I'm kinda paranoid about Jackstands.
I use em and am fine with frame jacking only. A- arms, no way,no how never.
I'm a big fan of wood blocks. Ramps that are the solid composite or have the brace between the up-right and the initial point of contact ramp.

Long ago, I raised a car on the front crossmember, and placed the jack stands on the frame. I went to the back, and picked the car on the differential (bolted solid, IRS), and placed the rear jack stands. I'd had to move the floor jack a bit to line it up, and the front swivel wheels were cocked sideways. I let the car down, and rolled under. The jack wheels had bound up, and the car moved (instead of the floor jack) as I let the back down. The front stands were tipped, standing only on the back legs of the stands. After I fixed it, I wondered how many times I'd done that, and not noticed. I check all of them now.



miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

I think one needs to be a bit careful about placing jack stands on a concrete floor and under the frame because that will make it difficult to be sure the load is evenly distributed over all 4 jack stands.  The floor would have to be very flat, the frame straight and the jacks precisely placed where they will contact frame.  In my opinion it is better to place 2 jack stands under the frame in front of the front wheels and the 2 stands under the rear axle tube as far out as possible. In this way the rear springs will nearly equalize the load on all 4 jack stands.  If you are working on the rear springs then you could introduce some kind of compressive compensation for a discrepency in heights.

In any case I always make sure that any tubular piece to be supported is down in the V of the jack stands. Placing the jack stand under the spring plate or a flat part of the frame is not a great idea. But it is also true as we get older and weaker the chance of shoving the car off the stands decreases 

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

I think ramps are ok.  I also use ramps in a similar fashion that Gary describes using wood blocks.  For instance, if the work at hand is such that the rampy portion will be in the way, I'll jack up the vehicle and set it on the ramps but opposite the direction they would be if I drove up. Try to find ramps that are relatively flat for at least a few inches.  That way you have some weight on them before the vehicle begins to rise and it prevents the ramp from being pushed, which can happen on really smooth or relatively slick floors.



Lawrenceville, GA

Just a question, what about ramps in the front and stands in the back? Unless doing front end work would that not be the safest?
Rowen

Rowen
55CV
Woodland, Ca

For higher and safety use blocks of wood under the frame or tires or both. I;m talking 6x6x17 inch wood blocks. When using jack stands under the frame I still use some wood as a safety catch JUST IN CASE something slipped the blocks would catch the car and keep it high enough to not be injured or worse???


-Gary Burnette-

thank you fellas for the words of wisdom... i will take your advice and run with it.

Question for you guys that use only the frame to set your jackstands - how do you get enough room to do transmission work such as I am doing? setting the stands at the rear axle and A-arms give plenty of the room for the creeper (and my fat body) to roll underneath the car all sprawled out.

Do you guys have more photos of your cars up on stands?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

I've never liked the store bought stands so I made my own. The tops are channel so the frame or axle tube set inside the channel, solid as a rock!

I always put them under the frame also. Besides I can't get my rear tires off my Ranchwagon unless the rear is hanging lose. I also like to leave my Hydraulic Jack under the third member if working under the rear of the car or front cross member if working under the front.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Frame always!


-Gary Burnette-