working on my car
April-27th-2007, 09:32 AM
#1
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Elizabethtown, PA
Posts: 809
working on my car
I just want to get your opinion on whether or not you think its safe to be working on my car in my driveway. it's kinda steep as i've drawn in the picture. actually it may be steeper than that. i'd be using ramps to get the front of the car up so i can get under it. i also need to rotate the tires so one side of the car would be up on jackstands while i do that.
April-27th-2007, 10:58 AM
#4
Forum ghost
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: N KY
Posts: 932
Let me put it this way...can I be in your will? 
I have worked on cars in a lot of weird places, but they were all reasonably level. With what you have described you are setting yourself up for an accident. You are talking about using ramps, plus jackstands. The force of gravity is not to be denied, and you would be giving it a bigger lever arm by using the jackstands. The weight of the car would not be pressing down directly over the stands, but on an angle vertically down, with an added tangent parallel to the slope of the driveway (I'm simplifying, but it would be bad). Since we all want you around enjoying your Mazda for years to come, find someone who has a level place you can use to work on your car.
I have worked on cars in a lot of weird places, but they were all reasonably level. With what you have described you are setting yourself up for an accident. You are talking about using ramps, plus jackstands. The force of gravity is not to be denied, and you would be giving it a bigger lever arm by using the jackstands. The weight of the car would not be pressing down directly over the stands, but on an angle vertically down, with an added tangent parallel to the slope of the driveway (I'm simplifying, but it would be bad). Since we all want you around enjoying your Mazda for years to come, find someone who has a level place you can use to work on your car.
April-27th-2007, 11:35 AM
#5
Awesome Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Pittsburgh PA
Posts: 3,186
Let me put it this way...can I be in your will?
I have worked on cars in a lot of weird places, but they were all reasonably level. With what you have described you are setting yourself up for an accident. You are talking about using ramps, plus jackstands. The force of gravity is not to be denied, and you would be giving it a bigger lever arm by using the jackstands. The weight of the car would not be pressing down directly over the stands, but on an angle vertically down, with an added tangent parallel to the slope of the driveway (I'm simplifying, but it would be bad). Since we all want you around enjoying your Mazda for years to come, find someone who has a level place you can use to work on your car.
I have worked on cars in a lot of weird places, but they were all reasonably level. With what you have described you are setting yourself up for an accident. You are talking about using ramps, plus jackstands. The force of gravity is not to be denied, and you would be giving it a bigger lever arm by using the jackstands. The weight of the car would not be pressing down directly over the stands, but on an angle vertically down, with an added tangent parallel to the slope of the driveway (I'm simplifying, but it would be bad). Since we all want you around enjoying your Mazda for years to come, find someone who has a level place you can use to work on your car.
May-11th-2007, 01:38 PM
#8
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Elizabethtown, PA
Posts: 809
so I ended up changing the oil in my parents driveway... sure beats paying $100 at the dealer.
oh and by the way I find myself missing the Mazda a lot. i wish i had never gotten rid of it. unfortunately it will be another couple years until I can even think about getting one.
oh and by the way I find myself missing the Mazda a lot. i wish i had never gotten rid of it. unfortunately it will be another couple years until I can even think about getting one.
May-11th-2007, 02:21 PM
#9
Tech/How-To/Northeast Mod
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Rochester, New York
Posts: 2,517
Yeah whoa I wouldn't wanna know what happens when you get the car up on jackstands with an incline like that. I would imagine you could get the back up in the air, then as soon as you get the front wheels off the ground the rear jackstands would tip over, the car would come crashing down, roll back a bit, etc .. definitely a big no-no
glad you decided to do your work elsewhere.
p.s. nice countach
glad you decided to do your work elsewhere.
p.s. nice countach
May-11th-2007, 02:46 PM
#11
I can has autox now?
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: ASC, GA
Posts: 3,381
i solved that whole "jacking the car up to change the oil problem"
http://jackelope.mystarband.net/mycar/mycarlifted.jpg
and no... the "car" isnt photochopped...
http://jackelope.mystarband.net/mycar/mycarlifted.jpg
and no... the "car" isnt photochopped...
Last edited by Jackelope; December-29th-2007 at 08:44 AM.
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