scary story about my dad jack failing.
06-16-2009, 11:45 PM
#1
scary story about my dad jack failing.
i just think it would be a good pre cation, and a lesson for me. i screwed up.
anyways, i got some 350z rims for my car, went to a tire shop to put valve stems into them, and had them balanced. pulled away into a parking area, and decided to install the rims. i jacked up my car, rear left, changed the tire, rear right, then i untightned the front right tire, jack up the car, using the same 2 ton hydralic jack, take of the old rim, and then the car started to slowly fall down, like a inch every 3 seconds, so i panic, try to put the rim back on the lugs, but the car already was to low, and also, the rim got stuck but the car was still falling. so i get the jack from the trunk and started jacking up the car up with it. luckly, the car didnt fall all the way, and the rim didnt get bent. i changed the last tire, using my factory jack. i got kinda freaked out beacasue i was supposed to change my oil soon, and i was most likely going to use that jack. now im probably going to throw it away.
i did check the locking thing on the jack, where you release the presusre, and it was closed. WTF? pep boys jack FTL. anyone have experince like this with crafstman jacks? im going to get that next.
anyways, i got some 350z rims for my car, went to a tire shop to put valve stems into them, and had them balanced. pulled away into a parking area, and decided to install the rims. i jacked up my car, rear left, changed the tire, rear right, then i untightned the front right tire, jack up the car, using the same 2 ton hydralic jack, take of the old rim, and then the car started to slowly fall down, like a inch every 3 seconds, so i panic, try to put the rim back on the lugs, but the car already was to low, and also, the rim got stuck but the car was still falling. so i get the jack from the trunk and started jacking up the car up with it. luckly, the car didnt fall all the way, and the rim didnt get bent. i changed the last tire, using my factory jack. i got kinda freaked out beacasue i was supposed to change my oil soon, and i was most likely going to use that jack. now im probably going to throw it away.
i did check the locking thing on the jack, where you release the presusre, and it was closed. WTF? pep boys jack FTL. anyone have experince like this with crafstman jacks? im going to get that next.
06-17-2009, 12:38 AM
#6
06-17-2009, 07:25 AM
#7
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,159
Even for accessing the drain plug OP!
06-18-2009, 12:32 AM
#9
07-07-2009, 07:10 AM
#12
I guess for some people it takes one of these oh **** moments to do things the right way. I have 4 jackstands and I usually use all 4 whenever I'm under the car for anything. you gotta remember that if the car falls you probably aren't going to survive.
07-07-2009, 07:21 AM
#13
09-28-2009, 02:20 PM
#19
You can also shove one of your spare wheels under the jack points on each side as a precaution. I have a set of racing wheels off of a old porsche and I throw them underneath the doors by the jack points depending on what Im doin.
09-28-2009, 02:43 PM
#20
Slightly old thread....but I'll contribute that I've read the reviews for Craftsman jacks, and apparently they suck big time.
10-16-2009, 11:55 AM
#22
i just think it would be a good pre cation, and a lesson for me. i screwed up.
anyways, i got some 350z rims for my car, went to a tire shop to put valve stems into them, and had them balanced. pulled away into a parking area, and decided to install the rims. i jacked up my car, rear left, changed the tire, rear right, then i untightned the front right tire, jack up the car, using the same 2 ton hydralic jack, take of the old rim, and then the car started to slowly fall down, like a inch every 3 seconds, so i panic, try to put the rim back on the lugs, but the car already was to low, and also, the rim got stuck but the car was still falling. so i get the jack from the trunk and started jacking up the car up with it. luckly, the car didnt fall all the way, and the rim didnt get bent. i changed the last tire, using my factory jack. i got kinda freaked out beacasue i was supposed to change my oil soon, and i was most likely going to use that jack. now im probably going to throw it away.
i did check the locking thing on the jack, where you release the presusre, and it was closed. WTF? pep boys jack FTL. anyone have experince like this with crafstman jacks? im going to get that next.
anyways, i got some 350z rims for my car, went to a tire shop to put valve stems into them, and had them balanced. pulled away into a parking area, and decided to install the rims. i jacked up my car, rear left, changed the tire, rear right, then i untightned the front right tire, jack up the car, using the same 2 ton hydralic jack, take of the old rim, and then the car started to slowly fall down, like a inch every 3 seconds, so i panic, try to put the rim back on the lugs, but the car already was to low, and also, the rim got stuck but the car was still falling. so i get the jack from the trunk and started jacking up the car up with it. luckly, the car didnt fall all the way, and the rim didnt get bent. i changed the last tire, using my factory jack. i got kinda freaked out beacasue i was supposed to change my oil soon, and i was most likely going to use that jack. now im probably going to throw it away.
i did check the locking thing on the jack, where you release the presusre, and it was closed. WTF? pep boys jack FTL. anyone have experince like this with crafstman jacks? im going to get that next.
This happend to me with 2 brand new hydraulic jack, both where missing hydraulic oil so you wanna check that. I have 4 hydraulic Jack ( 2 ton each ) and 4 x Jack stand so whenever i lift the car I use all of the 8 jack sometime I even put some 8 x 8 wooden pieces. Some say I'm fanatic, but at 48 I never had a single injury because of faulty jack.
My rules of thumb is to always use at least 2 level of security but most of the time I use 3.
Good luck.
AA
10-16-2009, 03:23 PM
#23
I use two jacks whenever I raise the car 
But jack stands are expensive, $40 for two at Schucks. I guess $80 bucks for a set of four is not worth dying in a uncomfortable position over
But jack stands are expensive, $40 for two at Schucks. I guess $80 bucks for a set of four is not worth dying in a uncomfortable position over
10-17-2009, 11:09 PM
#25
around 18 years ago my dad had his 300zx fall on him because he trusted a jack too much. Luckily it wasn't a sudden fall, it was more like what you were describing about it slowly falling, except he was busy underneath the car, so he didn't notice at first. When he started to notice that it was starting to crush him, he called out to us and we were able to get the jack to go up again. We have never lifted up a car without placing jack stands on it since(no matter if it is a simple thing that will only take a couple of minutes). I am glad my father didn't lose his life because of a simple mistake(I was 6 at the time).
I read that jacks need continual maintenance on them, and that the lack of maintenance is the most common mistake that many people make when dealing with their floorjacks.
I read that jacks need continual maintenance on them, and that the lack of maintenance is the most common mistake that many people make when dealing with their floorjacks.
10-20-2009, 03:39 PM
#26
Funny, I have craftsman professional jack and jack stands and they work amazing. I also have cheap autozone jackstands that seem to work great too.
10-23-2009, 07:34 PM
#27
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,159
around 18 years ago my dad had his 300zx fall on him because he trusted a jack too much. Luckily it wasn't a sudden fall, it was more like what you were describing about it slowly falling, except he was busy underneath the car, so he didn't notice at first. When he started to notice that it was starting to crush him, he called out to us and we were able to get the jack to go up again. We have never lifted up a car without placing jack stands on it since(no matter if it is a simple thing that will only take a couple of minutes). I am glad my father didn't lose his life because of a simple mistake(I was 6 at the time).
I read that jacks need continual maintenance on them, and that the lack of maintenance is the most common mistake that many people make when dealing with their floorjacks.
I read that jacks need continual maintenance on them, and that the lack of maintenance is the most common mistake that many people make when dealing with their floorjacks.
10-24-2009, 12:43 PM
#28
jack stands
/thread
01-15-2010, 01:12 AM
#31
01-15-2010, 08:40 PM
#32
i just said bc it was included as far as i knew... i'm all about saving nickels too. if i saved a few i would do it myself bc i want to avoid air guns and over-torquing as well. getting new wheels this spring. before i didnt care bc wheels already got ruined.
01-26-2010, 05:39 AM
#39
USE JACK STANDS FOR EVERYTHING!
I had a car fall on me because of carelesness with jackstands guys. I was doing a job that was only gonna take me between 5 to 10 minutes under the car. But thats all it takes for something to happen guys.
The car fell on my head. the control arm was sitting on the side of my face and the brake rotor was sitting on my chest. I was pinned under there for about a minute and a half before my dad and brother were able to lift the car. I had 29 stitches in my face and 3 staples behind my ear. I'm very lucky to only be left with a pretty nice scar.
But bottom line guys, JACKSTANDS JACKSTANDS JACKSTANDS. I dont wish what happend to me to happen to anyone else. Stay safe guys.
I had a car fall on me because of carelesness with jackstands guys. I was doing a job that was only gonna take me between 5 to 10 minutes under the car. But thats all it takes for something to happen guys.
The car fell on my head. the control arm was sitting on the side of my face and the brake rotor was sitting on my chest. I was pinned under there for about a minute and a half before my dad and brother were able to lift the car. I had 29 stitches in my face and 3 staples behind my ear. I'm very lucky to only be left with a pretty nice scar.
But bottom line guys, JACKSTANDS JACKSTANDS JACKSTANDS. I dont wish what happend to me to happen to anyone else. Stay safe guys.
