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Habor Frieght Jack Stands Recall

Corprin

Autocross Champion
Location
Magrathea
Car(s)
A car
The locking pins are not required, the issue with the recalled units is the pawl. The forges that were used to make the pawl/catch wore over time to a point they were no longer locking enough to be safe. So stands without pins are safe, I just like that warm and fuzzy the safety pins give me when I need to put some ass into cracking a rusty bolt loose.

@Ghost GTI. I’ve always liked the look of option 1, but I have a couple issues with their design.

E2CDA950-DFB2-4675-948B-69DD23CB4610.jpeg


The footprint is fairly small and distributes the load over a greater flat area. My work surfaces are not glass smooth anymore so the point loading of option 2 gives me a lazier set up. Also, with lateral forces being applied, that point loading is harder to slide across the surface of my workspace. Now I’m not an engineer and I’m likely taking out my ass, but I’m all about warm and fuzzy feelings when I’m in the squish zone... so that’s my preference. I also like the idea is that big stupid pawl and a safety pin as back-up, rather than relying on just a pin in single sheer. Add to it questionable aluminum quality and a hardened steel pin, there is going to be wear over time and what does that do for my warm and fuzzy? I’m also concerned with how the load is carried. It seems like your option 1 carries the load to a small central point, and the base simply holds the stand vertical. While option 2 moves that load out to a wider footprint. To me this seems more stable. It would be interesting to see an engineer’s take on the two.

You’ll have to remember my bias also stems from me working under 7-8ton vehicles at one point, and my current Tacoma tipping the scales at pretty close to 3ton now.

I do question the logic I see in option 1’s reviews though. “They are light and easy to store.” They keep me alive, I don’t mind them being built like a shit brick house and heavy as my car.

But the biggest driver is, I can get four of the steel traditionals with safety pins for the price of two aluminum post types. Everyone with two jack stands has said “I wish I had bought four stands” at one point. Conversely, nobody with four stands has ever said “you know what, I wish I would have only bought two stands.” You will use all four simultaneously more than you think.

On edit:

When using stands:

1. When you get stands into position and carrying the load, check the first pair to make sure they didn’t shift during placement of the second pair. I’ve had them tilt onto two legs during jacking.

2. When the stands (2 or 4) are in place, grab the vehicle and give it a solid shake to check stability and make sure stands are fully locked. Hip checking is better.

3. slide the wheels, or 8x8 blocks under the rockers/frame rails to catch the vehicle if something fails. You’ll break some ribs, but you’ll survive.

4. keep the jack just under/touching a central jack point and locked, with no load to give you that extra fraction of a second if something fails.

5. use the biggest stand you can cram under there. I have 6 3t stands and 4 6t in the garage. I’ll sometimes use the 3t as a holder to get low cars up onto the 6t stands (so I’m lifting the front/rear in two stages). I only use the smaller stands to hold think like the Taco’s axle tube while the frame/truck is on the 6t stands.

6. I ONLY use stands if wheels/axles are coming off. Otherwise I’m on ramps or cradles under the wheels.
 
Last edited:

golfdave

Autocross Champion
Location
Scotland (U.K.)
Car(s)
Mk7 Golf GT Estate
Jack stands WITHOUT SAFETY PINS....:eek::eek:

I only buy jack stands with safety pins.....& three legs as they are more stable on uneven floors than 4 leg stands..
 

Frank Reynolds

Go Kart Newbie
Location
So Cal
Now that looks like a great solution for our MK7's. I love that I can jack my E46 from the front middle using the subframe then slide the jackstands in place. But it is such a pain in the ass with the MK7. I usually jack up the back until the front goes high enough but it's not usually enough if you're doing work under the car.

Thanks for sharing these I'm going to have to get some.
 

Gptuners

Drag Racing Champion
Location
KY
Car(s)
2019 GTI S


Now that looks like a great solution for our MK7's. I love that I can jack my E46 from the front middle using the subframe then slide the jackstands in place. But it is such a pain in the ass with the MK7. I usually jack up the back until the front goes high enough but it's not usually enough if you're doing work under the car.

Thanks for sharing these I'm going to have to get some.

Holy crap. I've seen these 💯 times, but never actually watched the video. Based on Frank's reaction, I was like... "Wait... What's so special about it?" That's REALLY cool. I'm getting two for sure. I always just thought it was a really wide stand.
 

scrapin240

Drag Racing Champion
Location
IzzaGolf
Car(s)
Golf
Now that looks like a great solution for our MK7's. I love that I can jack my E46 from the front middle using the subframe then slide the jackstands in place. But it is such a pain in the ass with the MK7. I usually jack up the back until the front goes high enough but it's not usually enough if you're doing work under the car.

Thanks for sharing these I'm going to have to get some.
The MK7 is one of the worst cars that I ever tried to jack. Since I purchased a QuickJack, total game changer. It's not a total PITA and I am less worried about the car moving when really going after a bolt.

TL;DR QuickJack is worth the expense. After one use, you'll forget how much you paid and wonder why did you wait so long.
 
Last edited:

aaronc7

Autocross Champion
Location
USA
Car(s)
17 S3
^^ I have the same gripe....jack and stands is kind of annoying due to lack of good jacking points, especially in the rear (unless im missing something). I got the slotted frame rail blocks for mine and it works very well with these cars.

 

KyACRASH

Autocross Newbie
Location
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Car(s)
2015 GTI 6MT, 04 R32

Ghost GTI

Drag Racing Champion
Location
Cockpit
Car(s)
'19 GTI SE DSG
The locking pins are not required, the issue with the recalled units is the pawl. The forges that were used to make the pawl/catch wore over time to a point they were no longer locking enough to be safe. So stands without pins are safe, I just like that warm and fuzzy the safety pins give me when I need to put some ass into cracking a rusty bolt loose.

@Ghost GTI. I’ve always liked the look of option 1, but I have a couple issues with their design.

The footprint is fairly small and distributes the load over a greater flat area. My work surfaces are not glass smooth anymore so the point loading of option 2 gives me a lazier set up. Also, with lateral forces being applied, that point loading is harder to slide across the surface of my workspace. Now I’m not an engineer and I’m likely taking out my ass, but I’m all about warm and fuzzy feelings when I’m in the squish zone... so that’s my preference. I also like the idea is that big stupid pawl and a safety pin as back-up, rather than relying on just a pin in single sheer. Add to it questionable aluminum quality and a hardened steel pin, there is going to be wear over time and what does that do for my warm and fuzzy? I’m also concerned with how the load is carried. It seems like your option 1 carries the load to a small central point, and the base simply holds the stand vertical. While option 2 moves that load out to a wider footprint. To me this seems more stable. It would be interesting to see an engineer’s take on the two.

You’ll have to remember my bias also stems from me working under 7-8ton vehicles at one point, and my current Tacoma tipping the scales at pretty close to 3ton now.

I do question the logic I see in option 1’s reviews though. “They are light and easy to store.” They keep me alive, I don’t mind them being built like a shit brick house and heavy as my car.

But the biggest driver is, I can get four of the steel traditionals with safety pins for the price of two aluminum post types. Everyone with two jack stands has said “I wish I had bought four stands” at one point. Conversely, nobody with four stands has ever said “you know what, I wish I would have only bought two stands.” You will use all four simultaneously more than you think.

On edit:

When using stands:

1. When you get stands into position and carrying the load, check the first pair to make sure they didn’t shift during placement of the second pair. I’ve had them tilt onto two legs during jacking.

2. When the stands (2 or 4) are in place, grab the vehicle and give it a solid shake to check stability and make sure stands are fully locked. Hip checking is better.

3. slide the wheels, or 8x8 blocks under the rockers/frame rails to catch the vehicle if something fails. You’ll break some ribs, but you’ll survive.

4. keep the jack just under/touching a central jack point and locked, with no load to give you that extra fraction of a second if something fails.

5. use the biggest stand you can cram under there. I have 6 3t stands and 4 6t in the garage. I’ll sometimes use the 3t as a holder to get low cars up onto the 6t stands (so I’m lifting the front/rear in two stages). I only use the smaller stands to hold think like the Taco’s axle tube while the frame/truck is on the 6t stands.

6. I ONLY use stands if wheels/axles are coming off. Otherwise I’m on ramps or cradles under the wheels.

I have 4 of these already: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CO86BY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was hoping to get something safer, given the design of these are similar to the HF ones.
 
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