Jack stand placement

B

Bates51

Junior Member
Where is the best place to locate jack stands on my 31 Victoria. Both front and rear. I want to be able to move around under the car on a creeper.
 
I have put the stands on the rear axle and on the front end. I haven't had a problem with those locations. When I did all 4 backing plates and brakes the car never moved.
 
I suspect by the nature of your question that you are not accustomed to working with tools on cars. Please consider having an experienced Model A technical person with you while you learn how to work on your car. Put 2 stands under the front axle widely spaced and 2 stands under the rear axle widely spaced. Also take note of this slide.
 

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The front axle is sloped near the wheels. Put the jack stands where the wish bone bolts to the axle so that they are stopped from moving outwards. I will put the jack stands at an angle there so that the wish bone is in full contact with the stands. Make sure the jack stands are set so that they do not collapse. Before getting under the car, shake the car to see if it is steady and that no jack stands fail.

I will sometimes use the ramps under the wheels. All four wheels. But they have to be set correctly too. I will jack the car up to set the ramps under the wheels but when finished working under the car I can just drive the car off the ramps. Some of the cheap plastic ramps are not strong so stay away from them.
 
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I'm a belt AND suspenders sort of guy. I refuse to get underneath anything supported only by jack stands. I have quite a few 6" x 8" x 2' pieces of wooden cribbing. I'll only get under something fully supported by said cribbing. I have a dozen or so of the "high quality" jack stands. I only use them for things I don't need to get under. Like building/modifying/repairing a Model A frame a foot or two above the floor for instance.

As for getting under your Model A supported only on jackstands that's entirely up to you, but I won't be doing it.
 
I put them wherever they will work best for the type of work I need to do. I use rhem on the frame if I have to pull the front or the rear. Under axles is fine too. I have both tall and short stands. The tall ones are good to do frame support and they are 6-ton types. Mine are old made in USA types with forged steel works and heavy steel frames. Some of the new stuff is questionable. Get the best you can afford. I still keep 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 wood cribbage around too just in case.
 
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Thank you for all the information. I do plan on having an experienced Model A friend with me the first time I do this. Again thanks.
 
And if you have the three-legged "tubular" jack stands (have holes and a pin to adjust the height) GET RID OF IT BEFORE IT KILLS YOU.


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Many comments Internet wide on failure of these.

Harbor Freight for a time had a problem with their four legged stand - but that has been resolved.

Joe K
 
Y-Blockhead;2438141I have never liked creepers so most of my maintenance items under the car can be done with all four tires on the ground.[/QUOTE said:
In my thinner days I could do that. I always used a big piece of cardboard to lay on as a little insulation from the cold concrete.
I recently bought a creeper - I had a couple in the distant past that went unused. Being only 19 years younger than the A I've found it easier to move around under the car to change the wiring harness and grease the car.
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A Large new piece of cardboard allows one to slide around under the car easier. I only use jacks when working on the wheels and brakes.
 
Which jack stands were recalled by Harbor Freight?


Please bring your set of 3-Ton and/or 6-Ton Heavy Duty Steel Jack Stands, item numbers 56371, 56373, 61196, and 61197 to your local Harbor Freight Tools store to receive a full cash refund, or gift card equal to the shelf price of these jack stands plus 20%.
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Joe K
 
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