Always Use Axle Stands

[coastline taxis]

Done c5s for years now and should have known better. When i do a back exhaust box i just put the suspension on high and dont bother with jacks or ramps as theres more than enough room and have done it this way for years. on full go underneath undo the bolt and remove the 2 rubber hangers and the back box is off in 4 minutes and back on in in 4 minutes so whole job done in 10 minutes. Anyway went under a car just after xmas to do a box and the exhaust clamp had corroded onto the exhaust which isnt a problem as a good whack with a hammer shocks it off. so lines the hammer up and take it back to give it a good whack and next thing i know the whole car has come down on me. Id caught the ride hieght adjuster with the hammer ant knocked the link rod off. On the plus side the nhs are fixing both my shoulders free. Getting a bank loan to pay for the car parking though.

 

so

 

NEVER EVER EVER EVER GO UNDER A UNSUPPORTED C5

[harry bozing]

Indeed a good tip,never take things casually mishaps can happen at any moment. Hope you are up and about soon.

[paul.h]

I hope your recovery is quick and full.

I, and maybe many others, did not realise that catching the ride height sensors could cause the car to drop. I have often raised the car to max height and crawled underneath to do jobs without using axle stands but never again. This ought to be noted in the car handbook and such as Haynes manuals.

 

If a moderator reads this, then it should be a pinned post.

[DaveHerns]

Get well soon Steve ,We need you here

[steve_c47]

I know a lad who was killed when the suspension on his BX came down & crushed him. Always a good idea to use stands.

[MikeLane]

This is in the Haynes manual (Ref 7 I think). Just bought some axle stands (and wheel chocks) to do my front pads and wonder whether I can simply raise the car to max, put the stands under the front jacking points and lower the car onto them. (The manual says to jack the car up and place axle stands under sub frame....)

Edited August 8, 2015 by MikeLane

[paul.h]

If you try lowering the car on to the axle stands, let us know how you get on but it could cause some confusion to the car since the sensors will not go to the expected height.

[ESL57]

Can we clarify whether those protruding tubes at the rear, can be used to support the vehicle? AFAIK they are vibration dampers and are not for that purpose?

     Would like to know myself, as jacking on the sill negates the space to put the axle stand on.

[paul.h]

When using axle stands at the rear, I leave the jack in place and put the axle stand under the metal tube that points down and is about 50mm diameter since there is no other suitable place if the suspension needs to hang down. At the front I put the axle stand approximately at a rear corner of the subframe, again leaving the jack in place.