Ouch!

[Vidor06]

Just arrived at mother in laws to pick up the kids and my brother in law was there fixing a flat tyre on his car, so I decided to assist. He removed the flat tyre and I got the replacement and rolled it into place. Pretty much instantly the car fell off the jack and my wrist was trapped between the car and the tyre. The pain was excrutiating but luckily I think my arm was saved by my watch which also survived. My arm is still really sore but feeling really lucky right now, could have been so much worse.

 

[trustysteed]

perhaps you should jack in home car repairs?

 

[ianrauk]

Ouch indeed

 

[trustysteed]

you've got to watch yourself, when in this case you did!

 

[snakehips]

At least you can still type !

Snake

My Library

 

[HobbesChoice]

At least you can still type !

 

[GrasB]

OUCH! a nasty one that but could have been a lot worse so count your blessings.

Anyway for any home mechanic a piece of advice. When you take a wheel off place it face up under the car so if the jack fails the wheel will take the weight. Yes it's annoying to replace a wheel cause the jack collapsed but is your life really worth a few £100? (that may well be covered by your car insurance!)

 

[Kirstie]

Or maybe don't use a jack - use those ramp things instead. Can't remember what they're called either way they're far safer!

 

[tyred]

Or maybe don't use a jack - use those ramp things instead. Can't remember what they're called either way they're far safer!

Good for general servicing but not a lot of help when removing a wheel.

I did something similar once on an Audi 80 when the jack broke. I've now had three VAG jacks break in service.

 

[GrasB]

Or maybe don't use a jack - use those ramp things instead. Can't remember what they're called either way they're far safer!

Service ramps like Levo-Artis or Restoration Ramps. They're all well & good up to a point but if you need to take a wheel off you still have problems.

 

[numbnuts]

next time call the AA man

 

[Kirstie]

True...you still need a jack for a wheel.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Did the jack fail? Or did the car fall off the jack? If the latter - make sure it's fitted properly next time - no lateral forces, always vertical forces down through the centre of the jack's foot. If the former have a good long rant with the manufacturer. And I'm plsaed for you it wasn't much much worse.

 

[fossyant]

Oh bugger.

I always use a trolley jack now, and if I have to go under the car, axel stands. The number of times in my yoof I'd be under a car/wheel arch with just the jack.....argh.

 

[GrasB]

Even under axle stands I 'wheel up' the car having wrenched a car off an axel stand (3 wheels on the ground!) while tightening a hub nut to the required torque