I am new to this forum but I thought I would share something that happened to me yesterday that everybody should be aware of. I have a 2008 Scion XB and I was jacking it up yesterday to change a tire when the factory jack bent and gave out. The car fell all the way to the ground. Now this is the first time I have every used the jack and I only had it jacked up enough to just clear the tire ( about in extra half inch off the ground)

 

well your car should still be fine. this has happened to me. except for the jack bending part. whenever you jack up the car just pull the e-brake and it will stay stiff as a board

 

I did have the ebrake pulled and both rear wheels were chalked . The threaded bolt that raises the jack bent into almost a U shape.

 

OH! wow. your car is straight tho, right?

 

Luckily there was no damage to the car . Now I am wondering if I should let the Scion dealer know about this and do you think they replace the jack for free?

 

well i dont think it would hurt to tell them. but they will probably make you pay for a new 1. thats the way dealerships are, they make you pay for everything. but if they dont , then just the new 1 for free. but if i were you i would go out to pep boys or something and buy an actual jack. thats what i did and never had problems with it

 

Ya after this I threw my floor jack in that back luckily it has a case. I am just glad this did not happen to my wife. I ended up have to use both my floor jack to get the car back up.

 

well that sounds like u had a fun day

 

Sounds really bizarre! Normally, the only time a scissors jack would get bent is if the vehicle rolls or shifts while on the jack. The hand brake will protect against a mild fore/aft slope (assuming the jacking is at the front, not the rear), but not against a sidewise slope -- that's the most likely explanation in my view.

 

The car was in my driveway at the time . There is about a 10% slope . I had the jack parallel to the car. I was also jacking up the front of the car . I have been jacking up and working vehicles for over 20 years and have never had this happen.It did scare the living daylights out of me.

 

That's why Jack Stands are so invaluable...... You never know!

 

Just another lesson to ALWAYS use a jack stand!

 

Totally bizarre dude ! Haven't used mine yet (have something of a jack collection ), but that really does make me wonder. The OE jack should normally be easily up to the stresses of the job.

 

I suggest you guy get yourself a nice floor jack and only use a sissor jack in a pinch becuase they do call sissor jacks widow makers for a reason. they're just unsafe. Shoot me over a PM I can get you a great deal on one through my work if you want.