Jack stand safety recall

NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
1,662
1,066
0
Indiana, USA
Ride
Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
Screenshot_20200520-143743_Drive.jpg
 

fmorelli

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Aug 11, 2017
3,748
3,592
0
57
Virginia
Ride
E89 Z4 35i, F10 535d
It's also a good practice to have a secondary set of lifts under the car. This can be your hydraulic jack on the center, or a set of wheels under the existing wheels.

Filipoo
 

NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
1,662
1,066
0
Indiana, USA
Ride
Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
Something like this where the pin secures the height. The ratchet style depends on friction essentialy to stay in place and often has a large lever that could be kicked and knocked out.

This still has the risk of a pin breaking of course. That is why you don't bet your life on any of these alone. As Filippo suggested, always have a backup when using jack stands.


Screenshot_20200520-170803_Amazon Shopping.jpg
 

F87Source

Sergeant
Oct 14, 2019
332
151
0
Canada
Ride
2017 Bmw M2
Something like this where the pin secures the height. The ratchet style depends on friction essentialy to stay in place and often has a large lever that could be kicked and knocked out.

This still has the risk of a pin breaking of course. That is why you don't bet your life on any of these alone. As Filippo suggested, always have a backup when using jack stands.


View attachment 37952
That large lever has a safety pin in it that will shear when there is a large force exerted on it, essentially if the car is on the jack stand it will take a crap load of force to lift the lever and the shear pin will break long before the lever is moved. Those torin pin style jack stands are also known to have issues where the load bearing surface will warp or completely break off. Plus the base is alot smaller than the traditional jack stand so those arent as stable.

Personally I use a traditional jack stand + esco's jack stand which is pin based but with an extremely large base.
 

NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
1,662
1,066
0
Indiana, USA
Ride
Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
All good points and even more reason not to trust any of them alone.

The R&T article explains in this case the support pawl can disengage under shifting loads - let alone the lever itself being hit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: F87Source

F87Source

Sergeant
Oct 14, 2019
332
151
0
Canada
Ride
2017 Bmw M2
All good points and even more reason not to trust any of them alone.

The R&T article explains in this case the support pawl can disengage under shifting loads - let alone the lever itself being hit.
There was a YouTube video testing it, in some cases the sheer pin did not break. But it took hundreds of pounds to lift so not likely to be kickable.

I always put my second set of winter tires or blocks under the car too, don't want my face to get crushed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fmorelli

derekgates

Lieutenant
Feb 23, 2018
740
375
0
NW FL
derekgates.us
Ride
2011 335is
I used those Pittsburgh 3 ton for dropping my driveshaft. I was thankful Harbor Freight made it so easy to kick the pin and drop the driveshaft when it is ready to be lowered! :p


Edit: but really, I only use those cheap jack stands for holding up a wheel during suspension work... or holding up axles when removing them... etc.
 
  • Funny
Reactions: doublespaces

F87Source

Sergeant
Oct 14, 2019
332
151
0
Canada
Ride
2017 Bmw M2
When working on an suv I have a regular jack stand + hydraulic jack as a jack up with weight being distributed 60% on the jack stand and 40% on the hydraulic jack so both of them have a bit of load on it. Then I also have the wheels under the car in case.
 

doublespaces

Administrator
Oct 18, 2016
9,303
4,331
0
AZ
Ride
2009 E93 335i
Hmm, they seem cheaper than I recall, probably depends on the retailer. Seems they were about 500 dollars when I had looked and at that point you're nearly half way to a quick jack.
 

F87Source

Sergeant
Oct 14, 2019
332
151
0
Canada
Ride
2017 Bmw M2
Hmm, they seem cheaper than I recall, probably depends on the retailer. Seems they were about 500 dollars when I had looked and at that point you're nearly half way to a quick jack.
Yeah it defintely depends on the seller, for me it is cheapest via amazon.

But imo quick jacks aren't worth it. They only offer more convince in terms of setup than regular jack stands. Other than that they are cumbersome to store, don't lift that much higher than jack stands, and are half way to a full size lift (I can get a brand new two post unit here for $2800 - $3000 CAD) but the only con with a full sized two post lift is you need to bolt it to the concrete in your garage.
 

NoGuru

Captain
Jan 9, 2018
1,204
589
0
Just North of Detroit
Ride
BMW 335is
I just read the email about it about an hour ago and laughed but that is pretty bad. I have to take mine back soon.

Just checked mine are not recalled :)