car maintenance questions

Norman_Castle

red_eye wrote: »

And the end of a bell award goes to...

but really, you could just pump the jack handle a few extra times. much easier then drilling extra holes.

The main reason I drilled the holes was to try a pillar drill I had been given. Anyone who thinks two extra holes will weaken the stands deserves the award.
Pump the handle?. Thats genius. Thanks.

marlot

Chances are the increased risk is minimal, but I'm not a fan of making alterations to safety critical equipment. You're welcome to go under them, but I wouldn't.

I also put an additional support under there, just in case the car comes off - even if it's just the spare wheel.

JustinR1979

If the holes are 2" apart originally I don't see the issue, as most stands holes are an inch apart anyway, and holes in a line.
Assuming these with 2" holes aren't of lesser metal of course.
To have hole spacings this large I'd think they were a big sturdy set of stands.
I think you'd need them in front of you to make a call on it, sounds ok to me though.

facade

I have both sorts.

The ratchet ones need to pull out longer, then settle back onto the ratchet, so you have to lift the car higher than you wanted, to end up with the right height, and as you generally have reached the end of the jack, it is always a bit lower than you wanted.
To get them out, you have to pull them out more to release the ratchet, so again you have to jack the car up that little bit more than the jack will reach.

The peg ones you just take the weight off and snatch the peg out.

AdrianC

Have you considered putting a block of wood between the jack and the car?

Norman_Castle

Terrifying image of extra holes in axle stand. Please wear safety glasses when viewing.

facade

AdrianC wrote: »

Have you considered putting a block of wood between the jack and the car?

In some circumstances, that can be a good idea, as the wood can spread the weight, and protect the paper thin high strength metal from damage, but it can also slide off the jack easier.

Iceweasel

Norman's axle-stands look OK to me.

arcon5

The modified axle stand looks okay to me too - but I wouldn't, ever, modify one. I don't know what design considerations went in to the product, whether the gap is the width apart for a reason, because of the material it's made from or the width or manufacturing process or what.

With cars, pretty much every curve, shape, whatever is done for a reason, often because of the geometry changes during varying driving conditions etc etc.
I fear there's very specific considerations when designing axle stands - however simple they may look to a non-engineer. And it's for this reason i'd never modify one of the most safety critical devices used when repairing a car.
But I appreciate peoples opinions will vary.

As for which stand -- i'd go for pin, although I do have and regularly use the ratchet one, but I feel a lot more comfortable with the pin one.

AdrianC

facade wrote: »

In some circumstances, that can be a good idea, as the wood can spread the weight, and protect the paper thin high strength metal from damage, but it can also slide off the jack easier.

Only if it was a bit borderline perched anyway.