DIY Car Lift - Opinions ....SAFETY WARNING!

1998v70xcbill · Post by **1998v70xcbill** » 24 Jan 2017, 11:54

I like your setup. Ramps are better the jacks. But i'll jack one wheel, all the time, Just i be carefull getting under car. As i said great for checking auto trans that does not have dip stick. I really like "cn90" recommendation of wheel chock's. I do not use my emergency brake becuase it sticks. So wheel chocks are nice/ or ramps.

Post by **erikv11** » 24 Jan 2017, 14:36

Getting off topic but I almost never jack up one corner of the car at a time. Chock the wheels before you start. Lift the whole front end from the center front and put the car on jackstands, or lift the whole rear end from the center rear and put it on jackstands. I cringe at the thought of doing anything serious under a cockeyed car, way too unpredictable.

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 24 Jan 2017, 15:57

ir637113 wrote: I was planning on putting a 2x12 underneath as well and making them in three 4 foot sections so I can store them

I'd be warned of the possibility for Newton's first law when driving up onto the wood risers that are made to sectional parts rather than one unified section. It opens the possibility for the wood skidding forward or kicking rearward by the frictional force and driving torque. If the wood is on any surfaces that enhances a low RA area such as: epoxy coatings, saturated oil surfaces, or descending slope; it might end tragically.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Jan 2017, 05:38

Funny you mention that. My last rad job , as I went to drop the car off the ramps,my right rear parking brake stuck, and when I fed gas to back down, it shot the ramp forward with quite a bang!

Post by **abscate** » 25 Jan 2017, 05:46

Added a safety warning due to content here. No jack is suitable for support while underneath or putting any part underneath. You can't " pull your head out quickly" in case it falls.

Pull your head out when you start the job by using the right supports...javkstands, solid wooden blocks, no cinderblocks orbricks

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 27 Jan 2017, 08:21

beigg wrote:I'd be warned of the possibility for Newton's first law when driving up onto the wood risers that are made to sectional parts rather than one unified section. It opens the possibility for the wood skidding forward or kicking rearward by the frictional force and driving torque. If the wood is on any surfaces that enhances a low RA area such as: epoxy coatings, saturated oil surfaces, or descending slope; it might end tragically.

I should probably be a little more explicit. I'm planning on making them into sectional pieces that connect via some kind of locking mechanism that will hold to keep just this from happening, but that I could remove once placed to get in from the side, and replace when done. Wasn't originally part of my plan, but this exact thought came to me while I was thinking about it. I'd go with one long, solid piece if I had the room to store it in my garage, but I just don't. I also plan to go at a slow creep when going up and down onto the risers, and I'm going to test it out a few times away from any dangers like people, walls, etc.

Post by **erikv11** » 27 Jan 2017, 10:44

Here's a tip for driving onto risers of any kind: hold the brake pedal firmly with one foot while revving the engine slightly with the other foot, then inch the car forward by gradually releasing the brake not by changing the throttle pedal. You still have to be careful of course, but this method limits the chance you will accidentally give it too much throttle. Nice controlled movement.

Post by **abscate** » 27 Jan 2017, 11:00

erikv11 wrote:Here's a tip for driving onto risers of any kind: hold the brake pedal firmly with one foot while revving the engine slightly with the other foot, then inch the car forward by gradually releasing the brake not by changing the throttle pedal. You still have to be careful of course, but this method limits the chance you will accidentally give it too much throttle. Nice controlled movement.

I tried this but ran out of feet......

Post by **erikv11** » 27 Jan 2017, 11:32

In your case you need to lean down and work the throttle pedal with your hand, while the feet are on those other pedals. It's a penance.

Post by **matthew1** » 27 Jan 2017, 11:38

Please be careful working under your Volvo, guys. I've mentioned it here a couple times over the years: about 20 years ago, my dad's friend died when his car fell on him while he was under it. If I recall, it was an MG. He was in his garage.

I don't know the details of what went wrong, but his wife found him. He left behind her and three daughters who were in junior high and high school at the time.

I saw his widow about two years ago... she's friends with my mom. I don't think I need to go on. Please just be careful.