Saw this picture browsing items on Amazon. I've never seen a jack like this with only a single arm, like half of a traditional scissor screw jack. Does anyone know what it is called, or have a link to this, or a similarly designed product? Is it any good, is it safe? I could use a jack with a small footprint like this when placing jackstands in a location close to a lifting point. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Oh geez I have a bunch of these they used to come in Volkswagens very popular I think in rabbits and early golf It's an aluminum frame You crank the handle put the slot under the rocker panel and just rotate righty tighty up lefty loosey down. I have a few laying around here I used to using right regular then I got electric jacks and electric ramps and belly lifts. All from old garage is closing down got the stuff mostly for free.
Of course you're not supposed to be lying under the car with this kind of nonsense on this is strictly a change of tire or put a block under it and set it down and go to the other side and do the same whatever but it lifts very well and it's easy on the hands dangerous doesn't really matter if it falls down which I've knocked mine over a few times pretty uneventful
That's an Audi A4, A6 and VW aluminum jack that is compact and weighs less than 3 pounds. The ones made between 1998 and 2003 work perfectly on Toyota car pinch welds. The handle is attached and cannot be lost. It is well engineered and perfectly safe, I keep one in the back of my Prius and prefer it over the OEM jack. After 1993, Audi went to jacking sockets like BMW and Mercedes. As an economy move, they also went to heavier steel ones. As a furter economy move they went to standard scissors jacks with detachable handles in about 2010.
Lol, here's an excerpt from an eBay listing for one of these jacks: "Oem “Widow Maker” emergency aluminum jack in perfect working order from a 2001 S4." I'm undeterred, I just bought one. I'll use it with due caution. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Clearly, only a fool would get under a jack intended for tire changing. The instructions warn the fool in both German and English.
Or to change a tire on the side of the road and you're not going to be under the car when you take the tire off with your electric impact wrench which mine is just laying in the trunk for this instant so I don't have to use a lug wrench manually. I pulled the trigger with the wheel up and able to spin and blast the five lug nuts off but the tire down and slide it next to the jack so if the car falls big deal. I already have the spare out bam on it goes this is all taking a whopping 6 minutes at best and I'm old so for kids and youngins this ought to go quicker even. Throw the nonsense back in the trunk off we go of course I haven't had to change a flat like this and I don't know man 33 years usually I just plug it on the spot pull the nail out I don't lift the car all the way up just take some weight off but the nail where I can get my dykes on it shoot the plug in I have this funny little air device and shoot some air in drive down the street and top it completely off when I go past my favorite gas stations high pressure free pump.
I dont care if its the strongest jack in the world, i never trust that it wont fold back down or tip over accidentally. Thats why i always put two jackstands along with the jack if i ever plan to get underneath and do work.
I can't imagine that jack wouldn't work very well on a soft shoulder - with such a small footprint. I've got an 18 inch 2x4 stuffed next to my scissor jack, for just such an occasion. If you can park the car in a concrete/asphalt surface while doing the tire change - that jack should work fine. You know Murphy's law. you'll probably be, out of cell service, in the rain and on a muddy surface - when you get your flat indicator......
Toyota recommends chocking the wheel diagonally opposite, which helps, to avoid shakes. Firmly setting the parking brake does similar. As does loosening lug nuts partially before raising.
FWIW; parking brakes will only work for the rear axle; front axle held by the parking paw - in the transmission, but the front axle will move a bit, due to the differential. Best thing to do is chock the wheels, diagonally opposite to the lift point. 12x12x1/2 board will work, but the 18 inch 2x4 slips in right next to the jack, nicely. It does rattle sometimes, when I hit a particularly sharp bump. I may wrap it in a towel and/or trash bags, something that I may need if/when I get a flat.
No matter which corner is up in the air, firmly setting the parking brake will prevent sway. Wheel chocking (with purpose-built wheel chocks, not so much with "what have you") is better though. IIRC Toyota does (or did) supply folding-metal wheel chocks, for Japanese domestic market. Along with a square of plywood (3/4" thick by maybe 8" square) I keep a pair of wheel chocks in the underfloor tray.
