depronman
A2OC Donor
If can also add a plus one for NOT using the side jacks that came with the car for anything other than an emergency wheel change (and even then its a last resort and the jacked up car must be considered a no go in terms of any body parts going under the car). Certainly using two of them is a major no no.I was going to say exactly the same thing - or at the very least to suggest investing in some half-decent axle stands.
The other week I went to lift my project car to sort out the vibrating driver side inner wheel arch that I subsequently found was held in by only three fittings, one of them a 2-inch wood screw. I was in a rush for various domestic reasons. I had lifted the car to the point where the wheel was just about to leave the ground when there was a hell of a bang, the jack somersaulted out backwards falling just short of the A6, and the car fell back onto the wheel again. Given the kinetic energy involved I'm glad I wasn't in the plane of the escape route. After looking at the jack that I've used countless times previously without issue, there was a new surface mark about 6mm short of the end suggesting that I hadn't noticed that in my hasty efforts to get the jack vertical that the tubular end piece wasn't anywhere near inserted when I began to lift properly. Put it back in fully taking a bit more care, and this time it was absolutely fine. However, I've learnt my lesson. Now - imagine I was doing the 2-jack method above, and part way through lifting the second one with a wheel off, the first one pinged out? To paraphrase from early military pilots, Louis - there are old mechanics and bold mechanics, but finding mechanics that are both is not statistically likely.
A good trolley jack and a set of axle stands is a very sound investment, and will likely save your life at some point in the future if you continue car mechanicing.
I don't want to come across as preaching, ,but that picture did make my blood run cold - enough said
Cheers,
Paul