Right or wrong axle stand position?

[Silverzedtom]

Hoping someone can help me here...

I jacked up my zed for the first time since owning to clean the drain holes for the roof motor well today. I was planning to jack from the centre rear jack point, and place axle stands under the side jack points.

I got the rear of the car in the air thinking all was well before realising my axle stands are to tall to use under the side jacking points... bugger.

I instead used the rear side jack point and did one side at a time. I left the jack in place so the stand wasn't actually baring any weight, but would this do any damage supposing my jack failed?

 

[Smartbear]

I would say that's safe, it won't bend that close to its fixing point
Rob

 

[Silverzedtom]

I would say that's safe, it won't bend that close to its fixing point
Rob

Cheers Rob, to my eyes it was the strongest looking place to put the stand under. Unless I hear otherwise I'll carry on doing it this way

 

[biojo]

I did exact same, got the axle stand just touching the bar just in case the jack failed

 

[Silverzedtom]

I did exact same, got the axle stand just touching the bar just in case the jack failed

Cheers

 

[Steve84N]

I'd stick it under the bolt, those bars are quite bendy.

 

[Havard]

Can you not just put the jack at its lowest point, as in remove the pin. Had my 330 Ci jacked up for a couple of weeks now with the axle stands on minimum height on the jacking points and the jack as a back up under the central jacking point near the diff. Hasn't fallen on me yet.

H.

 

[Roundozo]

As stated above those bars are bendy. If you're on the bolt you should be ok but I often jack from the rear jacking point and can get my stands under the side jacking points. As suggested either take the pin out and rest on the bottom or jack the car higher.

 

[patriot66]

I often use my axle stands without the pin in position allowing them to sit lower. Also a good selection of sturdy timber blocks of various thicknesses comes in handy when jacking up or using axle stands.

 

[Silverzedtom]

Cheers to all who answered. Looks like the way forward is to take the pin out of the stand for now and get some shorter axle stands if I come across them, or maybe a better jack that can go that extra inch higher.

 

[Roundozo]

I'd say a better jack. You will probably struggle to find shorter axle stands over a jack that lifts higher. I've got an old 3.5 ton trolley jack that's a bit of a beast. It won't actually fit under the car so I use two planks of wood to drive onto. It can then lift the car very high. I like it because it's very heavy duty and has a wide base so less likely to topple over.