Safely Supporting a Vehicle for DIY Work

[S80]

Sadly, my W124 has been 'mothballed' for several months due to 'domestic pressure', but I'll shortly be in a position to take a look at some suspension jobs which need doing

In the past, I've never had a problem with using axle stands or ramps, but recently I've grown increasingly mistrustful of these - particularly if I'll be completely underneath a largish car such as the W124. Not sure why - maybe it's completely irrational, thinking that welded joints are going to fail etc.

So I'm considering old-fashioned wooden railway sleepers as an alternative. Large slabs of seasoned oak seem to have more stability, with little chance of instant catastrophic failure. Would these be suitable - and where would be the most suitable support points on the W124 chassis?

A 4-post lift would be nice, of course..... :wink:

 

[roadhog]

I'm not so sure about that idea.

Axle supports, if correctly weight rated, are purpose built for the job. Railway sleepers, well they're not.

You'd have to stack them to get up to a decent height, I'd be worried about them toppling over.

I usually chuck the wheels under the car if I work underneath, just as a backup.

 

[television]

I believe that the jacking points have the trolley jack points under the side lift points.

Axle stands are safe to a point, but even then pulling hard could tip them over,,the bigger the spread of the legs the better, also it depends on the position of the legs.

Using sleepers etc should be quite safe, you can hear anything move with wood

 

[dragon]

Sleepers will damage your car. Jack points as recommended by Merc are at the four points. If you jack by the final differential or steering colums will more likely to damage your car. Use chocks on all four wheels and engage in gear and put on the hand brake so it will not move. Most of these Merc cars are at least a ton or two unless is a Smart.

Chucking a wheel underneath is not good enough.

 

[whitenemesis]

If looking at the suspension you will need to support under the sills at the jacking points.

I would think having massive lumps of wood supporting the car may be a little intrusive and cause assess difficulties?

I'm sure properly stacked they would be safe enough (I've seen 747 supported on railway sleepers!!) but they will just get in the way..

 

[Mercedes 190E]

Sleepers will damage your car. Jack points as recommended by Merc are at the four points. If you jack by the final differential or steering colums will more likely to damage your car. Use chocks on all four wheels and engage in gear and put on the hand brake so it will not move. Most of these Merc cars are at least a ton or two unless is a Smart.

Chucking a wheel underneath is not good enough.

Jacking the rear using the final drive is also OK according to Mercedes and as long as the jack is positioned carefully, there will be no damage. I have seen that the front can also be jacked on the front crossmember, but the engine pan would need to be removed first, I think. Support under the jacking points, but spread the load if weak with strong planks under the length of the sill.

 

[Dosco]

If looking at the suspension you will need to support under the sills at the jacking points.

I'm sure properly stacked they would be safe enough (I've seen 747 supported on railway sleepers!!) but they will just get in the way..

So someone has a set of 747 wheels up for sale then:-D:-D

 

[rf065]

So someone has a set of 747 wheels up for sale then:-D:-D

Maybe they were stolen? :wink:

Russ

 

[television]

Maybe they were stolen? :wink:

Russ

Well lets face it,,they do not use them much do they

 

[SilverSaloon]

I believe that the jacking points have the trolley jack points under the side lift points.

Axle stands are safe to a point, but even then pulling hard could tip them over,,the bigger the spread of the legs the better, also it depends on the position of the legs.

Using sleepers etc should be quite safe, you can hear anything move with wood

why not drive up onto drive on ramps, chock the rear wheels and also put some axle stands under aswell as a "just incase" measure....

 

[S80]

Thanks for the replies!

Working on the suspension will be a 'wheels off' job - so that precludes the use of ramps. Never liked them anyway - always scooting off at the last minute!

 

[stumpy]

Which was the ad campaign years back where they picked a car up by it's open doors, closing them again afterwards in order to demonstrate the strength of the shell? (Not that I am suggesting using the doors as jacking points of course) My dream garage would be like my old aircraft hangar at LHR where you just trestle the car and the floor drops away.

 

[television]

Which was the ad campaign years back where they picked a car up by it's open doors, closing them again afterwards in order to demonstrate the strength of the shell? (Not that I am suggesting using the doors as jacking points of course) My dream garage would be like my old aircraft hangar at LHR where you just trestle the car and the floor drops away.

The first ever monocoupe chassis less car was the 1939 Standard flying 12,, when you could not open the doors, the fix was to tie down the front and rear bumpers and jack the middle up, it was then OK for a few thousand miles till it sagged again,, bearing in mid the a few thousand miles was a long way back then, and people were not so heavy