Everytime I talk about floor jacks - I feel obliged to talk about jack
safety.
I have a fear of cars falling on me - or someone else. It just makes me
shudder.
I'm surprised how many people I've seen using floor jacks that didn't
realize that as they raise that sucker up - either the jack has got to keep
rolling under the car - or the car has got to roll forward over the jack.
If all the wheels of the car and jack are stationary - then that saddle is
dragging on whatever it is lifting.
Saw a guy try to jack a car up on a gravel driveway. The jack wasn't going
to roll anywhere since it is sittitng in gravel.
The rear tires were on the ground - emergency brake and wheel chocks in
place.
He couldn't understand why the saddle kept sliding on the frame as he jacked
it up .
Very scary.
Also be very careful lowering a car from up in the air down on to ramps.
It isn't a problem for the solid rear axle crowd.
The tires / wheels pretty much stay straight up and down (no camber change)
as weight is put on them.
NOT SO with either IRS or the front suspension.
The tire will make contact with the top face of the ramp / platform - then
as the car is lowered and weight is applied - the suspension compresses and
goes from extreme positive camber to a more normal value.
The result is that unless the ramps slide away from the center of the car -
they are likely balancing on their outer edges instead of sitting firmly on
the ground.
I must confess to having done this - and then taking a dead blow hammer and
whacking the ramps sideways until they are better seated.
once again - not something I'd reccomend.
Personally - once I"ve got my car up in the air - I give it a heck of a
shove on the corners of the bumpers and make SURE it is secure.
I had someone say "jeeze - aren't you afraid you'll knock it off?"
I'd rather have it knocked off by me with no one under it, than by someone
else by accident possibly with someone under it.
Besides- if you aren't sure your car can take a 50 or 75lb side load - then
you aren't too confident about its support and you don't need to get under
it either.
Okay - done typing for the day.
I'm off my soapbox (which is jacked up really high in the air and well
supported by the way)
Scott Tilton
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