**Ever have a jack fail on you?**

[**CB7**]

Out of curiosity, have you ever had a jack fail on you? You always hear....never get under a car with just a jack. I just saw somebody down the street from me doing this. <- this isn't the first time either I've seen people do this.

Little over a year ago, I had a jack fail on me. I was jacking the car up for a routine oil change and the hydraulic pump failed on me and car slammed down hard.

Am I the only one?

*NOTE* This was also not a cheap jack that I was using.

[cvc7chris]

yeah there was a thread a while back about a guy with a honda using a jack and then his younger brother found him stuck under the car dead i believe and thank god *knocks on wood* i had never had a jack fail on me and i always use jackstands

[Jon]

Never had one fail on me. I've always been extremely cautious and use jack stands whenever possible. That and spend the $$$ for a quality shop jack.

[i<3mycb7coupe]

My dad and uncle were doing brakes on a new grand vitara, while it was in the air with the front drivers side tire off with the jack on the same side, it slipped (no e-brake)and dropped on its new rotor, everybodys ok

[HondaFan81]

I've heard it happen to a family friend, but never happened to me. I never take the chance, always use jack stands if I'm under the car. I have had hydraulic jacks fail due to leaking seals, but never instantly, usually a slow degradation.

FYI: Craftsman Professional hydraulic jacks (black/yellow) are not good quality and do not last long. My father had one, lasted like 2-3 years of home-mechanic use. His smaller and older gray Craftsman unit is much older and still works!

[gloryaccordy]

Jack stands take an extra 2 minutes to put in and will save ur life... seems like a no brainer if ur gonna be under the car

[excalibur02]

My 1.5 ton craftsman low profile jack is fail! I need a new one thinking of the big red brand I think it is.

[PointBlank]

Anyone use ramps?

[**CB7**]

Jack stands take an extra 2 minutes to put in and will save ur life... seems like a no brainer if ur gonna be under the car

You would think.... but not everybody thinks that way.

I double and triple check my stands.

[**CB7**]

Anyone use ramps?

Eh I've thought about it. You better have a good E-brake and have something behind the wheels when using them.

[deevergote]

One of the guys on an S2000 forum just got crushed by his car not long ago. He had the car on jack stands, rear only. He was working on the rear differential, and the car rolled, tipped the stands, and fell on him. Quite sad.

My 1.5 ton craftsman low profile jack is fail! I need a new one thinking of the big red brand I think it is.

My Craftsman started leaking in under a year. My big read broke completely in 2.


I would never trust ANY jack... hydraulic or mechanical. I always use jackstands, and I'll always have a steelie or two under the car as well. I'll always have the jack in place as well. If all else fails, at least there's something there to keep the car from completely crushing me.
I also rarely work on my car without anyone else knowing. If I get hurt, it won't be long before someone notices.



Ramps are a good idea, but wheel chocks are a necessity.

[Joshy]

I've had a jack fail on me before. The "Pro-Lift" brand sold at Advance Auto Parts. Luckily we had just lifted the vehicle and were about to set the jack stands. I never EVER rely solely on a jack.

[Leung]

My craftsman one seems to just lower itself when i'm not looking. luckily i always use jack stands when i raise the car otherwise i wouldn't be typing this.

[charlie0882004]

i was over my boys house one day and we was trying to adjust the coilovers and he lives on a hill. we forgot to put a brick in front of the wheels but the e brake was on. on his third tug the whole car falls forward and the stock jack falls and his foot is pined on the ground between the sidewalk and the caliper pinning his foot down. my car was low so it was on the grond he had to take his shoe off so he could be free then we used the spare because it was a smaller wheel. put it on and jacked the car back up

[1990accordex-r]

When I was changing a wheel with my dad using the stock jack it just collapsed. Luckily the car didn't crush any feet.