Axle stands are a valuable addition to any home mechanic’s garage equipment. Car jacks will lift up a vehicle but they are a scary proposition for anyone who needs to work underneath a car. Jacks do fail, causing hundreds of injuries annually. A crush injury from a vehicle can be devastating. Axle stands provide a second line of defense–provided they themselves include the features necessary to ensure they will function reliably and safely. Stands must securely support a car that has been elevated by a jack stand. The user positions the stand beneath the car axle and near the wheel.
There is more than one kind of axle stand on the market so before making your purchase be sure the stands possess these qualities in order to keep yourself safe.
–Evaluate the overall appearance of the stand. It should look solid, with no sign of deterioration or discoloration. Look at the welding and the finish. Are there rough sides and corners that indicate poor workmanship? Sloppy work means you should avoid this one.
–Does this stand have stabilizers? The feet must supply a stable, sturdy base that will support heavy weight equally well on all surfaces, without unexpected slips or movements. Stabilizing feet will ensure this.
–Examine the stand’s support mechanism. Most stands use one of two methods to secure it at a given height: pegs or ratchet. A ratchet mechanism allows better control of the amount of elevation, allowing the user to reach a height that fits better and supports better. Peg based styles may cost less but are more difficult to use. If you decide that the peg axle stand suits your needs make sure that it comes with a safety catch and that the pegs fit properly.
When it comes to foldable axle stands, safety should be more important when deciding a purchase than saving a small amount of money. Good stands exist that are quite reasonably priced plus have the needed safety features. When you are lying under thousands of pounds of vehicle you want to be sure there is good quality workmanship protecting you.