k722070

I am worried about looks when the difference is between the hockey puck or the esco flat tops.
the look of a welded flat top platform 'seems' much safer to me than my old hockey puck method, it might not, be but it sure looks safer.
I think that look gives me added benefit by making me feel safer while under the car, and for me the benefit was cheap compared to the extra cost.
but I am only giving my opinion and experience of moving from the regular jack stands and hockey pucks to esco flat top stands.
I'm perfectly fine with somebody spending less, especially when they come up with new ideas like the sanding block or crg53's method. but my experience tells me that once they get the esco flat tops they won't keep using hockey pucks.

Priceless

i use 2 jack stands and leave my jack up just for precaution. e.g. tonight i had my jack in rear location until placed jack stand in front location. eased off jack just enough to bare wt on front jack stand. then placed additional jack stand in front under suspension a couple of mm below and not touching (just in case for a backup). i keep the jack on bottom notch and therefore basically on floor so if it is going to FAIL is has to be the weld or frame bending. having said that, i am not sure i would ever feel totally comfortable under a car with just one jack (no matter the brand, country of origin or type).

still going to buy some flat stands...i think these will give me more warm and fuzzies??? guess we will see...

IXLR8

OK, so its the safety aspect and how they are made, not the look. Gotcha!

I also have over-30-year-old steel jack stands with the pin which are far more positive locking than any with the ratcheting locks.

Whats more important than what jack stand is verifying the stability once the vehicle is held up by them. I would bet that any stand sold has to meet some type of standard and all will have a safety factor built in, for example 50%.

NC TRACKRAT

While we're on the subject of jacks/jackstands/safety, I usually observe at east one fool at every DE with his car up in the air suspended by the jack alone while he blithely works on his car. In as pleasant a tone as possible, I ask him to please put at least one jackstand under there, 'cause I can't stand the sight of blood and screaming.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Faulty welds, failed locking mechanisms that dumped the corner of the car resulting in the rest of the car falling down. Best not to be under, nor even close by if this happens.

TheOtherEric

That's exactly what I was afraid of when I posted above that I don't trust them. Once I took a good close look at how sloppy the engagement is, and realized how easily they could fail. I immediately threw out all 8 of mine and bought the Torins.

This is a good thread.

MDamen

I love this place! 35 posts on a relatively mundane, but important topic. Some really good input here for getting quality, safe jackstands. I'm looking to get rid of my ratcheting jack stands and get the flat top pinned stands from Tire Rack.

ble2011

I just found these at Northern tool. Nice flat tops. Not sure if they would be low enough however.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...8899_200318899

WellDressedCar

Hey IXLR8,

How do you afix the hockey pucks to the AL stands you found on Tirerack? Or is the weight of the car on them enough to prevent any worry of slippage?

OverBoosted28

If you have standard jackstands (framerail type), I just "trim" the edges of and use these "Rennline" cups. I like that they go up into jacking point and no chance of slipping out.

OverBoosted28

71-3.0-911

Esco and never look back. The car is super sturdy on them and I don't worry a bit about working on it under them.

911F1

How about these rubber pads for us with existing cradle type?

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece...and-95952.html

or

mpruden

I've used these on top of the HF aluminum stands. They don't fit securely on the stands. Perhaps they are made for the steel stands.

Either way, after reading threads like this, I bought a set of 4 Escos and now sleep better at night. ;-)

uniquenamehere

I went JackPoint Jack Stands and never looked back. Overkill? Probably... but my life's worth at least a few hundred bucks.

http://www.jackpointjackstands.com/Home_It_Works.html