Axle Stands, Jack Stands, Wheel Ramps... Safest way to work on the car?

[tom23]

Last time I changed my oil I borrowed some steel car ramps off a friend and felt quite comfortable while under there. However, I don't feel comfortable asking to borrow them 2 times a week so I am trying and get some tools for myself.

Car ramps are bulky and heavy though and I'm sure my parents won't appreciate them taking up the whole garage. I have jacked up the car before and can honestly say I do not want to go under there while that measily 12 year old jack is doing its job.

Axle stands.. will these work? They look like with abit of a push the car will just fall over I'm tight on money so I will probably looking at second hand. Can anyone recommend what will suit me best?

Kind regards, Tom.

[Mrk_Mickey]

Good to hear you're getting under there yourself!

Axle stands are by far the safest form of keeping your car in the air. Use a jack to get the car up to height, put the axle stands in the appropriate place under the car and lower the car down onto the stands.

As long as the stands aren't made out of spaghetti they won't be going anywhere . What you do is pull up the handbrake, and chock the wheels (I haven't got chocks so I use bricks..). You can get axle stands from supercheap/repco for about 60 bucks I think, something like that...the best ones to use in my opinion are the pin types, because they have ratchet ones and well....that's not 100%.

Oh and if you're looking at coilovers you'll never get your car up ramps lol.

[Manaz]

Oh and if you're looking at coilovers you'll never get your car up ramps lol.

To get a low car up a set of ramps, you use a long beam of wood - increase the ramp length and you decrease the angle.

That said - with coilovers, just wind them up!

[gareth_oau]

if you do get ramps, hang them from the garage ceiling when not in use

[tom23]

This may sound dumb; are axle and jack stands one and the same?

[Mrk_Mickey]

To get a low car up a set of ramps, you use a long beam of wood - increase the ramp length and you decrease the angle.

That said - with coilovers, just wind them up!

You've gotta jack the car up to wind the coilovers up

This may sound dumb; are axle and jack stands one and the same?

Yeah they are. I saw some in supercheap today for $35

[tom23]

Thanks for your help I really appreciate it.

[Mrk_Mickey]

No worries dude. We've all been there, heck I was there last year

[static1800]

I always chuck the wheels and tires I have taken off under the car as a second precaution even when working with stands.

Best they catch the falling car not your chest...

[MattyT]

I have coilovers. I also have car ramps. They do not mix. Doh

Make sure you buy stands that are appropriately rated. All stands have a weight rating. Mine are 650kg per stand, so with two they could supposedly take the whole weight of my car - meaning they should never, ever collapse.

[craig_the_german]

Car stands/ ramps

Hi all,

I know this may seem obvious but ramps are no good if you intend removing the wheels.

If you intend removing the wheels, you will need to jack the car up and support it with stands, that way the wheels will "hang" allowing you to remove them.

I have both stands and ramps and use which ever is appropriate for the job.

[Transporter]

Welcome to the forum,
all of you.

Guys you are all Off Topic.

Sometimes the ramps could be a pain to drive on, they move while you drive on them. Also make sure you don't over run them. If your garage is not long enough under any circumstances don't have a helper watching your ramps and giving you directions in front of your car.

Gee, now I’m off topic too.