OEM car jack dangerous

[Machine]

I do my own taxes and a **** jack is a **** jack. It's not user error.
I lied in my previous post, the OEM jack had been used without fail to change all four wheels previously, but the time after that is when it failed. Watch out if you continue to press your luck with the R jack. It's a heavy m-f-in car.

[Candyman]

I guess a certain percentile of people just arent that technically minded. Accept it guys - and pay someone else to do it when you cant use something properly. Thats why i pay someone to do my tax lol.

The OEM jack on my R is used every 3 months to remove all four wheels. It's part of my routine, always has been since I started owning VWs

[bennjamin]

I do my own taxes and a **** jack is a **** jack. It's not user error.
I lied in my previous post, the OEM jack had been used without fail to change all four wheels previously, but the time after that is when it failed. Watch out if you continue to press your luck with the R jack. It's a heavy m-f-in car.

Is the R jack the same design as others ? I'm guessing ( assuming of a massive multi country multi platform manufacturer ) the jack might very well be used through many models and weights

[seangti]

My car too has fallen off the factory jack when changing a wheel on flat, hard packed dirt. The ground didn't move but understanding of force the jack mustnot have been sitting entirely vertical under the sill as the car rose, resulting in it to twist and fail. The ground conditions were as good as you're likely to get in the event of a flat. I would have been absolutely stuffed if a mate wasn't there to help me out with his jack.

I believe that jack is now in landfill - a safety call I've made for myself and any future owner.

I'm actually glad that the girlfriends fiesta doesn't come with a jack, not that she'd ever try to replace a flat, but ensures we'd call ford assist in the event.

[OilBurna]

I was also changing a wheel on flat concrete surface (Passat Wagon) and the jack slipped and the tyre fell on my hand (big ouch).. Luckily the tyre cushioned the blow but to have 1/4 weight of the car sitting on your hand hurts. If you are going to be changing wheels on a regular basis then get a proper jack, it's like the old adage how much is your head worth would you buy a $10 helmet.

[brad]

I guess a certain percentile of people just arent that technically minded. Accept it guys - and pay someone else to do it when you cant use something properly. Thats why i pay someone to do my tax lol.

I'm in the percentile of people that are technically minded & I think they are pretty crap jacks.

[Machine]

Is the R jack the same design as others ? I'm guessing ( assuming of a massive multi country multi platform manufacturer ) the jack might very well be used through many models and weights

I can't access photobucket at the moment. Anyone else having problems?
See the links below for pics of the Golf R OEM jack. It's rated at 1010 kg and says Golf GTI on it (2005 onward). Our 2008 Polo TDI has a similar style jack but is rated at about 700kg.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9KW...it?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9KW...it?usp=sharing

[gldgti]

VW golf jacks arent much changed since the 70's. The one in my skoda is almost identical, albeit slightly beefier, than the ones you get in a mk1.

One day I had the front of my mk1 jacked up and the bearing at the end of the screwthread let go catastrophically. I mean, BANG! The bearing flew past my shoulder, the car fell on the ground and very nearly crushed my foot.

I've still used the OEM jacks on many occasions, even since then. I think that yes, it takes a keen eye and a careful touch to use them safely. I also believe that is wrong - most people seem not to have the right mindset to keep out of trouble.

Having only owned vw's, I can say I have a definite method when using the OEM jack, which is basically, crack the wheel nuts (as per normal) then jack up the car carefully, slowly until most of the weight is off the wheel (it should still be pretty firmly on the ground). Then I stand up and give the car a bit of a shove in each direction (across and along) to make sure its not too inclined to go over, then go up a bit more until the wheel is just off the ground and do it again. If its still good, change the wheel quick smart!

Also, I reckon the OEM jack is best used on a soft-ish ground (like a gravel shoulder) because the foot can dig in a bit and it seems to help with stability... but again its all a bit academic, no two rice puddings are the same I guess....

Only use it when you have to is what I reckon

Also, I dont think there are many small/medium cars that have good jacks - VW are no exception.

The best OEM jack I've seen is probably from an early 70's Mercedes-Benz.

[mattchu]

When I was jacking my car up once using the OEM jack on flat ground in my garage, the jack slipped off the jack point under the car and my car fell onto the still standing jack, damaging the long metal panel underneath the doors. Needless to say I wasn't impressed. Went to check if I had the right spot and I did as I ended up using the same spot to jack the car up successfully a couple minutes later.

[Tom87]

I guess a certain percentile of people just arent that technically minded. Accept it guys - and pay someone else to do it when you cant use something properly. Thats why i pay someone to do my tax lol.

Just because someone is technically inclined doesn't mean they're going to be competent at application.

Though I still insist anyone using the OE jack for anything other than emergencies is playing with danger or at least a tricky situation. Trolley jacks are not expensive and they're damn easy to use not to mention very safe compared to an emergency scissor jack. Actually its pretty funny that people spend thousands on tyres and wheels, interior gadgets yet alone +$20,000 cars and yet still won't purchase a $150 jack to make their lives easier and safer.

[Machine]

I bought a hydraulic trolley jack rated at 1650 kg from Repco for $25

[Idle]

I bought a hydraulic trolley jack rated at 1650 kg from Repco for $25

Sure, but can you pack it out of sight in the car?

The OEM jack is a cut-down scissor jack and even less safe.

The best car jacks I can remember having were the bottle jacks that came with Toyota's in the late '60's and 70's — still have a couple somewhere.

I once lifted the corner of a house with them.

[Machine]

Sure, but can you pack it out of sight in the car?

No, that's the problem. Home use only.

The best car jacks I can remember having were the bottle jacks that came with Toyota's in the late '60's and 70's — still have a couple somewhere.

I once lifted the corner of a house with them.

Hahaha! Awesome.

[Candyman]

and yet still won't purchase a $150 jack to make their lives easier and safer.

There have been quite a few of those fail as well with disastrous consequences, especially the cheap chinese units which there are plenty around..

If you are going to get a trolley jack, buy a good one and service it regularly.

Buy some decent axle stands - never rely on the jack to hold the car up for any length of time

[leighaus]

i got a big mofo kingchome long handle low profile jack for home.. i honestly dont even carry my wheel locknut adaptor most of the time because its in my garage from tinkering..

Surprisingly, many moons ago i owned a VT commodore. Best feature of that car was probably the jack. it served me well many times.