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iTrader: (8)

A habit I have before getting under the car is to test how solid the car is once I have it up on 2 or 4 jack stands and wheel chocks. I push and body check from each corner. With 3 ton stands the car should be rock solid and I shouldn't be able to move it at all. Make sure you don't extend the jack stands to their maximium height.

There are a lot of demos on You-tube if you want to watch good examples. Remember don't be in a rush!

mandyfig

I had a near miss accident one time, can not remember what car was up in the air, but the issue was that I was getting lax in concentration because I have done them so many times and I forgot to be vigilant about safety. I do not remember what happened but the car slipped and went down, no damage, no injury. Was lucky. Wake up call for me. So now I rehearse my steps before I execute.

I was the the Miata! I drain and fill the tranny fluid periodically, the way to do this is to raise the car evenly, I use the level to make sure. Then you do the drain and fill. In one incident the car was airborne with only 2 jack stands holding it and sure enough it slipped. No damage bu it was terrifying. I did not use my typical procedure of lifting the car on 1 side using the lifting point in the middle, thereby installing the the 2 stands on one side at the same time. I tried to cheat and I jacked the car on one end at a time. When I did the 3rd corner, the car simply rocked and it lost the footing on 1 jack. Fortunately nothing got damaged and I did not get hurt.

Safety 1st.

Bgw70

I always use ramps if I am not going to remove any wheels, it is much safer, easier and faster.

If you still want the level, you can always jack up the rear after the front is safely on the ramps.

Ramps also work on the rear if you need to do work back there...

mandyfig

I do have ramps.

The ones I have sometimes would slip. Maybe I just need practice. But yes I have done the half ramp-jack stands before. May need to start practicing again. It is safer alternative and easier as well. Also might invest in another set and use ramps instead of jack stands. Can you actually have 2 sets and drive up? That would be quicker and ideal.

Bgw70

If you have two sets, one set would need to be very short so they would fit forward of the rear wheels. Hope that makes sense.

My ramps slip sometimes too, but I have found it is because I have my foot on the brakes slightly.
I find it easier to put the car in 1st gear and just try to use the gas, then only brake when I am at the top. I only do it this way when I have a spotter.

mandyfig

Great tip on the skidding, I am the same one foot on the gas and 1 on the brake, makes sense. Short ramp...?

Bgw70

Short ramp=low elevation ramp. I meant to say, if you are using two sets of ramps, one set on front wheels and another set on the rear wheels. The set on the rears would have to be placed forward of the rear wheels, which means the top of the ramp would have to fit under the car. That is what I meant when I said, short ramps...does that help?

Bgw70

I had to use my T/A as the example because my wife is out in the SC




This is what I meant, the ramp in front will fit but the rear will not work because the rear ramp is not short enough to fit under the car.

mandyfig

Now I see it!! Thanks a lot.

Bgw70

LoL, yea brutha! Gotta give her some luv too! She may not ride and drive as nice as the SC but she has some "serious step on the gas and put you back in you seat power!"

lukeb

Thanks everyone for all the helpful answers! Feel a lot more confident now trying this!

Jimbad

For what it's worth: My Lexus-mechanic friend, who works at a Lexus dealership, places the cups of the lift under what I would call vestigial frame members; in the front of the car, one on each side. I now do that and it works our just fine.

mandyfig

Can you please clarify (show pics) of these locations? Thanks in advance.