Info about Auto Parts
Jack Stands : Useful Tools
When you have to work underneath your car, it is essential that you correctly support it to prevent it from slipping. A lot of injuries can and do happen to people who try to take shortcuts by using whatever materials they have lying around to prop their car up. Obviously, these people are taking a huge risk by doing so.
Thankfully, there are many types of
jack stands available these days, meaning that you should never have to work in unsafe conditions ever again. A car jack is really only designed to raise a car far enough off the ground for the tyres can be changed. For anything else such as changing the oil, exhaust, or other car parts beneath the car, you need a set of jack stands.
With these mandatory tools, you can indefinitely hold the full weight of the vehicle while repairs are taking place. Car jack stands are specifically designed to hold a car stationary without any slipping. To facilitate this they have a Y-shaped cup design that will grip the frame rail of an automobile.
Once these stands are deployed in the correct spot beneath the auto, it would take a great deal of effort to knock a car off them because of this cupped design. They also feature rubber feet that further prevent slipping and prevent the stand from sinking if used on softer ground.
Normal car jacks, such as trolley jacks or the ones found in the trunk of a car, are not completely infallible, with many reported accidents confirming this. There is sure to be a lot of disagreement over this statement. While I am sure that many mechanics will report that they have never seen a jack fail in X number or years of loyal service, the fact is that the accident statistics don't lie - occasionally the seals in jacks do fail.
Arguing about it, however, is a moot point in any case, with the cost of a new set of jack stands costing little more than $20! Jacks are great for changing tyres, but for anything more involved it is essential that jack stands are used. Stands also come in a variety of different types, such as hydraulic and heavy duty jack stands, which make lifting heavier vehicles a cinch. You can even leave stands supporting a car for days, weeks even, without fear of the chassis falling.
Don't risk injury by using materials such as cinder blocks and bricks to support your car - invest in a high quality set of jack stand!