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

[deevergote]

The stock jack seems to be the safest of all, too!

[Accrdwgnguy]

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!

Yup my Dad has one of the old gray craftsman and it leaks a bit but works great for being 15 years old.

Always just jackstand and I sometimes throw in block of wood to block the wheels and hold the car up if it falls

[F22HB]

I would be so mad at my car if it crushed me to death.

[**CB7**]

The stock jack seems to be the safest of all, too!

I think I've used that jack twice.

[deevergote]

The stock jack is one of my most valuable tools.

[rexload]

I've never had anything fall on me (knocks on wood)

Getting under the car is SCARY shit. Especially for those of use who like to work outside and don't have a perfectly flat driveway. I usually put like 8 jackstands and some big tires under it. I want to be 100% sure at all times that i will come out of there alive even if there is an earthquake!!

[bcjammerx]

Yes I have had it happen...not such an extreme.

And you are not alone...which is why you should NEVER ever use a jack (hydraulic) to hold a car up...only to jack the car...then put on jack stands.

There is a reason for this safety rule...sorry you found out the hard way...at least you're ok

[Makaveli2k]

Yeah. I was working on a Ford F350 and the Jack gave out. Luckily my extremely large biceps had the power so that I could lift the thing off me. But then some girls walked by so I started bench pressing the thing and got their digits.

It was a good day.

=p

In all seriousness, no I haven't. Like earlier said it doesn't take long to throw down some jack stands underneath. That will dramatically decrease the chances of the vehicle or the extremely obese woman falling on you.

['93CB7Ex]

my beretta's fallen off the jack before. I was changing the alternator and it just fell hard on the concrete on the ball joint. but if i ever jack any of my cars up, i always use jack stands and leave the jack under the car supporting some weight so its kind of like a fail safe.

[illestatus]

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.

i remember this, it was my car!! good thing no one was under the car when that happened, from now on i dont mind taking my car to my friends shop to do my oil change($10)

[ChIoVnIdCa]

The seal is like $3 on the jacks and easy to replace btw for those with failing jacks

[Night Wolf]

Ive had a BMW OEM jack colapse on me once. almost got my hand caught

[johnnyblaze2g]

Im x-treeeemly safe when it comes to getting under a car..

[Lil' Whitie]

when i was moving from st louis to cleveland my passenter lower ball joint popped in indianna. so i was working on the car had it jacked up with the OEM honda jack and i was sooo stressed out. next to a busy road no money and a carload of stuff. and a busted ball joint. well needless to say i got the new one in and everythign lookin good. right before i put the tire back on i decided to give the steering knuckle a good shake to see if anything is loose. the car rolled back and landed on the rotar. stupid me i forgot to put the ebrake on since the car was not going anywhere when the balljoin was off.

i'm still greatful that i was ok and the car missed my foot by two inches.


JACKSTANDS FTW!

[bcjammerx]

hydraulic jacks...even screw jacks...are meant only to raise the vehicle.

hydraulic jacks will slowly go down, that's what happens.

screw jacks are not designed to be the only support.


Jack stands are made of thicker steel and have a wider base...even when changing a tire, never use only a hydraulic/screw jack...please!