What Did You Do with Your 80 This Weekend? (32 Viewers)

[BILT4ME]

This happened yesterday. Not the weekend, but so many aren't...

It doesn't look like much at first glance. While changing out springs I had the wheel off and the Jack stand positioned (improperly). I disconnected the sway bar and when I removed the shock the axle dropped hard. The Jack stand slid along the curve of the frame and caught on the swaybar bracket mounting bolt. That's why I still have a head attached to my shoulders.
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I lifted the axle with a couple of bottle jacks, got the tire back on, and took the picture once everything was stabilized.

Moral of the story: remember propper jack placement and live right.

BTW: I hate these tires. They were on it when I bought it. Anyone who buys this rig should upgrade. They are soft little baby tires.

SAFETY! SAFETY! SAFETY!

I go over this with our oldest son all the time, to where he gets mad at me. Correct lift points, correct support points.

We had bought a NEW Craftsman floor jack and the first few times we used it, we were lucky we didn't get hurt. We ended up taking it back because it didn't have valve control, and it would lift OK, but when it was time to release, there was no "soft , smooth, let-down." It was all or nothing. It would go from fixed to wide open release valve in just a fraction of a turn, and you couldn't control it.

I had a friend that got killed under a car because the floor jack he was using let go and laid the transmission pan on his chest. He couldn't scream because it squeezed out all his air. His wife found him 2 hours later. This guy was always safe, too. This ONE time it was just supposed to be quick and under and back out.......

I'm glad you're OK!

I sure hope this was a cheap lesson so you will always remember to double check and always ask yourself....."What if the truck moves or jack slips...?"

Did you buy a lottery ticket?

 

[MDarius]

Thanks! I used to laugh at this, but it's all starting to feel too personal.

I really struggled to find the safe place to position that Jack stand. I'm still not sure I know where that is, but I'll be using redundant stands in the future. I don't have a tall floor jack and the Hi-lift is a death-trap, but it's great for, well, high lifts. Never work on a vehicle supported by a hi-lift! Other than the axles, where are the safe Jack stand points?

In the front I'm putting them behind the recovery loops on the frame, but to get the axle to drop far enough to replace springs that's a lot of height on a jack stand.

 

[IanB]

Thanks! I used to laugh at this, but it's all starting to feel too personal.View attachment 1453383

I really struggled to find the safe place to position that Jack stand. I'm still not sure I know where that is, but I'll be using redundant stands in the future. I don't have a tall floor jack and the Hi-lift is a death-trap, but it's great for, well, high lifts. Never work on a vehicle supported by a hi-lift! Other than the axles, where are the safe Jack stand points?

In the front I'm putting them behind the recovery loops on the frame, but to get the axle to drop far enough to replace springs that's a lot of height on a jack stand.

6-ton+ jackstands are a good place to start for achieving that kind of height, but even with them I think I'm going to struggle to get enough room to install my new springs.

 

[dogfishlake]

Yeah it is

As you can clearly see in this far away and blurry photo, my daughter's ARB is sporting the Wits End TEQ logo.

 

[BILT4ME]

Thanks! I used to laugh at this, but it's all starting to feel too personal.View attachment 1453383

I really struggled to find the safe place to position that Jack stand. I'm still not sure I know where that is, but I'll be using redundant stands in the future. I don't have a tall floor jack and the Hi-lift is a death-trap, but it's great for, well, high lifts. Never work on a vehicle supported by a hi-lift! Other than the axles, where are the safe Jack stand points?

In the front I'm putting them behind the recovery loops on the frame, but to get the axle to drop far enough to replace springs that's a lot of height on a jack stand.

If you have an FSM, it actually states the "correct" lift and support points on the frame and axles.

Basically, it is at the center and both ends of the axle housings, and behind the lower trailing arms on front or rear (when I say "behind", I mean toward the CENTER of the truck) on the bottom of the frame rail, and only on a flat portion of the rail or up against a suspension clip.

I don;t have my FSM saved on this computer or I would take a screen shot and attach it. Maybe someone else can?

 

[jcardona1]

6-ton+ jackstands are a good place to start for achieving that kind of height, but even with them I think I'm going to struggle to get enough room to install my new springs.

6 ton stands under these trucks scare the hell outta me. Not because I don't think they can handle the weight, but because they seem so small and flimsy. Now I only use the 12 ton stands if I'm doing any suspension worth on the truck.

 

[e9999]

scary... I also use 12ton stands but I always try to put in some spacers too under the frame: a tire or 2, stack of 4x4s etc.

 

[2fpower]

6 ton stands under these trucks scare the hell outta me. Not because I don't think they can handle the weight, but because they seem so small and flimsy. Now I only use the 12 ton stands if I'm doing any suspension worth on the truck.

Had a car slide off the cheap crapsman stand back in college. Luckily a "k" car and engine was on the floor already, so was able to get out undamaged. Only use 12 tons now.

 

[2fpower]

Two halves make a whole.

 

[IanB]

6 ton stands under these trucks scare the hell outta me. Not because I don't think they can handle the weight, but because they seem so small and flimsy. Now I only use the 12 ton stands if I'm doing any suspension worth on the truck.

Your truck is bigger than most, lol. I might have to invest in some bigger ones myself, we'll see how my suspension install goes tonight...the 6 tons are fully extended.

 

[RFB]

6 ton stands under these trucks scare the hell outta me. Not because I don't think they can handle the weight, but because they seem so small and flimsy. Now I only use the 12 ton stands if I'm doing any suspension worth on the trucI am so digging your rig, I have its almost twin except for 3 link, my depos are going in next Im just fixing that esky chrome ala your build link. LOL

 

[RFB]

Im installing a drop down slide once I find a good diy link to make it. dometics were no longer on sale so i grabbed up a whynter 45qt.

 

[half k cruiser]

Well that settles it, I'm getting some 12 ton stands. For changing springs I use the dads tractor jack. Not sure what the capacity is, but i'm guessing better than 10 tons. Makes me feel safe.

 

[MDarius]

I do have 12 ton stands. I took a look at it and the driver side is lower than the passenger side, so I did it again and swapped springs right to left. This time I put the front on ramps to reduce the angle of the truck and likelihood of it rolling forward. I placed the stands in front of the control arms, then a tire underneath. I didn't have a wheel chock to use on the ramps so I put a strap through the rim and through the recovery hook to keep it from rolling backwards. I know it's not strong, but good enough to discourage a rolling force.

It was fast and uneventful, just the way I like it.

 

[BILT4ME]

I do have 12 ton stands. I took a look at it and the driver side is lower than the passenger side, so I did it again and swapped springs right to left. This time I put the front on ramps to reduce the angle of the truck and likelihood of it rolling forward. I placed the stands in front of the control arms, then a tire underneath. I didn't have a wheel chock to use on the ramps so I put a strap through the rim and through the recovery hook to keep it from rolling backwards. I know it's not strong, but good enough to discourage a rolling force.

It was fast and uneventful, just the way I like it.

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View attachment 1453565

In this case, since you are doing suspension work and not brake work, one thing that will help: Place the truck in 4LOW and make sure the CDL locks. Then drive it up on the ramps and do your thing, then set the parking brake. The parking brake will get driveline braking because it has locked the CDL and will not allow it to slip. Assuming, of course, that your parking brake works and holds.......

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

In the past using 4 ramps I found it to be very secure when strapping the wheels to the ramps

 

[TYM4FUN]

6 ton stands under these trucks scare the hell outta me. Not because I don't think they can handle the weight, but because they seem so small and flimsy. Now I only use the 12 ton stands if I'm doing any suspension worth on the truck.

Had a car slide off the cheap crapsman stand back in college. Luckily a "k" car and engine was on the floor already, so was able to get out undamaged. Only use 12 tons now.

Well that settles it, I'm getting some 12 ton stands. For changing springs I use the dads tractor jack. Not sure what the capacity is, but i'm guessing better than 10 tons. Makes me feel safe.

Just wanted to add that it also depends on who makes your jack stands. My 6 Tons look stronger than all the 12 Tons I'm seeing on here....

 

[MDarius]

Just wanted to add that it also depends on who makes your jack stands. My 6 Tons look stronger than all the 12 Tons I'm seeing on here....

Post a link! My 12 tons are Harbor Freight specials. What have you got?

 

[94lc80series]

I never got a teq sticker when I bought mine

I ordered the sticker separately

 

[ewillis]

Passed smog! They were fiddling with stuff for 45 minutes...made me nervous...