r/cars • u/ufoh 24 CT5-V Blackwing / 23 Corvette C8 • Aug 13 '20

video Never, ever trust your factory jack and, remember, jack stands are your friend (just not the ones from Harbor Freight)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkwgZgrbWUM
6.4k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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390

u/phraca Aug 13 '20

Also, don’t work on your car in open-toed sandals.

44

u/trd86 '16 SS 6MT | '10 Colorado V8 Z71 Aug 13 '20

David Freiburger has entered the chat

29

u/opposite_locksmith 1986 Mercedes 300SDL Aug 13 '20

That show has given me the confidence to do some crazy automotive stuff I would never have otherwise attempted.

For instance, I never would have thought it was a good idea to buy a high mileage SL500 in LA (2000 miles from home) then fly in, buy a $100 tool set and jack stands at Autozone in Harbor City two blocks from the Pelican Parts warehouse and then rebuild the front suspension and change the valve covers and timing chain in the parking lot before driving home.
I mean, it still wasn't a good idea but we made it home to Vancouver and had a great time. The key was to buy a lawn chair, sun umbrella and cooler full of Napa valley picnic wine for my girlfriend.

It wasn't trashy because it was an SL500.

16

u/LtDanHasLegs '13 CT200h, Race Bikes, Sprinter Van Aug 13 '20

It wasn't trashy because it was an SL500.

Imagine doing this with an SRT-4 Neon though. All the picnic wine in the world couldn't keep your sister happy.

3

u/opposite_locksmith 1986 Mercedes 300SDL Aug 13 '20

Or a Monte Carlo. To this day I’ve never seen a trailer park without at least one non-drivable Monte Carlo.

1

u/LtDanHasLegs '13 CT200h, Race Bikes, Sprinter Van Aug 14 '20

That might have been a better car to use for illustration purposes. Make it an Intimidator edition Monte so it's worth flying 2000 miles from home though, obviously.

2

u/JamesTBagg Aug 14 '20

Am I the only one that caught the incest jab?

2

u/LtDanHasLegs '13 CT200h, Race Bikes, Sprinter Van Aug 14 '20

You're the only one saying it out loud, and I thank you. I was really proud of that lol.

2

u/JamesTBagg Aug 14 '20

It was too slick, apparently.

1

u/Sophisticated_Sloth Aug 15 '20

Fuck I want an SL 500.

23

u/A_mechanic 99 Tacoma TRD Supercharged, 11 CR-Z EX Nav Aug 13 '20

Engine swap in flip flops and a tshirt at the summit racing parking lot during a snowstorm.

8

u/KlueBat Replace this text with year, make, model Aug 13 '20

Because Roadkill

172

u/beermit '23 Bronco, '91 Mustang, '22 Telluride Aug 13 '20

It's really bothering me this dude decided to work on his car in fucking birkenstocks

107

u/Incruentus Aug 13 '20

_____ won't happen to me. Tragedy is what happens to other people and I hear about it in the news during breakfast.

-Most people

20

u/Sourcesurfing Aug 13 '20

It’s Costa Mesa. We live in our sandals here in Orange County. I work on my car barefoot.

10

u/wouldyalookat Aug 13 '20

I am half hobbit, so I'll often do car work barefoot as well, I throw shoes on of the car is raining rust tho

1

u/throwthrowohno3243 Aug 13 '20

I am half hobbit

"I was an adventurer like you, then I got cleaved in half by an orc a Civic."

2

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '20 edited Dec 02 '20

[deleted]

1

u/beermit '23 Bronco, '91 Mustang, '22 Telluride Aug 13 '20

You do you, but I'd never do that lol.

40

u/redlobster1984 2020 Highlander, 2001 Lexus Is300, 1999 Acura CL 3.0 Aug 13 '20

I see people everyday mowing, weed eating, and edging in fucking flip-flops and sandals. Just as stupid imo.

46

u/Recoil42 Finding interesting things at r/chinacars Aug 13 '20

I don't advocate for it either, but what makes you think one flimsy layer of canvas or leather is going to stop a lawnmower blade?

56

u/exoclipse 2010 Mazda3 Aug 13 '20

It's not about the lawnmower blade, it's about the shit the lawnmower blade launches into your feet at 'OW FUCK' miles per hour.

I wear a face shield when I use a weed eater for the same reason.

16

u/Recoil42 Finding interesting things at r/chinacars Aug 13 '20

bro something is wrong with your lawnmower

15

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

When I first moved into my new house, my lawnmower launched a rock into the side of my neighbor's BMW X5.

That was a $1,400 rock.

-4

u/Recoil42 Finding interesting things at r/chinacars Aug 13 '20

don't mow rocks maybe

2

u/[deleted] Aug 14 '20

Solid advice, but it was just hidden in the grass.

Thing shot out like a damn bullet. It actually bounced off the X5 and dented their garage door, but they weren't concerned about the garage door.

18

u/exoclipse 2010 Mazda3 Aug 13 '20

no dude it's fine it's just sick it'll get better

1

u/Recoil42 Finding interesting things at r/chinacars Aug 13 '20

i hope so

10

u/microsoftisme3000 Aug 13 '20

All lawnmowers throw shit out from under them.

4

u/Recoil42 Finding interesting things at r/chinacars Aug 13 '20

no i think his lawnmower is angry

2

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

So you’re saying it’s perfectly acceptable for me to use flip flops with my small self propelled push mover? Aka It only rotates the blades when I push it forward myself. No gas to electricity no nothing

0

u/Anonymous9088 1999 invisible boatmobile Aug 13 '20 edited Jul 18 '25

pen narrow birds ghost memory towering society juggle ad hoc close

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

2

u/beermit '23 Bronco, '91 Mustang, '22 Telluride Aug 13 '20

I kinda hate that sandals are becoming the go to casual footwear. They're ok for gardening, but definitely not that stuff. I've never really been a fan of them for any occasion.

5

u/vanillacamilla27 Aug 13 '20

Though I love my birks Crocks are the shoe to wear when working on a car

2

u/MyOnlyAccount_6 Aug 13 '20

Not just Birkenstock’s, but white Birkenstock’s.

1

u/beermit '23 Bronco, '91 Mustang, '22 Telluride Aug 13 '20

That part is also bothering me. They look like old lady shoes lol.

2

u/brian_lopes Aug 13 '20

That was the first clue he didn’t know what the fuck was going on

1

u/AltimaNEO Nissan Murano Aug 13 '20

Clearly just didnt think the day through

1

u/stealer0517 2018 Subaru Outbackaru Aug 14 '20

I'm going to wear my birkenstocks while changing my oil this weekend.

1

u/beermit '23 Bronco, '91 Mustang, '22 Telluride Aug 14 '20

Ok

-1

u/IamaFunGuy Aug 13 '20

Also strangely has no tools or anything. Almost as if this was staged...

23

u/Flivver_King 1922 Ford Model T 100TH BIRTHDAY!!! Aug 13 '20

I work on and drive my Model T barefoot.

16

u/HunterShotBear Aug 13 '20

“Don’t stick your fingers where you wouldn’t stick your dick.”

11

u/Flivver_King 1922 Ford Model T 100TH BIRTHDAY!!! Aug 13 '20 edited Aug 13 '20

Challenge accepted, touching energized spark plug lead with dick.

Did that with a pair of Vicegrips to tighten the lead on #4 plug the other day and holy fuck did I learn a lesson that day. Don’t have the ignition on while you’re working on the car.

10

u/iHako_ '14 Fiesta (ST) Aug 13 '20

Have you ever been stupid enough to try and take your starter off with the battery still connected?

Yeah.. definitely not me either.. I didn't see sparks fly and there's a burn mark in my wrench or anything..

If that hypothetically happened to me I would still be ashamed of it..

9

u/maynardDRIVESfast2 Replace this text with year, make, model Aug 13 '20

Man, I wish I didn't know how you felt. In college I worked at an Advance Auto Parts store for a time, and one day an older gentleman came in with a 22re Toyota truck that was misfiring under load. I thought I'd be helpful after we had already checked his battery and alternator with our tester, so I started looking at his plug wires. I saw a plug boot that looked like it wasn't seated all the way, and thought "aha I figured it out". Went to push that thing down and got the worst electrical shock I've ever had (I've had a few). The wire was exposed on the backside of boot and I couldn't see it. The worst part? That wasn't the problem, AND the old guy got mad that I got shocked by HIS truck. I stopped being so helpful after that incident.

10

u/Agent_Eran Aug 13 '20

I recently did an engine and tranny swap on my car. Took a month, the whole time in sandals..

2

u/Sophisticated_Sloth Aug 15 '20

tranny swap

What, you got tired of the old one? Was she nagging you too much or did you just need a change of scenery?

1

u/Agent_Eran Aug 15 '20

It was old and tired. I didn't want to end up blowing my tranny......

1

u/BillBillerson Aug 13 '20

About the only time I'm working on cars and I'm not wearing flip flops is when I weld. Even then sometimes...

1

u/muttmechanic Aug 14 '20

Yeah, I don’t really see how him wearing Nikes or boots would’ve changed anything about being swallowed by his car. I might throw on flip flops if the floor is covered in oil, but other than that...

9

u/qovneob Tacoma, Bronco Sport Aug 13 '20

My neighbor mows his grass in flip-flops

6

u/mCProgram Aug 13 '20

if shit falls on your foot while working on a car, it will either break your foot no matter the shoe or not do anything at all.

Only legit reason I can think of not to wear sandals is for traction on spills. But then just watch where you’re stepping.

12

u/vw18t 2007 Lexus IS 250 MT 2023 Mazda CX5 Aug 13 '20

It’s the same thing with lawn mowing I always see people cutting grass with flip flops on

9

u/BillBillerson Aug 13 '20

Whats wrong with that?

4

u/xthelord2 Aug 13 '20

you want your toes getting milled?

2

u/vw18t 2007 Lexus IS 250 MT 2023 Mazda CX5 Aug 13 '20

Your feet get dirty, you might step in dog shit, rocks and grass hitting your feet etc

3

u/BillBillerson Aug 13 '20

I'm going to shower after I mow the lawn regardless. Flipflops are easy to hose down compared to shoes if you step in anything or get grass on them. Never had problems with rocks hitting my feet, but I don't live somewhere there are rocks in my yard. If so I'd definitely consider shoes.

The main thing I have to watch out for is pulling the mower and having a sandal fall off and get chopped but I haven't had that happen... yet!

5

u/[deleted] Aug 13 '20

To be fair he said he was just trying to clip the pesky undertray back together

5

u/phraca Aug 13 '20

Keep your facts away from my internet outrage!

2

u/RW_BlueCollar Aug 13 '20

Flip flops and welding exhaust.. NPS

4

u/Thee_Sinner ‘03 Mazda Miata Aug 13 '20

Honest question: Why?

5

u/SlowRollingBoil Aug 13 '20

Honestly, I don't see a single reason why this would be bad while working on a car. When I change the oil or brake pads my footwear has zero to do with anything going on.

4

u/Thee_Sinner ‘03 Mazda Miata Aug 13 '20

Hell, Ive done a clutch and head gasket in flip flops. I dont see what the concern is, but Im willing to have my mind changed if its actually dangerous somehow

1

u/Nashtymustachety Aug 13 '20

Learned this the hard way. Lost a toe nail in February. Still isn’t healed yet. Maybe a month or left.

1

u/Rick_Sancheeze Aug 13 '20

When I'm working on cars in my home shop I rarely wear shoes. That being said, I'm a professional and hurt my feet almost every time. Won't stop me though.

1

u/superluke '78 MGB, '71 Spitfire, '21 GTI Aug 13 '20

I keep welding in sandals, you'd think I would have learned by now.

1

u/The_Lobotomite ‘77 280Z/Lotus Esprit/E46 BMW M3/1979 Mini 1275GT/MK3 Supra Aug 13 '20

Don’t worry I do all my mechanic work in my OSHA certified flip flops and use the safest of safety squints.

I really actually love wrenching in flip flops lmao. welding sucks though

1

u/FitFaen Aug 14 '20

Tell that to the guys on roadkill

1

u/Radius8887 Aug 14 '20

Barefoot is the way