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Modify Jack?
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The "widowmaker" isn't OEM. There is no OEM jack for a Smart, because there's no option for a spare.londonTiger wrote: »get OEM widowmaker, that scissor jack may take up your entire boot space.0 -
It's a Smart car - just pick it up.Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.0
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Those dog-legged 'widow-makers' are awful and dangerous. imho I'd much rather use the type you bought with an extra 7mm cut out of the top!
I have used those jacks for years.
If you use them correctly they are perfectly adequate. Though if you can't use them safely best to leave it to somebody that can and use a chock or two at all times.
If they were dangerous they wouldn't exist or be provided with cars as OE equipment.0 -
londonTiger wrote: »get OEM widowmaker, that scissor jack may take up your entire boot space.
Why is it a widow maker? Because you read that on the Internet?
Used correctly they are fine, no less stable than a scissor Jack. If you want to go belt and braces then carry a small trolley Jack, probably impractical in a Smart!0 -
the thing to watch out for with the smart car is that it us such a small wheelbase that a slight lift will shift the angle and balance of weight quite significantly compared to a bigger car.
so a flat toppd bottle jack may not be the best option, something with an appropriate contour for the smart car would be best.0 -
londonTiger wrote: »the thing to watch out for with the smart car is that it us such a small wheelbase that a slight lift will shift the angle and balance of weight quite significantly compared to a bigger car.
so a flat toppd bottle jack may not be the best option, something with an appropriate contour for the smart car would be best.
There's only one person who suggested a bottle jack, you.
They probably wouldn't fit under either.0 -
I have used those jacks for years.
If you use them correctly they are perfectly adequate. Though if you can't use them safely best to leave it to somebody that can and use a chock or two at all times.
If they were dangerous they wouldn't exist or be provided with cars as OE equipment.
If they weren't dangerous they wouldn't have earned the nick-name 'The Widow-Maker'.
They lift from one side and easily slip under the car dropping the whole lot down on whatever is underneath. The scissor jack is a much safer design.0 -
If they weren't dangerous they wouldn't have earned the nick-name 'The Widow-Maker'.
They lift from one side and easily slip under the car dropping the whole lot down on whatever is underneath. The scissor jack is a much safer design.
Why would you be under the car when changing a wheel?0 -
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Then it isn't a great issue if the car does fall off the jack. A little minor damage, perhaps, if it happens to be during the few seconds there's no wheel in place, but no worse.Silver-Surfer wrote: »Who say you would be?0
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