BE SAFE when working on your car - A Sobering Reminder

spearfish25

I just want to share this with the community so everyone can benefit from my experience.

I was jacking up the Z to swap the brake pads for a track day tomorrow. I've done this a million times, but I recently bought a new jack that can lift the car about twice as high as my old one. I was jacking up the left rear corner using a pinch rail adapter (like a hockey puck with a groove in it but I bought the read deal) when the opposite rear tire slipped sideways, the adapter must have slipped off the jack plate, and the car jumped away from me and fell off the jack. Luckily I was far away from the car while using the long floor jack and the tires were still on. But it was a very eye opening moment and very easy to see how people get crushed when working under their cars. I think my mistake was jacking one corner of the car too high before raising the others

So, ALWAYS be safe when working on your car. Don't be lazy. Don't cut corners. Always triple check your jack point as you're jacking the car up. Always use jack stands and place the wheels under the car as well if you've removed them. Don't be under the car unless you have to be.

Here's the carnage which I now get to have the body shop take care of next week. Fortunately she was already going in for a repaint of the roof and hood since some of the parking garage at work crumbled and hit the top of my car. The Z has a black cloud over her right now...but I'm still going to Blackhawk tomorrow .

Attached Images

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

GaleForce

Damn that's too bad. Glad you weren't injured.

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MarkGideon

Sorry about your Z, glad you are OK, and thanks for the reminder. I always double check my stands before I get under the car, but it only takes missing something once to really mess up your day.

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2012 370Z Base Gun Metallic--2015 Altima 2.5SV Gun Metallic--2020 Chevy Silverado RST--1965 Chevy C10 Stepside Shortbed

Trips

Good to hear first you're OK

I agree to be carful when lifting the Z and taking safety measures

NewtoZ's5

Dang that is some scary stuff! The damage sucks but at least you were not under it.

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2012 GM 370Z Touring/Sport- Swift Spec-R, 20mm spacers, K&N Typoons, Z1 HFC's, Invidia Gemini, Kinetix camber, SPC toe, UpRev 310WHP/256TQ
2004 RYP S2000- Enkei RPF1's(blK)w/Dunlop Star Specs, Swift Spec-R, I/H/HFC

LakeShow

Ouch!!! Glad your alright.

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|2013 Audi S4|Ibis White/Black|S-Tronic P+|
|2013 370z|PearlWhite/Persimmon|Touring/Sport/Nav|F.I. CBE 18" CF|
|Sold|2011 370z|Gun Metallic|Touring/Sport/Nav|

Footloose301

Glad you're ok.

Please post pic of said jack. Thanks.

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2010 40th Anniversary 370Z

Strangler

Will insurance pay for your damages?

ZMan8

Doubt that, it's self caused.

To op glad your OK.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

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2010 370Z 40 Anniv., 6 MT | Fast Intentions | Swift Springs | SPC | Z1Motorsports | JWM | Redline Oils | 35% Window Tint
2015 Mazda6 | 370ZChicago: Chicago Area Cars & Coffee

spearfish25

Thanks for the kind words. I'm going to pay out of pocket since I know the body shop owner and insurance will just complicate things for the future.

Here's the jack I bought, but it wasn't the culprit. I jacked the car up too high on one side and the opposite tire slipped causing the jack to pop out. The garage floor is a treated cement that is a bit slippery. The jack is pretty sweet actually and well worth the money. Only complaint is the release is difficult to modulate for lowering the car slowly (and I mean the real release, not the 'pop out from under the car' release).

Low Profile Floor Jack - 2 Ton, Rapid Pump® Jack

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2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

anthonyy

wow... very glad to hear that you are okay. That's some scary stuff.

Z-Girl 12

Thanks Spearfish25, glad your safe! Repped

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2012 Z-SOLD
2014 Nismo #565 Fast Intentions CBE/HFC/Swift/SPC/RJM/H&R-15/20mm/Z1 CAI/Headers/Intake Manifold w/Uprev Tune 328.31whp/263.64tq

cossie1600

Ouch, it's almost like me overshooting the oil change ramp and had my mud flaps landed on the ramps

smokejr

Glad to hear you are ok, also kudos for posting something kind of embarrassing
to help others, good luck at the track tomorrow.

Jsolo

Glad you were not under the car when it gave way.

I tend to only lift as much as needed. Also, usually jack under the diff or front K member. I have one of those adapters too (not the hockey puck one, but the metal one that has a cutout for the pinch weld). Used that on occasion with good results.