Supporting a car.....

[johnc86]

The last time I changed the discs and pads on my 02 Fiesta I jacket the car up and them put the wheel under the sump and lowered the car down onto it. I put bricks under the wheel first and was careful to make sure the sump sat flush on the wheel.
I was planning to use the same method to change the pads on my girls Corsa C over the weekend. Iv since seen some advice which says not to do this ever as the sump is only made of thin alloy. Is this being over cautious or is it really a terrible idea? I cant see how it would cause a big issue.
Cars get stuck on high kerbs and in ditches with the weight of the car on the bottom of the engine. They must be designed to be fairly tough??

As I wont be under the car working and wont really be rocking the car about much is it really that much of a big deal??

 

[xr4x4]

I can't think of a worst place to support a car...!

 

[johnc86]

How about a slightly more constructive answer?

 

[Mursal]

Don't go under the sump as it is not designed to take any weight.

Ideally use axle stands, (2) one each side on the jacking points. Or as close to the jacking points as possible.

If you do not have axle stands, use timber blocks with as wide a base as possible for stability.

No big deal, as long as it doesn't fall on you or damage the underside of the car? And if it does fall it wont go straight down, it will go to one side. So just be careful and you will be fine.

Most people don't even know to support the jack before starting work.

 

[johnc86]

Timber blocks? I dont ave any of those either unfortunately. A block of wood big enough to prop up a car would be fairly massive woulnt they? Could I support the car on its front wheels lay flat one on either side under the jack points?

 

[Burnerman]

Look at the sills....often enough you'll see arrows where the jacking points are.
Failing that, under suspension mounts is fine - never under the sump, drive shafts or directly onto the floor pan, unless you want bother.
John

 

[mattylad]

Get some axle stands.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/2-tonne-folding-axle-stands-1-pr/38063
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_216002_langId_-1_categoryId_255207

Don't mess around trying to damage the car by using the sump and bricks are not going to be stable enough unless you use loads.

axle stands do not cost a lot and are a lot safer, especially if your going to have any part of you under the car.

The place for the wheel is under the sill so if the car does fall it falls onto the wheel and gives you a little gap so are not completely crushed.

 

[xr4x4]

Get some axle stands.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/2-tonne-folding-axle-stands-1-pr/38063
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_216002_langId_-1_categoryId_255207

Don't mess around trying to damage the car by using the sump and bricks are not going to be stable enough unless you use loads.

axle stands do not cost a lot and are a lot safer, especially if your going to have any part of you under the car.

The place for the wheel is under the sill so if the car does fall it falls onto the wheel and gives you a little gap so are not completely crushed.

Exactly what I would of said if the op didn't post a sarcastic reply.

 

[Avocet]

One of the main problems with jacking under sump (apart from risking sump damage) is that you're then (in effect) "hanging" the weight of the car off the rubber engine mounts (which are really only ever intended to work in compression generally).

 

[johnc86]

Get some axle stands.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/2-tonne-folding-axle-stands-1-pr/38063
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_216002_langId_-1_categoryId_255207

Don't mess around trying to damage the car by using the sump and bricks are not going to be stable enough unless you use loads.

axle stands do not cost a lot and are a lot safer, especially if your going to have any part of you under the car.

The place for the wheel is under the sill so if the car does fall it falls onto the wheel and gives you a little gap so are not completely crushed.

Exactly what I would of said if the op didn't post a sarcastic reply.

What did I say that was sarcastic? "How about a slightly more constructive answer?" You seemed to know something about the subject but where unwilling to divulge your knowledge. For you to take the time to reply but not actually offer anything of vale seemed unconstructive and therefore I asked you to elaborate.

If I had been sarcastic I might have said something like 'that was REALLY helpful! Thankyou so much!". - *Sarcasm*.

"How about a slightly more constructive answer?" NOT sarcasm.

Hope we are clear on that then.

 

[doyle]

Don't go under the sump as it is not designed to take any weight.

Ideally use axle stands, (2) one each side on the jacking points. Or as close to the jacking points as possible.

If you do not have axle stands, use timber blocks with as wide a base as possible for stability.

Timber blocks, not that wood can split or anything..would thow caution to the wind and buy a set of axle stands...try looking under your car for any box sections of metal where car can be supporter and raised.

murs can see where yer going with that, but at our college they say not to it, they even say no to the new style axle stand that folds away as when it collapse it goes to quick compared to the old style.

 

[wotan]

Timber baulk's obtained from chainsawing railway sleepers, are very versatile, on end, flat, on their edge, we found them very useful.

Wotan