FYI-Sears has a 3-ton Craftsman jack and 2 3-ton stands for $88.00 right now. Add in a pair of 3 1/2 ton jack stands and you are in at only $113.00...

8000lb Rhino ramps are 19.99 at Sears as well.

 

i usually use jack stands and if i have the wheels off they go under the car as well, pluss i also leave the jack under there so that incase it does fall it'll be easier to retrieve my corpse, err, I mean rescue me if a 2900lb car falls on my head.

 

i have 4 jackstands, and 2 rhino ramps, If the car is on jacks, and the wheels are on, I'll lower the jack onto the stands, and then pump the jack back so that if the stand were to ever fail, i still have the jack as backup. If the wheels are off, they go under the side, in case something fails.
~Eyal

 

Don't know if you have a Sam's club near you...but I got a schweeet pair of chrome plated 6-ton Goodyear jack stands. Only cost $22 for the set. I think I'll go back and get 2 more.

 

A local guy died last year working on the brakes of his Caravan with just a jack. I've done it, but never again.

Personally I have One floor jack, one transmission jack, six jackstands and a pair of rhino ramps.

The ramps are great for changing oil, but I want the car higher to work on the clutch slave cylinder. No reason I can see to raise the rear to work on the clutch slave cylinder.

 

What about the story of that guy that was swapping out the tranny in his truck on a sloping driveway? He had jacked up the car, not sure if he used jackstands or not. But as soon as he pulled out the tranny, the engine was no locking the tranny and rear wheels. So the car slid down, smashed him underneath and smeared him all over the driveway as it rolled down into the street.

 

Buy a mini-vac hand pump -- it draws out the air when doing the clutch the old fashion way. Why are you bleeding the clutch? It is a true pain, falling into the "if it aint broke, don't fix it" category for me. As for jackstand, I am paranoid perhaps, but I use jack stands, with the hydro loosely left in place as back up, with a second lower set of stands as further back up, with as much other junk under there that will fit and let me get my work done (spare tires, old ramps, etc.)

 

Advance auto has some really good plastic type ramps....i know i know....plastic, but they are sturdy as hell, and low enough that you can get a turbo on them no problem. I wouldn't drive a 1 ton duelly up on them, but they work good for little cars. I would much rather be under a car on ramps then on jack stands. I always set the parking brake, leave it in gear and chalk the rear wheels just in case. They are cheap as well....stands are only about 9.99 a pair, so i would pick some up.

 

Now that my car has been lowered, I found out last nite that my big-azz Craftsman jack will no longer slide underneath the car. Does anyone here recommend a particular jack with a low stack height?

I need to measure in the next few days just how much clearance I have at the middle side jack points.

 

What model Craftsman do you have Tifo? I just bought one and havent opened it yet, hope the thing slides under without me having to drive on blocks of wood

 

Sam, I have to check the model name that's on it when I get home. It's big, yellow, and freakin' heavy. I've had it about 5 years.

 

I agree that jack stands are an absolute necessity. I would actually suggest buying more than just 4. Having a few under there in case they fail or slip is wise.

On that topic, has anyone heard of jack stands failing? Do you guys trust the cheap Wal-mart brand ones as much as the expensive, $50-75 a stand AC types? I am thinking about investing in some AC stands as they have the cotter pins which would be more reliable. Do you guys think I would be wasting my money?

http://www.ultimategarage.com/acjacks.html

Max

 

Just picked up four 6 ton stands at harborfreight. On sale $18 per pair. I have four 3 ton stands from sears but will be using those as back ups now. Thing about the 3 ton stands are that the base looks too small for comfort. The base on the 6 tons are much much bigger (wider) to give a big fat footprint...which is more comforting. Intending to also use my two jacks as further backup..... yea, I love my car but not worth dying for.......

 

I have to replace my master and slave cylanders...

thanks for the info guys! Maybe this weekend if I have enough money I can go buy at least a few jack stands....

 

I would suggest keeping front-rear even... when bleeding.. because otherwise you are going to suck in air and its going to **** you off.... (talking from experiance)