Can't trust Jack - Man killed while working on car

Efthreeoh · 11-26-2013, 06:25 AM

The jackstand didn't fail, the user of the jackstand failed.

I've posted this a million times. Always, ALWAYS, lift the car and place it on 4 jackstands, one at each lifting point on the side skirts. When the car is in the air with all four tires off the ground it cannot roll off the stands. Spend a little bit of money and by a high quality jack (one with a long saddle to reach the center jack points) and a set of 4 high quality jack stands that properly fit the lift points (i.e. a flat top stand vs. an axle-type stand).

Not having the details of this story, I'd bet the guy had the car on one stand, a stand of questionable quality. There was probably some side-load on the stand (rather than all the weight placed on top) and it failed because it was dealing with a side-load force it was not designed to support.

Billup · 11-26-2013, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

This is something I fear and the reason why I won't be DIY things that require lifting the car up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Condor3

damn that is sad man.

i am scared to go back under my car now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

Same goes for me.

I think it's kind of sad that stories like this, are the reason people don't want to get under their car and do their own work. Shit happens, so how do you prevent it? Safety precautions. Go around and rock the car while on the stands if you are that uncertain, it will drop if a stand is not locked.

But rather, lets not work on our car because it might magically crush you.

Call me old school, but someone elses ignorance is not going to make me fear my car.

happos2 · 11-26-2013, 09:47 AM

If I am under the car, I always take a wheel off and place it under the car as well, that way if the stand fails or the car falls of the stand somehow, the wheel will hopefully give me clearance to get out...

325rider · 11-26-2013, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happos2

If I am under the car, I always take a wheel off and place it under the car as well, that way if the stand fails or the car falls of the stand somehow, the wheel will hopefully give me clearance to get out...

This^^

Rather lose a wheel than a limb or my life...

11-26-2013, 06:25 AM	#45
Efthreeoh General 17303 Rep 18,727 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	The jackstand didn't fail, the user of the jackstand failed. I've posted this a million times. Always, ALWAYS, lift the car and place it on 4 jackstands, one at each lifting point on the side skirts. When the car is in the air with all four tires off the ground it cannot roll off the stands. Spend a little bit of money and by a high quality jack (one with a long saddle to reach the center jack points) and a set of 4 high quality jack stands that properly fit the lift points (i.e. a flat top stand vs. an axle-type stand). Not having the details of this story, I'd bet the guy had the car on one stand, a stand of questionable quality. There was probably some side-load on the stand (rather than all the weight placed on top) and it failed because it was dealing with a side-load force it was not designed to support.
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11-26-2013, 09:47 AM	#47
happos2 Dingleberries 76 Rep 1,246 Posts Drives: Gray E92 M3 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Indiana iTrader: (3)	If I am under the car, I always take a wheel off and place it under the car as well, that way if the stand fails or the car falls of the stand somehow, the wheel will hopefully give me clearance to get out...
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