Jack Stand recommendation
 

I am looking for 4 jack stands.... I looked online and had a hard time finding them. I found one.. but the price was like $100 PER jack stand.

I want a jack stand that can safely hold my w126, have a flat top( I don't like those Y-shaped tops)... and NOT A RATCHETING jack stand. I don't trust those ratcheting stands for some reason... I was at a store... lifted the lever slightly and the thing fell.

Any recommendations? Ebay seems to carry the cheap-o stuff.:rolleyes:

Griot's Garage has the best ones I have seen >
 

Like you, I searched for awhile since I was not satisfied with the quality of the ones at AutoZone. These are not the racheting type which can fall unexpectedly. The top is pretty flat and fits well under the rubber Mercedes frame bump. The base is quite broad, which is safer but can make it a little challenging to raise the car with the trunk jack and fit the jack stand at the right place - but it is possible, you just have to fool with it a bit. They go for $50 per stand. You can check them out here:
[URL=http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=10147]

just curious- who made the $100 per jack stands?

http://www.ultimategarage.com/acjacks.html

I love these jack stands.. but I wouldn't pay that much for them. If anyone knows of anything similar to the ones above.. let me know.

$50 is not bad for the 6600 lb. ones. I could make something similar, but with the hours I'd have into it, I'd be better off buying theirs.

These look good. Might make my tool budget someday:

http://www.asedeals.com/jack_stands.html

See the flat top stands with rubber pad near the bottom of the page.

http://www.asedeals.com/3000NFPcar.jpg

How about these?

That pic of the guy with the truck just cracked me up! I'm still trying not to laugh. Seriously though, a safe version of that would be a handy thing. I have often thought how it could be quite comfortable sitting down working on the underside of the car tilted up at an angle like that rather than lying in the confined space underneath (would be great for concours preparation). To get underneath mine I use some inexpensive stands (probably of Taiwanese or Chinese origin) that are available here from most auto parts suppliers (around 40 Aussie dollars a pair which should be under US$30). They are fairly light weight yet rated to more than enough for my MBs. They consist of square telescopic tubes for height adjustment with a pin that is inserted to lock the tubes together (no risk of collapse as with a rachet mechanism). They are light because the base does not need to be heavy gauge since it is only to provide stability rather than carrying the entire load. The square tube which is in compression carries the load and continues through the base and makes contact with the ground. The only requirement with this arrangement is that they be used on a hard, level surface. To play it safe I always use several support systems (eg. stands backed up by a jack) in case of any doubts with inexpensive stands.

The ratcheting jack stands are completely safe. You can only pull up on the handle if there is no weight on the stand.

I've used a set of these for about 15 years and I trust them as much as I can trust ANY jack stand. Before that I used some that are made of thin wall pipe with a pin. They are no stronger, but they are much less convenient than the ratcheting type.

Hopefully after this weekend I will never need them again. I almost have my two post lift put together and operational.

Good luck,

ALL JACK STANDS CAN BE SAFE
 

No matter what type I am using I also back up them up with a fail safe system...I use inflated tires on rims....double stack them and you will be safe....use at least 2 sets and you can use this system without jack stands, you car will be about 14-16 inches off the ground and much cheaper and safer than jack stands. I sometimes use them depending on where I am at with and without jack stands. I have a couple sets from SEARS that I got with a sale on a hydraulic JACK and sometimes WALMART has jack stands and all are safe using the tires as a back up....Jim

Gee, you guys are really safe.
I drive my 123 up on ramps to change the oil, and then jack up the rear and use some old jackstands I got for $5 (with the pin) and $10 (the ratcheting kind) in yardsales. I then have some 8X8X12 blocks of hardwood (oak, O think) to put under the rear as a backup. I do all this on cement. I agree that a jack can be unsafe when sitting on asphalt, as it will tend to sink into the goo, especially in the summer

My neighbor spent a couple of weeks out of work for trying to remove and replace a muffler with the car on a bumper jack. I think THAT would be dumb.

The ratcheting jack will not slip down while it has a load on it. You would need to clobber it with a sledge to get it to slip.

Jack Stands are no joke..man in my area killed..
 

I always buy the biggest JackStands I can and I back them up as much as possible. Sometiems I will use 4 total in the Car front.

You have to be careful because I am not sure import Steel is as safe as US Steel. My Heinz Werner Jack has lasted 30 years with one rebuild of the seals, but I dont think many of the newer jacks you buy can do that.

Last year a man in my area was killed in his garage underneath incorrect Jackstands.

I really wish i could specify and recommend a Brand, but I cant since many more Stands are made off shore out of imported steel of unspecified quality. The only rule I can mention is use four in the front if you are doing a transmission or something Major. Loads can shift!

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/snow7ice/BENZ.html

Any new recommendations?

I scolded a guy for posting pics of him chaning brake pads with only the hydraulic jack supporting the car.

The thread was edited by the moderator, i.e. my text was removed. I figured the young man was embarassed or didn't want to be told anything.

I have four stout jack stands. SO far so good.

Sears has some good ones.

The sears ones look just like the ones made in china, so they are probably from the same factory with a sears logo.

I want something more than 50 dollars per jack.

I've always ued 12" diam logs, cut to short lengths.

Beware those imported cast ratchet type stands, usually labeled 'China'. I know of one that the support pad broke off at the top of the 'post' because the casting was so porous it failed under load.

I remember back when I used to read Hemmings Motor News, some vendor advertised something that sort of resembles that picture with the truck tilted - only this thing was actually designed to roll the car onto its side safely. IIRC, you removed 2 wheels on one side, then attached this contraption to the hubs in place of the wheels. The device resembled a curved tubular frame which was strong enough to "roll" the vehicle onto its sides. It had stops on the end to prevent the car from rolling too far. You could roll the car almost to 90 degrees - great for working on anything underneath. I think they sold another model that rolled the car even further, and in the ad it said you would have to drain all the fluids first.

Has anyone else seen or used such a contraption? I've always wanted one and would be curious to hear how it worked...

I have a pair of 3 ton and a pair of 6 ton. I sometimes have trouble getting the car jacked up high enough to get the 6 ton stands under the rocker panels. Using pieces of industrial rubber over the "V" on the stand keeps it form scratching and seems to make it quite stable. I have a piece of I beam I use on the top of the saddle. I made a mistake and used a 4x4x8" the tall way and dropped my wife's Honda onto the jack, crunching the oil pan. I had jack stands under it at the time so it "caught" it on the way down. It's still up on the jack stands. One stupid mistake can cost a lot but jack stands are very safe. If you have (4) 6 ton jack stands holding up a 5000 lb car you have nothing to worry about. Always shake the car to see if you cna move it. IT should not budge. I tend to use extra jacks, wheels, I-beams and ramps for security.

I have 4 Harbor Freight 6 ton jack stands and 4 sears 4 ton jack stands. I also have the Harbor freight long body hydraulic lift. That raises the car to 33 inches. I always put in 4 jack stands AND the hydraulic jack is left just touching the lift point. If one jack stand fails I still have 4 more balance points. but as I said I use 6 ton units. by using 4 stands the car can at times balance on 3 of the 4 stands. I use shims to make sure the load is distrubuted evenly. But the car will ballance on 3 of the 4 stands. so there is some saety there. but with the hydraulic jack in place I feel very safe.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38847

Only with this hydraulic lift t get the car up high enough

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42820

I have been happy with them.

the unit that you attach to your car and role the car on its side is used in car restoration a lot. I have seen them in a English web sites and a few Us sites.

http://www.accessiblesystems.com/etfiles/et02.htm

Whats happening to all the fluids while the car is on its side??????????
the fluids are vented, usually.

There are also Rotisseries for when the car is dissasembled.

http://www.accessiblesystems.com/bul/bul40.htm

Dave

someone posted a link on mercedesshop I know for sure, you might have to do some digging