A reminder to *always* chock your wheels when lifting your car

[Stu]

I was lazy and didn't chock my wheels, as I should have. As I was taking the front of my car down off of jack stands, it rolled forward ever so slightly. When I went around to do the other side, I saw this:

http://i.imgur.com/1uMztlQl.jpg (http://imgur.com/1uMztlQ)

I consider myself lucky that it didn't fall over. It was balanced on two posts.

Always chock your wheels!

In addition, I will now be investing in these:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0SblGp8Oy0

http://www.jackpointjackstands.com/

[Avetiso]

Be careful, Stu. I've done it many times, but I still exercise great care when lifting my car.

[NorCalZman]

That is really neat. I want it!

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[WOLFN8TR]

Great idea!

[danewilson77]

I don't like it. When I'm using a Jack stand, I want it to be heavy steel. That thing scares me.

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[ELCID86]

Glad you (and I hope the car) are ok.
Reminder:
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?10215-Must-read-before-performing-maintenance-on-your-car!!!

[kayger12]

Great reminder. I lifted from the front center jackpoint yesterday to install the splitters and chocked the rears out of habit even though I wasn't getting under the car.

[johnrando]

Thanks for the PSA Stu. Glad there weren't any issues.

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[Dave1027]

If the rear wheels are on the ground, you should engage the parking brake. That will help as long as the parking brake is working properly.

[M0nk3y]

I don't like it. When I'm using a Jack stand, I want it to be heavy steel. That thing scares me.

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This is exactly what I thought, the fact that he simply just toss that around makes be feel like they are less than 10 lbs weight.

[LivesNearCostco]

Yesh! I usually work on my car on a slightly sloped driveway, so when lifting front the parking brake holds the rear wheels. If I'm going under the car sometimes I chock the rear wheels anyway. When lifting rear of the car, I must chock the front wheels or it will roll away before I even get the jack stands in there. When going under I usually have either the wheels under the sides of the car or the jack under the car as a backup, in case we have one of those California earthquakes. Bad news about sloped driveway is can't put car on all 4 jack stands unless I move it into the garage, which is pretty crowded.

Once at the track I didn't chock the wheels and didn't set the parking brake (because they say don't it with hot brakes) and the car rolled and fell off the jack, breaking the jack and cracking the side skirt. Another time I didn't carefully position the jack under the jack pad and it slipped off the jack. Hopefully those will be the only two mishaps I ever have raising the car.


If the rear wheels are on the ground, you should engage the parking brake. That will help as long as the parking brake is working properly.