Being My Own Mechanic

illapino · Post by **illapino** » October 2nd, 2006, 6:29 pm

Tired of Jacks. The first one was just a crappy $50 Canadian Tire jack that I returned and now I'm using a blue Michelin jack for double the price. This one lifts better of course, but then I hear the spring pop and I get all scared, and sometimes I hear something from my car like a loud SNAP, then I get scared again and lower my car back down to find a different lift point. Well anyway, I'm fed up with trying to find the right jack, living in fear that I'll hear another loud SNAP. Another thing is that if I buy the more expensive jacks they tend to be larger which would make it difficult to get it under my car if it's lowered by Ground Control coilovers. Anyway, I'm fed up with trying to find the right jack. The whole thing of getting under a car that's merely sitting on two jack stands has somehow given my chest and ribs an emotion of their own: fear.

How about two-post lifts? These are of course only found at garage shops, but they seem to be a sure-fire remedy. Expensive they are ...

blah blah ...

JWMX3 · Post by **JWMX3** » October 2nd, 2006, 6:34 pm

do you have a princess auto near you ? they have a nice low profile jack with a long handle, max lift in 5 pumps or something, its about 160 $

[ADMIN - Watch the language]

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » October 2nd, 2006, 7:12 pm

hahah either that or figure out were to put your jack stands..

christ all mighty, your frame isn't going to breake, or you crossmembers or your weld pinch. Just through some tires under your car, or better yet, leave the jack under even after you've put in your jack stands. Don't worry muffin, you'll be ok.

It really isn't a laughing matter, i know a guy that died because he was under his car when a jack failed. I dont' know what whent wrong but usually nothing happens.

mitmaks · Post by **mitmaks** » October 2nd, 2006, 9:32 pm

just put cynder blocks under your wheels

hgallegos915 · Post by **hgallegos915** » October 2nd, 2006, 10:09 pm

works well for me

you can never trust any jack... i would buy jack stands but im busy buying stupid things.. blocks do well for me.

illapino · Post by **illapino** » October 3rd, 2006, 4:18 am

it wasn't jackstands that i was btiching about at all.
(i put them under the side "grooves" no problem)
it was the jacks i was talking about.
always making loud snap noises and the spring sounding like it will snap too.
i can't work under these conditions

Spinkx79 · Post by **Spinkx79** » October 3rd, 2006, 9:55 am

illapino wrote:I can't work under these conditions

If your that worried, then maybe you shoud not be your own mechanic.

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » October 3rd, 2006, 12:28 pm

If your that worried, then maybe you shoud not be your own mechanic.

Tunes67

illapino · Post by **illapino** » October 3rd, 2006, 4:19 pm

well, cmon. do any of you guys get loud snapping noises everytime you lift your car? at least address what i'm talking about here! (eg. loud snapping noises)

hgallegos915 · Post by **hgallegos915** » October 3rd, 2006, 5:04 pm

I dont.. and I use a cheap 20 dllr jack from autozone.. ther stock jack seems to hold up. You should not be heating that noise..

mr1in6billion · Post by **mr1in6billion** » October 3rd, 2006, 5:10 pm

Like a hydrolic car jack? I've never heard any noise other than the 'squeek-squeek-squeek' when you jack up the car.

Always properly jack-stand the car and remove the hydrolic before getting under the car.

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » October 3rd, 2006, 5:16 pm

I always hear creaking from the jack and suspension as the tires come off the ground.. its not that big of deal.. just use a chalk or block of wood behind the rear tires to ensure the car doesnt roll backwards (It should go without saying to make sure your e-brake is set) And jack it up! Use jackstands that are rated for greater strength than your car weight or use cinder blocks. Objects in motion tend to make noise. Whether its a jack.. the car as it lifts.. or the turtle that just flew by you while you were deciding if you should use the jack or not.

Tunes67

Steeb · Post by **Steeb** » October 3rd, 2006, 7:06 pm

use ramps whenever possible. to change your oil ramps work great.

tehbrookzorz · Post by **tehbrookzorz** » October 4th, 2006, 4:09 am

Wow, I feel so daring to use my scissor jack now.

illapino · Post by **illapino** » October 4th, 2006, 4:24 am

when i'm talking about a loud SNAP, i'm talking about a loud SNAP.
it's really loud. serious. it didn't happen with the $50 car jack, but this $100 Michelin one does it. The sound itself could only be coming from the car, but whatever lift point of tried, the sound occurs after midway of my lift! SNAP!!!! then i just let it drop like a puzzy ... at first i thought it was the contacts of the lift point and the lifter slipping, but this hypothesis has been abolished after i put in the rubber lift-filler that cushions the contact: still SNAP!!!!

i just don't get it.
of course SNAP isn't normal, so i let it down.
here goes another return i guess ...
there's always something ...

oh, and ramps: u can't take tires off on those, so no. ...
soooo ... anyone have two-post lifts at home?

i mean, i got all my tools ready. and i found out that lubricating the shift mechanism is really damn easy, with only the exhaust pipe in the way, but can't even get the damn girl off the ground with this stupid equipment ...