Use of axle stands

[HantsHog]

Beginners question so bear with me ....

I'm about to embark on servicing my Terrano including replacing the high pressure oil sensor. Now I believe that it is better to work via the front wheel arches, with wheel removed, to change the sensor and oil filter. I've bought a 3 tonne trolley jack and a pair of 3 tonne axle stands.

Silly question number one: exactly where should the axle stands be placed? A piccy with an arrow will be great if anybody can provide one.

Silly question number two: Is it okay to use only one axle stand if working on one wheel or should the vehicle be lifted on both sides equally? If the latter what's the procedure for raising on to two stands (assuming only one trolley jack)?

Thanks

 

[perelaar]

Not sure for the 3.0; the 2.7 has very visible axle stand locations under the chassis towards the front of the car. You can't miss it: underside of each chassis beam is smooth back to front, until you get to a rounded metal bracket welded on. That'll be your axle stand.
Rear axle: under the axle . In any case the jacking points will be indicated in your car manual.

For lifting: you can choose. Lifting each side separately and then placing the axle stand underneath, and lowering the car onto the axle stand, will I think be safer than lifting it from a central point and lowering it onto the two axle stands at the same time.
Central point (2.7 again): under the rear diff, under the first chassis beam in front. Is covered by the skid plate.

A few words of warning: make sure you can lower the car slowly, if it slams into the stands they might topple. Make sure the stands are on a level surface capable of taking the weight of the car. Don't take shortcuts or unnecessary risks, a car crashing down will cause a lot of damage (and crush you, if you happen to be underneath).

 

[solarman216]

Standard garage practice with a trolley jack is to lift the whole front or rear with the trolley wheels in the same direction as the road wheels, for the front have the HB on and as the jack raises it will roll into the vehicle, when lowering do it slowly onto the stands, watch closely for a stands tipping, if you jack from the side there is a danger of the small trolley wheels for instance hitting a stone which then makes the vehicle move instead, if you lower in this situation it can role the stands over, when jacking from the rear, solidly chock the front wheels, a trolley can hang (not roll) even on a smooth concrete floor if debris is present Rick

 

[Daemo]

Think about everything you do, a car falling off stands comes down quicker than you can blink and if your under it, it will be life changing.. I always have my mobile with me when under a car so I can ring for help should anything go wrong and I am able to. Also have in mind a transmission handbrake is different to wheel operated handbrake so as has already been said chock the wheels?.

 

[elty001]

If unsure do a few practice runs with the wheels still on the car. The centre of something might not always be an even weight distribution.

 

[kitchenman]

As soon as the wheels come off place them under the car, if it comes off the stands/jack it is still 6" or so off the floor

 

[rustic]

"Create a survivable space, when working under a vehicle"

As soon as the wheels come off place them under the car, if it comes off the stands/jack it is still 6" or so off the floor

Like I said in another post, place some thick wood across the spare wheels, to reduce the gap, so you have more than 6" :augie
If I do any serious work under a vehicle, where you are using big wrenches to undo nuts, or say fit tow bars etc, then I always get my ramps and push them under from the sides, again, thick wood between ramp and chassis.

Caution, as a prolific user of waxoyl, be aware that any axle stand or jack placed under any item that has been wayoxled, even after it has dried, can produce a near frictionless surface between the axle stand or jack and the chassis.

Don't use bricks or breeze blocks under the vehicle to support it, point loads directly on bricks etc can cause them to crumble.
If you are working on a tarmac drive, the wheels on jacks and axle stands sink into the surface virtually immediately once a point load is placed on it. I changed a wheel on the fiesta once on the tarmac drive, the front trolly jack wheels left two indentations, still there now.:doh
Similarly, if working on a gravel drive, or made up ground, the ground could give way. Find a suitable way of spreading the load.
These are only my initial suggestions, it doesn't cover all eventualities, only those from my common sense and experience, some might sound a bit over the top, but think about this... create a survivable space under the vehicle, should the vehicle move or fall in any direction, there is often very little warning.
Ok, the secondary supports, will get in the way, you might kick them aside, it's then the time to reapply them in an alternative location.

Uncle Rustic

 

[macabethiel]

Rustic has covered most of the bases.
Call me risk averse but these days as well as using Axle Stands I also push the wheels under the vehicle when I can!

 

[perelaar]

Not sure though if the wheels can take that load, when loaded from the side?

 

[macabethiel]

I think your skull would come off worse than a wheel rim ! Lol