Which axle stands?

[Diablos-666]

Hey guys, I've asked my brother to get me a trolley jack and axle stands for Christmas.

Just after some opinions on which ones are the best option really.

Have seen a jack and axle stand kit for ~£40 on eBay. Any reason I should discount these ones?

Thanks

[Alexdaredevilz]

Most cheap ones, ive seen and used main seal goes on them,

Was only 2 weeks ago mine almost squashed me, I managed to get my head out, but had a brake disc land on my shoulder, luckily I had 2 friends there and got out ok

Just ask my father for a decent jack and stands for Christmas, and he dropped it off today,

This also came with 2 free decent axel stands, should last me 20 odd years

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/sealey-3010cx-trolley-ja...

IMO don't cheap out on some thing like this


Alex

[rigga]

Alexdaredevilz said:

Most cheap ones, ive seen and used main seal goes on them,

Was only 2 weeks ago mine almost squashed me, I managed to get my head out, but had a brake disc land on my shoulder, luckily I had 2 friends there and got out ok

Just ask my father for a decent jack and stands for Christmas, and he dropped it off today,

This also came with 2 free decent axel stands, should last me 20 odd years

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/sealey-3010cx-trolley-ja...

IMO don't cheap out on some thing like this


Alex

Lucky escape as id never go under a car just on a jack,always use stands as you found out a jack can suddenly let go .....

[Alexdaredevilz]

I should know better really, after working on cars for 8 years

[Diablos-666]

That is a tad out of budget. As long as the stands are used then a cheap jack isn't really a worry. I'll only work underneath if the stands are there anyway, wouldn't risk using only a jack.

[phillpot]

generally I think you'll find cheaper jacks won't lift as high and cheaper axle stands also don't go very high. Ok for doing brakes etc but if you're looking to actually get under the car to do "things" it will need to be really quite high to work comfortably.

I've also noticed that many budget axle stands have very little turn ups on the bit your car sits on, again ok for pad changes and so on but if I'm underneath tugging and pulling ( ! ) at something very tight I want to have the chassis rails or whatever sat down into some deep and positive supports

Cheapy on left, garage quality right . . . .

[Diablos-666]

Ah I see that pictures is a great help thanks. Can see the difference, I know what to look for now.

I wouldn't be doing anything too serious underneath, just cleaning the chassis mainly and having a go at taking the back box off and putting a sports backbox on.

Thanks for your help

[Mattt]

I have these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-64431-Ratchet-Style...

And I think this jack: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Liftmaster-2-Ton-Car-Trolley...

Only used once mind - but seem ok. I just had to find one with low enough clearance.

I've just bought some ice hockey pucks to use as lifting pads.

[phillpot]

Mattt said:

And I think this jack
seems ok. I just had to find one with low enough clearance.

think you might struggle to get that under a TVR with that built up lifting pad (5.5 inch min)? Could drive car onto some blocks of wood before jacking I guess ?

This looks more TVR friendly ?

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...


Now, if your brother spends that much on you do you have to spend as much on him ?

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 9th December 23:00

[Mattt]

Ah, just searched my emails.

It was the low profile one I got: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Liftmaster-Profile-Hydrual... but they are now unavailable.

[Barreti]

phillpot said:

This looks more TVR friendly ?

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

A word of warning about these.

My first one had to go back because the seal failed.
The second (and current) one I noticed one of the front wheel bolts coming loose.
There are something like 24 bolts on this jack and when I checked about 80% of them were loose. I undid them all and refitted with loctite and haven't had a problem since.

There is one bad design point and that is the ruddy mega spring which twangs the handle into the upright position when you let it go. Not only does it smack the handle against the car with a proper thud but it can mean the handle is jammed against the car and you then struggle to get your fingers around the handle to do anything with it.
A bit of large diameter pipe lagging protects the car and stops the handle wedging against the car.

[roseytvr]

+1 with Barreti. I have this jack and the seals have failed after 18 months. Refurb kit is cheap enough bur no instructions and a 2 hour strip down before rebuilding!! Not reccomended!

[phillpot]

Thats "Machine Mart", quality all the way !

(maybe that style of jack but from elsewhere )

[simonej]

Barreti said:

A word of warning about these.

My first one had to go back because the seal failed.

And another +1 here. It stopped working after the second lift! Very poor.

Fortunately I bought mine from Costco and they just gave me my money back.

[Diablos-666]

So then, can anyone recommend a decent set of axle stands and jack. I don't need a state of the art system as i'll only be doing odds and sods.

I'm okay with the Axle Stands as i know what to look out for know, it's more the jack due to clearance etc...

[DavidLScott]

Drive the car up on to some 2" timber and pretty much any jack will go under the front.
IIRC once the front is up a bit, the back will go up without planks.

Put rubber or something protective on the jack and stands so you don't scratch the paint on the chassis but make sure it's securely fitted or everything will slide around.

[Roy C]

I find that ratchet-type axle stands are much easier to use than the conventional pin-type. They can be raised and lowered in situ with one hand, so no fiddling around with pins and chains.