How to use jackstands

[Tango]

I am going to have a lot of beginner questions as I start to plan my work on my 81 Spider over the winter. I've never used jackstands to work under a car. I've seen another thread explaining to locate jackstands under the front crossmember. Where would I locate them to raise the back end up? What if I want to raise front and back at once? Are there any special safety considerations? Looking at a car completely raised up on 4 stands it doesnt LOOK very stable, especially if someone is underneath shoving at some stubborn bolt. I'm guessing I shouldn't buy the jackstands according to the lowest price?

thanks, Tim

[narfire]

PLEASE don't buy cheap when your safety is involved!!!
If you have any friends with a car shop or goto a local repair place and have a look asto what jackstands they use. Perhaps something inbetween will work.
For the rears I seem to be able to use a small floor jack on the middle of the differential and the car is balanced enough it goes up equally to position the jacks at the rear jacking point just infront of the rear tires, I'l straddle the lip with the slightly "U" shaped top of the jackstand.Or I also use the rear axle,carefull not to crimp any brake lines. Having some firewood rounds about I will sometimes back the jacks up by sliding a piece underneath,overkill perhaps but the past three years we have had to lift a farm tractor off an owner doing some work twice now... bad crush injuries.
The fronts are about the same. If you are going to do some serious tourqing under there,perhaps check by pushing on the car sideways , see if it moves.
As an added bit, wear some safety glasses,every time you touch something under there, crap falls off and will fall diagonally into your eyes.
Have fun and have a few cold brewski's ready when done

[So Cal Mark]

buy the best jackstands you can find. Preferrably with a solid base, avoid the type with just 3 legs and an open bottom unless you are making a sequel to Death Wish 3.

[racydave]

After the car is set, try as hard as you can to rock the car. Placment of the stands also depends on what you intend to work on. If its the front suspension, then place the stands behind the front wheels on the under body lip. Reversed local for rear suspension work.

[Brian]

I just finished replacing/rebuilding my differential, driveline and the entire rear suspension. What I did was drive the front up on ramps first. Then, jacked up the rear with a floor jack under the differential until the wheels were about 8" off the ground. Then I placed a jackstand under each rear jack point, with block of wood between and set the car down on the jack stands.

**** AS SOON AS THE WHEELS ARE OFF ****, they go under the car, just in front of the stands, with blocks to the bottom of the car . . . just in case.

[Tango]

I dont see much discussion of the use of ramps. I kind of thought if I had to get the car up on all four corners to do the guibo, ramps on the front wheels and jackstands on the rear might be more solid. But as you talk to people it is hard to get a consensus.

Whatever I do I will have wood blocks under the end I am working on as a backup, but it seems to me that getting the old guibo off will take some persuasion.

[htchevyii]

I've got a set of ramps, but since I painted my garage floor its too slippery to use them, they just shoot out from under the car! They are plastic ramps. They are Ok for when you don't have to remove the wheels or need weight on the suspension to tighten control arm bolts and such.

[racydave]

Safest thing is to throw away the ramps and wood blocks!

[kilrwail]

I have used a set of steel ramps forever, with pieces of light plywood under them to prevent slippage. They are great for fluid changes - safer than jackstands - or to raise the entire car in conjunction with jacking the rear - for e-brake, guibo, etc. I wish I could use them with the other cars, but the Fiat's the only one with enough front clearance.

[racydave]

http://gallery.italiancarclub.com/124og ... k.GIF.html preffered method!

[ventura ace]

http://gallery.italiancarclub.com/124og ... k.GIF.html preffered method!

I recognize Denise, but not the car.

A

[Tango]

I dunno. Those could go at any seam.