Jacking and axle stands

[drooartz]

I have need to get the Tunebug up on stands this weekend to work on the brakes. I noticed this thread from the Austin Healey section:

#189553

That talks about jacking a big Healey, and the dangers of using the front cross member as jack point. I've got a standard big floor jack--what should I use as a safe front point for jacking? And should axle stands go under the spring pans up front as mentioned in the thread?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

First of all, I'd only do one end at a time for safety. I place a 2x6 under the the front crossmember so that the load spans the frame rails. I place the jack stands under the frame rails close to where they go into the tub. It'll make sense once you start. Above all be careful. HTH

 

[Bugeye58]

Drew, I put the rear stands under the spring mount boxes.
Fronts go where Trevor puts his. I don't have any problem with putting all four corners up at once.
Jeff

 

[Trevor Jessie]

It depends on the jack stands. When I'm at my father's shop where I have access to wide base stands I don't mind having all four corners up. However, with my cheap jack stands I'm kind of leary of it.

 

[Bugeye58]

Trevor,I don't own any cheap jackstands. I did once, 35 years ago, and spent an interesting couple of hours pinned beneath a TR4A. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Never again.
Jeff

 

[DrEntropy]

Roger that. No "cheesy" jackstands!

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Better jackstands is on my tool list, but when our local club has done "wrenching parties", I'm shocked at how many people have even flimsier stands, and don't think twice about getting under a car with them. ...runonsentence

 

[77MidgetMkIV]

My methods have been stated above in places, but I go rear first, stands under the axles as far out as possible so that I can creep under the middle parts easily, then I use 4x stock across the frame members to jack up the front, and put the stands under the frame members with 2x wood "plates between the stands and the car.

 

[ecurie_ecosse]

I also hold to the rule of never being under a car when no one else is around.No matter what jack stands are available.Wouldn't want stuck for hours underneath,that's for sure!

 

[77MidgetMkIV]

One other thing:
Raising: Back First, then Front
Lowering: Front first, then back.

This prevents the fuel tank from hitting the deck if the angle gets up there. the Previous owner of mine found this out the hard way. I have since replaced my fuel tank.

 

[drooartz]

Thanks all for the tips. I was planning on using a wood-buffer between jacks and cars on the front--nice to hear I was on the right track. Good reminder as well to stay out from under the car with no one around. Errors there would really suck!

 

[Ed Kaler]

As long as you gents are talking about cheap jacks stands:

https://tinyurl.com/qc28c

Now that is just plain scarey!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
Ed

 

[77_MG_Midget]

Jackstands? You guys actually paid for and use good quality jackstands? Check out this picture for a better alternative.

 

[drooartz]

That's a Darwin moment waiting to happen. Geesh. Ingenuity is to be commended, but that might be pushing it a bit too far!

 

[77_MG_Midget]

Oh, and btw... (no that wasn't me in the picture... lol... ) I found a nice set of 6 ton stands that extend 2 ft tall at horrible freight (i mean harbor freight... lol). Paid $20 bucks a pair on sale. https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38847 They are nice and heavy. One of the better things I've purchased there.

 

[drooartz]

I had a pair of those, just gave them to a friend and got the 3 ton versions. 6 ton ones were just a bit too big for my old TR4, took up a lot of space under there. The 3 ton ones are still nice, but a wee smaller and shorter. Seems a better fit for the little Tunebug