Heads up! Jack issues.

[Beans on Toast]

Hey everyone,
A few weeks back I blew a tire in Port Alberni, and while trying to put on the spare, found out my jack won't lift the Deli high enough to get the spare on. Had to call a tow truck to give me enough lift to change the tire. Just thought this might be handy info, so no one gets stuck out in the bush with a flat.
Cheers,
BoT

[delicanuck]

Hello Beans, or is that Mr. Toast?

What were you jacking against? Were you on a chassis hard point or on an axle or A arm? I changed a rear tire a couple of weeks ago and had no trouble at all. I was jacking against the axle at the spring clamp.

Actually, that's not true at all. I didn't change that tire did I? It was Tamandra wasn't it. ( Gee, did I get that name right?)

[Breadman]

i've had all four wheels off both delicas more times than i would like to admit. i swapped the more aggressive tires off and on for winter on the family van. changed all the calipers on both vans so yes the stock jack works for me, many times. sometimes i used a chunk of wood or a flat rock on soft ground though.
paul

[username]

yeah, just throw a block of wood under there if it isn't getting up high enough.

[Beans on Toast]

Yeah, I was on a hard point. I guess I should have been on the axle. I've got a chunk of 4x4 in there now though, just to be safe.

[delicanuck]

Hi Beans,

I did a bit of research and it looks like there are two schools of thought on car jacking.... er I mean jacking up a car.

Jacking against a hard point on the body minimizes the likelihood that the jack will slip, however this causes more displacement of the actual car, thereby, theoretically increasing the possibility that the whole car might slip. Well, I guess that matters if you pulled up at the side of that Bolivian road, or maybe if you left your rum and coke on the center consol and don't want to spill it.

Jacking against an axle may offer less jack stability but doesn't cause the rest of the car to tip as much. It also works better.

On balance, I think jacking against an axle will generally be better because much of the possibility of a slipping jack can be mitigated by careful placement and because jacking at the axle is much faster, reducing the amount of time you spent squatting at the side of the highway. It turns out you are more likely to get hit by some other driver inadvertantly swerving into you as he gawks at... uuhhmm.... at your... plumber's butt maybe? than you are to have your car fall on you. Besides, it means you can get back in your car sooner so that less of the ice will have melted, watering down your rum and coke.

[Beans on Toast]

Thanks for the advice delicanuck, I'll be jacking off the axle from now on. I can only hope you'll be there with a spare rum and coke next time. Coulda used a few that day. Cheers!

Beans