Jack Stands - how wobbly is "too wobbly"?

[Earl Grey]

I just got a couple more Esco 10499s (the low profile ones) and one of the pair has noticeably more play between the post and the stand than both it's mate and my other two 10499s.

I don't weld, but I would guess this must be distortion during welding, as the tube and post stock *must* be the same on all of them.

Anyway, with no load and at full extension I can rock the saddle of this one back and forth somewhere between 1/2" and 3/4". Obviously it locks up and feels solid with a load on it.

Escos (and ramps) are the only type of supports I've used to date. Anyone see a safety concern with that?

I can exchange them but I don't want to waste time / effort (mine or the vendor's) if this is safe and within normal tolerances.

 

[larry_g]

Obviously it locks up and feels solid with a load on it.

.

It seems to me that you have your answer in the above sentence.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Earl Grey]

It seems to me that you have your answer in the above sentence.

Heh, yes, fair comment - but I guess while does feel locked up, it's still canted over that little bit. Obviously the weight is still bearing down well inside the area covered by the feet, but not as centrally (and therefore evenly distributed?) as it could be.

 

[nh_yota]

I have a pair of the regular height Escos and their build quality looks like **** but they hold up fine.

 

[Elvisidal]

The safety margin built into jack stands is ridiculous you’ll be fine

Just remember to put a wheel under the side rails ...

 

[bustedcrawler]

Anyway, with no load and at full extension I can rock the saddle of this one back and forth somewhere between 1/2" and 3/4". Obviously it locks up and feels solid with a load on it.

Full extension there is a minimal amount of support from the pad as there is just enough left inside the stand. If you're measuring play at the pad remember that it will be greater there than at the stand.

Also need some slop in there otherwise it wouldn't be as easy to adjust since you'd have a very tight fit between stand and pad.

As stated before the factors of safety are high. If it locks up tight with load, send it and don't loose any sleep.

 

[Magnum440d100]

If you’re worried about it being too wobbly, go the next size up.

FWIW, I use 6 tons on anything I work on. Wether it is a go kart or a truck.

I’ve found that the 6 tons lowered all the way is close in height to the 1.5 tons fully extended. Only in a few situations have I felt the car was too high. But it was STABLE. Even then, if a tire were coming off of the vehicle, it goes UNDER the vehicle unless they were high dollar custom rims. If that’s the case, I have an old rim/tire I use....

 

[Earl Grey]

Thanks for all the advice, folks. I've come to diy auto maintenance late and probably don't have the comfort level 99% of people here do crawling under a car. And yeah, absolutely get any removed wheels under there too.

I think I'm going to put the front end of the car up on the "worst" two of my four, give it a shove, and if I can't induce any movement, call it good. Though thanks to Kevin's post I'm also thinking "adding a six ton set couldn't hurt...".

Is it possible to ask a question on here that doesn't wind up with pricing up new tools?

 

[Ramblin Man]

Is it possible to ask a question on here that doesn't wind up with pricing up new tools? [/QUOTE]


Yes, it is possible...............but, it ain't likely.

 

[Aberdale]

Wobbly is too wobbly when it falls off the stands.

 

[Magnum440d100]

Thanks for all the advice, folks. I've come to diy auto maintenance late and probably don't have the comfort level 99% of people here do crawling under a car. And yeah, absolutely get any removed wheels under there too.

I think I'm going to put the front end of the car up on the "worst" two of my four, give it a shove, and if I can't induce any movement, call it good. Though thanks to Kevin's post I'm also thinking "adding a six ton set couldn't hurt...".

Is it possible to ask a question on here that doesn't wind up with pricing up new tools?

Sorry, not trying to spend your money. Jack stands and jack safety is something I take VERY seriously.

When I was a teenager, I was helping a friend do a clutch job on an integra. We were lining up the trans, when the car tipped. I was up top and my friend was on bottom. The car fell on him. I yelled for someone to call 911 (I didn’t have a cell phone at the time) but no one heard me since the people in the house had the TV on high volume.

Between him and I, we were able to powerlift the car off him (it landed on the ****** which helped). We were using small stands, on grass/dirt with no boards under the stands for support and to stop them from sinking into the earth.

I almost lost my best friend that day. The feeling of helplessness will never escape me. But luckily it didn’t kill him. It did leave him with a hole/dent in his chest from the tow hook....

 

[larry_g]

You'll find that they may rock across the pin but not inline with the pin. When setting the stands align the pins so that they are 90* to each other. It will minimize the movement. When set lean into the car with all your weight to confirm that it is stable. This is not a place to test with a gentle shove.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Earl Grey]

You'll find that they may rock across the pin but not inline with the pin. When setting the stands align the pins so that they are 90* to each other. It will minimize the movement. When set lean into the car with all your weight to confirm that it is stable. This is not a place to test with a gentle shove.

lg
no neat sig line

Good tip, thank you.

To Kevin's story above, yeah, terrifying prospect. My wife has a friend who lost her dad to this type of accident. I'm fine with spending money to be safe and also to not feel distracted by it.

 

[Earl Grey]

The PSA thread reminded me - still have that 6-ton set on the list, but could not get comfortable (mentally) with the increased play in my newer pair of Escos. Returned that pair and got a replacement pair shipped out.

Different box, noticeably different finish on the linchpins so I suspect a different production run. Much less play on them.

I'm 99% sure the other set would be fine, but now I don't have to think about it getting under the car.