. Sure you end up jacking one corner twice but that's really not a big deal.
And +1 on the rhino rams...love them
Use 4 stands.
Using the spare for rotating tires diagonally is valid. It's a great way to ensure it's aired up. Even for front to back it's useful for those of us with only 1 jack. Front tire off, spare on front, front tire to rear, rear tire on front, spare in trunk.
Using the spare for rotating tires diagonally is valid. It's a great way to ensure it's aired up. Even for front to back it's useful for those of us with only 1 jack. Front tire off, spare on front, front tire to rear, rear tire on front, spare in trunk.
Just to stir the pot here, Hein Werner has this to say about jack stand use: http://www.shinnfuamerica.com/Temp/708.PDF
"Hein-Werner Jack Stands are designed to support rated capacity, partial vehicle loads consisting of one end of a vehicle. Use as a matched pair to support one end of a vehicle only.
NEVER use automotive jack stands to support both ends or one side of a vehicle! Use only one (1) pair per
vehicle. Rated capacity is per pair only!"
"Hein-Werner Jack Stands are designed to support rated capacity, partial vehicle loads consisting of one end of a vehicle. Use as a matched pair to support one end of a vehicle only.
NEVER use automotive jack stands to support both ends or one side of a vehicle! Use only one (1) pair per
vehicle. Rated capacity is per pair only!"
Originally Posted By: FZ1
It's not safe to get under the car with Jack Stands. Next time, buy your tires from a vendor that offers free rotations.
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It's not safe to get under the car with Jack Stands. Next time, buy your tires from a vendor that offers free rotations.
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Who gets under their car to rotate tires? Use ramps for oil changes, and jacks/stands for rotations.
Rhino ramps are awesome. For tire rotations discount tire will do them for free. Balancing them will cost.
Come to think of it, didn't we discuss potential pitfalls of putting the vehicle on 4 jack-stands? There is a remote possibility of toppling the vehicle when all four wheels are off the ground.
I am thinking that if you need to follow the usual rotation pattern (i.e. back straight to front and front crossed to back) you are better of doing
1) Jack up passenger side (swap front/back, back to front)
2) Jack up driver side (swap front/back)
3) Jack up rear (swap left/right)
It is adding extra step but it is lot safer and cheaper than having the car on the 4 jack-stands.
Comments?
I am thinking that if you need to follow the usual rotation pattern (i.e. back straight to front and front crossed to back) you are better of doing
1) Jack up passenger side (swap front/back, back to front)
2) Jack up driver side (swap front/back)
3) Jack up rear (swap left/right)
It is adding extra step but it is lot safer and cheaper than having the car on the 4 jack-stands.
Comments?
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