carke ali jack failed...... with me under the car!!

B

Beedub

Lifer
 Sutton Coldfield
hi guys while working on my z4m the yesterday my clarke trolley jack failed, it wasnt a spectacular failure but fluid started pissing out from underneath of the jack, and the jack slowly lowered itself leaving my car on the axle stands. The car was positioned on axle stand so their was no issue their but i just wanted to highlight to people these things do fail and it happens reguarly, please please please dont work on your car without proper axle stands. it was abit of a tense moment......... unfortunatly the jack is out of 12 months warranty by 6 months so i now have to fork out for another..... as i an avid believer of doing as much to your car as possible this is a rather large blow........ lol

Strangly the jack will stil jack the car but i wont be risking that again now...... shame as ive only used the thing about 10 times..... sometimes it really doesnt pay to get the cheaper stuff.... i should have paid once and got a proper quality snap on item.

Anyhow back on subject... can anyone recommend a low slung jack, one that can withstand the rigours of lots of use?? anyone else had a similar issue?? im very happy im religously use axle stands ;-)

FYI this is the one supplied via machine mart.
 
its a good job you was sensible and had axle stands :thumbsup:

i always lower the trolley jack so that both axle stands and the trolley jack are all supporting the vehicle
 
A real shame, but I am glad you were OK and that you were doing the right thing having axle stands :thumbsup:
 
Taz x said:
its a good job you was sensible and had axle stands :thumbsup:

i always lower the trolley jack so that both axle stands and the trolley jack are all supporting the vehicle
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yup thats what i did..... i then notice the jack lowering itself to the floor in a pool of smelly oil.
 
Something I preach about safety and I cringe when people mess with crappy screw thread emergency jacks and no supports. Glad it came down slowly :thumbsup:

Even a big hydrailuc jack relies on a single cylinder piston seal and failure of that and it's curtains. Sounds like that seal has gone and fluid just squirted past it.

I'd take it to MAchine mart fora goodwill fix if it's just outside.

Alternatives - Costco do a super tough steel 3 tonne that I use and currently have in stock a 2 tonne alloy racing jack. Both low to get under the zed and fairly rugged.
 
Scary moment, I know, I've had an Alfa slide off axle stands whilst I was under it. Luckily I'd laid the front wheels on the ground and slid them underneath the front of the car first, that's what saved me.
 
gapTech said:
Scary moment, I know, I've had an Alfa slide off axle stands whilst I was under it. Luckily I'd laid the front wheels on the ground and slid them underneath the front of the car first, that's what saved me.
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holy s**t !!!!!! car and owner are fine, lol just scared me alittle, the car was already resting on the stands so no harm done but, imagine if the stands slipped???

scary s**t!!
 
Bloody hell!

This is the one I bought just before Christmas: http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Trolley-Jack-Yankee-2-5ton-Low-Entry-Sealey-2500LE

media.nl


Low enough to fit under my Z4, heavy duty enough to lift my van, wide base for stability. And weighs a fecking ton, not literally but it's around 35kg I think. 100x better than the cheap ALDI trolley jack that I'd used for years and years.
 
That's the one I've got and was just about to recommend to you. Good jack, £100ish from Costco?
 
I've got one from Aldi, no idea if it will last until it fails, like anything. Aldi mechanical stuff and electricals is generally not bad though and better than Clarke stuff in my experience.

I will not get under a car on jack and stands, I don't even trust axle stands enough, if someone or something caused the car to rock sideways it could potentially fold the stands or topple them. Only way i'd get under a car is with a proper car lift, inspection pit or maybe ramps, would need to be big strong and wide though. Means I have to get oil changes done for me but they're cheaper than buying the oil myself anyway so it's no loss.
 
glad you had the sense to use axle stands, there is usualy no warning when a jack will fail and i see many home mechanics under a car only on a jack.
before i thought of this idea, i used to have to mess around jacking the car up to change the oil, to get clearance for the oil catch bowl, but these shallow rise ramps available from caravanning shops are a great idea if you need 5" of lift , more than enough to change the oil ect and is far safer than using a jack and risking it.
other ramps are too steep, the bumper hits the ramp well before the wheel does.
approx £15 from camping/caravan shops.
quattro2-big.jpg
 
Was in Costco this afternoon and saw iirc that exact jack. Was about £80 inc VAT. Looks good and should do the job for years.

As for cars falling off axle stands. I'm sure it can only do that if on a slope, or the base is not on rock solid concrete flooring.

Sliding the wheels under is another great piece of insurance as a 255 tyre is probably enough room for a head to survive !!!
 
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