Safety first - do it right with the right tools
05-19-2002 | 02:35 AM
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From: wind-swept heights...
Safety first - do it right with the right tools
Let me preface by saying I wasn't going to post this, for the obvious reason it makes me look like an absolute moron. But after thinking about it for a while I decided to go ahead and share my experience to hopefully help someone avoid a similar situation. I do not post this to get sympathy, flames, or rude comments - I do so to get across the important fact of doing things properly, with the right tools, and not in a rush.
This afternoon/evening was spent in the garage, trying to adjust the rear ride height per the instructions at Paragon after having 200lbs springs installed up front. The instructions were good, but too bad they didn't loosen the bolts for you. I soaked them with liquid wrench, used a compressed air impact wrench, elbow grease, hammer, extender bar for leverage... etc., etc., and I could not for the life of me loosen even the first bolt. At this point I am on the drivers side, rear, with the wheel off and the car obviously jacked up, in the same spot I was about 2 hours earlier with no progess, still working on bolt #1.
I am getting VERY frustrated with this. And yes I am turning the correct way. That's about the time I realize that my socket is in the perfect spot, to where I could lower the car down and it would turn the wrench in the appropriate direction for loosening the bolt.
Ahh, the best laid plans. Actually, it ended up working quite well. With my right hand I held the socket in place, and with my left I slowly released the pressure on the jack. "Crack" - the bolt breaks and I'm stoked. One down one to go.
Jack it back up. Get set up for the second bolt. Everything is set, and as I lower it down it doesn't seem to want to break. I bring it back up to give it another shot. I'm hold the wrench with my right hand again, and my left is on the pressure **** (the kind that you use the jack handle removed from the jack to turn). I slowly lower and the car doesn't seem to want to lower. I release the pressure a tad more when all of a sudden the car drops.
The car was no longer being held up by the jack, as I thought, but in fact the bolt was so tight that it was actually holding the car up - at least for a moment. WHERE my hand was holding the wrench now becomes a problem.
As I feel the rotor impact my hand a million things run through my mind, things such as "there goes my flying career" and "please Lord let me get out of this one ok."
You can ask nearly anyone who knows me, and they'd probably tell you I have a high tolerance for pain. The kind that comes with being dared to put a candle out by holding your hand over the container until the oxygen runs out and you're burned pretty bad. Or not letting go of your grip on something just on principle even when someone is digging their key into the back of your knuckle. That type of pain. So this HURTS, but I was still able to use my brain (which I hadn't done as you can well see up until this point).
I reach for the jack handle as it feels really weird to be pinned to the ground by something. The handle is what you use to turn the pressure ****, and unfortunately it rolled a bit away when I dropped it. I put it in the jack and pump that bad boy up. All I can think of is what I'm about to see - what used to be my hand. Cut? Bruised? Broken? Many weird thoughts run through my head again.
I pull my hand out at the EXACT time my mom comes out in the garage to do a quick scolding on me for leaving something on the counter that my dog Maverick jumped up and pulled down. I apologized to her and she went back in the house. I masked the pain well because she is normally very perceptive of these types of things (when people are in pain), but she didn't notice anything.
I get up and go wash my hands and inspect the damage. A slight bruise at the base of my ring finger (where most of the weight was) and on my wrist. Nothing more. I move my hand and it moves. Thank GOD.
Basically, as you can guess, I can still type and everything is ok.
I went upstairs to get my dad to come help me and when he came out I explained to him what happened. I felt he had the right to know. He let me know how incredibly stupid it was but I could see that he was indeed thankful I was ok. He then stayed out there and helped me do the passenger side the right way (by going to Sears and getting the right tools).
I got it all finished up and my hand is still connected to my body.
By the way the 2nd left bolt broke loose right before my hand got crushed.
Again, I tell this story to emphasize the importance of GETTING THE RIGHT TOOLS, NOT BEING IN A RUSH, and SAFETY FIRST - if possible have people work with you. I understand how absolutely stupid this sounds and was, and if you are going to reply to tell me that save your energy - I already know. This is going from my bag of close-calls to my bag of life-experiences and it's something I will obviously learn from, and maybe someone else can too.
I decided not to drive up to go to the Auto-X tonight, because my hand is still a bit sore but I'm going to try to come some time during the day.
Take care,
Matt
This afternoon/evening was spent in the garage, trying to adjust the rear ride height per the instructions at Paragon after having 200lbs springs installed up front. The instructions were good, but too bad they didn't loosen the bolts for you. I soaked them with liquid wrench, used a compressed air impact wrench, elbow grease, hammer, extender bar for leverage... etc., etc., and I could not for the life of me loosen even the first bolt. At this point I am on the drivers side, rear, with the wheel off and the car obviously jacked up, in the same spot I was about 2 hours earlier with no progess, still working on bolt #1.
I am getting VERY frustrated with this. And yes I am turning the correct way. That's about the time I realize that my socket is in the perfect spot, to where I could lower the car down and it would turn the wrench in the appropriate direction for loosening the bolt.
Ahh, the best laid plans. Actually, it ended up working quite well. With my right hand I held the socket in place, and with my left I slowly released the pressure on the jack. "Crack" - the bolt breaks and I'm stoked. One down one to go.
Jack it back up. Get set up for the second bolt. Everything is set, and as I lower it down it doesn't seem to want to break. I bring it back up to give it another shot. I'm hold the wrench with my right hand again, and my left is on the pressure **** (the kind that you use the jack handle removed from the jack to turn). I slowly lower and the car doesn't seem to want to lower. I release the pressure a tad more when all of a sudden the car drops.
The car was no longer being held up by the jack, as I thought, but in fact the bolt was so tight that it was actually holding the car up - at least for a moment. WHERE my hand was holding the wrench now becomes a problem.
As I feel the rotor impact my hand a million things run through my mind, things such as "there goes my flying career" and "please Lord let me get out of this one ok."
You can ask nearly anyone who knows me, and they'd probably tell you I have a high tolerance for pain. The kind that comes with being dared to put a candle out by holding your hand over the container until the oxygen runs out and you're burned pretty bad. Or not letting go of your grip on something just on principle even when someone is digging their key into the back of your knuckle. That type of pain. So this HURTS, but I was still able to use my brain (which I hadn't done as you can well see up until this point).
I reach for the jack handle as it feels really weird to be pinned to the ground by something. The handle is what you use to turn the pressure ****, and unfortunately it rolled a bit away when I dropped it. I put it in the jack and pump that bad boy up. All I can think of is what I'm about to see - what used to be my hand. Cut? Bruised? Broken? Many weird thoughts run through my head again.
I pull my hand out at the EXACT time my mom comes out in the garage to do a quick scolding on me for leaving something on the counter that my dog Maverick jumped up and pulled down. I apologized to her and she went back in the house. I masked the pain well because she is normally very perceptive of these types of things (when people are in pain), but she didn't notice anything.
I get up and go wash my hands and inspect the damage. A slight bruise at the base of my ring finger (where most of the weight was) and on my wrist. Nothing more. I move my hand and it moves. Thank GOD.
Basically, as you can guess, I can still type and everything is ok.
I went upstairs to get my dad to come help me and when he came out I explained to him what happened. I felt he had the right to know. He let me know how incredibly stupid it was but I could see that he was indeed thankful I was ok. He then stayed out there and helped me do the passenger side the right way (by going to Sears and getting the right tools).
I got it all finished up and my hand is still connected to my body.
By the way the 2nd left bolt broke loose right before my hand got crushed.
Again, I tell this story to emphasize the importance of GETTING THE RIGHT TOOLS, NOT BEING IN A RUSH, and SAFETY FIRST - if possible have people work with you. I understand how absolutely stupid this sounds and was, and if you are going to reply to tell me that save your energy - I already know. This is going from my bag of close-calls to my bag of life-experiences and it's something I will obviously learn from, and maybe someone else can too.
I decided not to drive up to go to the Auto-X tonight, because my hand is still a bit sore but I'm going to try to come some time during the day.
Take care,
Matt
05-19-2002 | 08:31 AM
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Glad you're OK. I almost couldn't read it 'cause I got that sickening, queasy feeling you get when you're remembering old injuries... the stories all go the same (we all have one or two) except for the ending, which lies in the realm of luck. Glad you're on the lucky side this time.
Thaddeus
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05-19-2002 | 11:39 PM
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From: Massachusetts
Matt,
I'm sure that most of us that work on our cars have done things that are against our better judgement every once in a while. Luckily, we live to tell the tale in hopes of saving others from a similar fate. Thanks for the reminder and stay safe!
Frank
I'm sure that most of us that work on our cars have done things that are against our better judgement every once in a while. Luckily, we live to tell the tale in hopes of saving others from a similar fate. Thanks for the reminder and stay safe!
Frank
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05-20-2002 | 01:49 AM
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Nerd Herder
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From: Central Illinois. Cornfields a plenty.
Matt, glad your Ok- Had a disk cut a tendon on my left ankle when it fell off a jack several years ago. You are not an idiot- just not using Boy Scout prevention. I now ALWAYS use ramps, jackstand and bricks to block a moving (POTENTIALLY) VEHICLE.Overkill, maybe- but still need a foot to press the pedal... <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />
Had a spring blow out of a fixture while compressing, went THRU the roof of my garage, now I NEVER underestimate the power of mechanical devices.
Had a spring blow out of a fixture while compressing, went THRU the roof of my garage, now I NEVER underestimate the power of mechanical devices.