Ramps or Axle Stands?

[Welly]

What's the general opinion about safely raising the front/rear of a car for working under?

This would be for oil changes, applying rust inhibitors, that kind of thing.

[steve_earwig]

If you're working on your own DO NOT USE RAMPS!

Gah! Two things at once again

So anyway yes, if you're using ramps you need someone to guide you up, it's all too easy to miss them, no matter how long you spend lining things up, and it's also as easy as to miss the ends and end up with them jammed between the tyre and wheel arch and/or with the car rocking too and fro with one wedged under a sill...

[Welly]

Mmm, I do remember me and my mate when we were about 18 trying to get the rear of his Opal Kadette onto ramps.....rear wheel drive 'flicked' a ramp forward wedging it under the cill and denting it - his Dad came out and was going mental at us

[Captain Jack]

Er... I thought they were the same thing, non?

[steve_earwig]

Whuh?

A ramp:


Axle stands:

[Captain Jack]

Oh yes, I see. Brain fart. I haven't found ramps that work with 407's humongous front end...

[trufflehunt]

My head never goes under a car unless there are at least 2 separate types of device supporting the car.

If I've used axle stand(s), I'll also have my trolley jack under something substantial, not taking the weight
, but tight up against the substantial thing.
I don't want to be lying there, with my chest caved in , or my head crushed and my eyes popping out.

[steve_earwig]

I reckon head crush would be quick, it's being squashed just enough not to be able to breathe that really scares me...

[Doggy]

Trolley jack under the suspension mount, axle stand under the box section just behind the subframe. If the wheel's off, I slide that under the sill too.

Being an idle sod, if it's just an oil change I normally run the osf wheel onto a hefty 4" thick wooden block and chock the rear wheels. Same as a ramp I guess, but easier to carry and less damaging if you run off t'other side.

[Welly]

Axle stands now ordered. Standby for stupid questions. Hey i used to scrabble about under cars 20 years ago WCPGW?

Used to work with someone who's car fell on him crushing his cheek bone and eye socket. 'Scar face' we used to call him.

[steve_earwig]

Shirley "Car Face" would have been crueller

I've always favoured giving the car a good wobble before clambering underneath - hey, if it falls off at least it didn't do it on my noggin

[highlander]

Used to work with someone who's car fell on him crushing his cheek bone and eye socket. 'Scar face' we used to call him.

Whaddya call a guy with a car on his head?

I don't know, what DO you call a guy with a car on his head?

Jack!

[steve_earwig]

Badoom-tish