I dropped my Neer!

[Speakerboy]

I was doing my brakes two days ago, when my jack collapsed jacking the front up and dropped my truck on the floor from about 12in high between frame and ground. Dug the bolts on the bottom of my brakes into the concrete pretty good.

Now, I have a SLOW but very noticeable leak from my transmission, about a palmful of liquid every 24 hours, and my powersteering is now overfilled.

I also got stranded and towed yesterday because of a blown PCM fuse, actually waiting on a ride to get a new one.

What could I be facing here? Is it time to retire the Neer from daily to hobby?

 

[koda2000]

1. Never ever, ever trust a jack w/out a safety stand.
2. The brake caliper would not hit the ground, so I'm not sure what bolts you're referring to.
3. If your power steering is now overfilled it must have been overfilled before you dropped your truck, or perhaps there's air in the power steering system. This happens if you turn the wheels with the engine off. Did you do this? If so you'll need to work the air out of the system by driving in slow figure-8's turning the steering wheel from lock-to-lock.
4. Where is your transmission fluid leaking from? Just having the jack fall shouldn't have anything to do with the transmission unless you caught the jack on a transmission line. Where did you have the jack?

 

[Turdle]

First things first. Go get a set of good jack stands. You'll need them to figure this out.

 

[96eb96]

Well, hope this is a lesson that if if the car rises and any work needs to be done jackstands are a must. And a jack too as a backup, maybe even a third thing. Even changing a tire with a jack has risks. There are occasional stories in the news where some unfortunate soul ends up as car pizza because they didn't do the right thing.

I'll go even further, torsion bars could spontaneously break. Never go under the vehicle for any reason without jackstands, or put hands in places where they could be crushed.

Bottom line is you don't want to find yourself making out on the bottom with a 4000lb ex!

 

[koda2000]

To quote Christopher Titus's dad when Titus had a car fall on him...

The dad: So what have we learned?
Titus: That cars are heavy...

 

[lobo411]

Hydraulic jack?

 

[LoquetusofBorg]

Jack stands are cheaper then hydraulic jacks. You can find them at garage sales or Craig's list. I bought 2, ton and a half jacks new for 15 bucks, that kind of safety you can't afford not to have.
Robert

 

[koda2000]

Jack stands are cheaper then hydraulic jacks. You can find them at garage sales or Craig's list. I bought 2, ton and a half jacks new for 15 bucks, that kind of safety you can't afford not to have.
Robert

I have 3 sets of safety stands. My oldest set my dad bought for me when I was only 14 years old (I'm almost 70 now) and I still use them regularly. In fact one is supporting my '01 ST's rear axle as I write this. I have numerous hydraulic jacks and I don't trust any of them well enough to hold up a vehicle while I work on it.

 

[96eb96]

A hydraulic jack looks nice and steady but it can drop in an instant. There is just a flimsy rubber seal holding up 1000s of pounds of pressure.

 

[LoquetusofBorg]

I have 3 sets of safety stands. My oldest set my dad bought for me when I was only 14 years old (I'm almost 70 now) and I still use them regularly. In fact one is supporting my '01 ST's rear axle as I write this. I have numerous hydraulic jacks and I don't trust any of them well enough to hold up a vehicle while I work on it.

Wow, that you have the ones your father bought you speaks volumes about your father and his concern with you and your safety and how that lesson has stayed with you. It also speaks well of good American products that are still in use to this day.
Robert

 

[traveler]

One of the lessons my Dad drove deeply into my brain when I was young was never ever get under a car without Jackstands. (another was never use Gasoline to start campfires... but that's another story) He owned a car dealership and I worked in his shop, and whenever he stopped by the shop he checked to be sure any car that was off the ground was secured with jackstands (or that the safety catch on the lifts was in use). He did this not out of fear of lawsuits but concern for the wellbeing of his employees. I have discovered however that, though the jackstands I have are strong enough for the Explorer, they aren't tall enough! Next trip to the tool store is going to be for taller jackstands.

 

[LoquetusofBorg]

I also grew up around vehicles and often went to my dads shop. It is kind of funny how us older guys, (younger ones, not so much), grew up with that respect for employee and friends and just other in general. We did not just sit in front of the TV, we were out doing things and learning. The word "Mechanically Inclined" was an earned attribute, from just doing. Did any of you ever join the club FFA, the 4H club, the cub scouts, boy scouts. I think those clubs are still around but in much fewer numbers. I am close to 60 and the kids I see in this area are mostly lazy. Just sit and play video games or what ever on there phone and they know nothing about anything practical. I live in an apartment complex with 20 other families and I am the only guy with tools, the rest know nothing, I kid you not. They are young, between 25-35 with no ambitions for anything. Is it just me or are you guys seeing any of this? Please don't get me wrong, there are plenty of kids in the area that grew up on farms around here and know a lot about everything so I will try not to lump. Does any one here see what I see? Curious.
Robert

 

[koda2000]

I have 2 daughters. Both of them in their mid 30's now and married. Both of them married useless men (I hate to use the word men when describing them). Neither one is capable of doing anything mechanical, but one thinks he's a DIY'er, though I can't trust him to do anything w/o supervision. The other is totally useless. He plays video games and collects movie collectibles/toys. His car windows are full of Zombie and superhero decals. Both my daughters know more about vehicles than their spouses. I hate the idea of either son-in-law getting my tools when I die. Both my daughters earn more than their spouses (one double+ the money). Where the hell have all the men gone?

 

[Turdle]

Koda, it happened when women accepted it.

If a guy isn't getting what he wants, he'll figure out how to get it or leave.

 

[LoquetusofBorg]

I have 2 daughters. Both of them in their mid 30's now and married. Both of them married useless men (I hate to use the word men when describing them). Neither one is capable of doing anything mechanical, but one thinks he's a DIY'er, though I can't trust him to do anything w/o supervision. The other is totally useless. He plays video games and collects movie collectibles/toys. His car windows are full of Zombie and superhero decals. Both my daughters know more about vehicles than their spouses. I hate the idea of either son-in-law getting my tools when I die. Both my daughters earn more than their spouses (one double+ the money). Where the hell have all the men gone?

Sorry to here about the men in there lives, but it speaks very well for you that the girls know more then the hubbies do about cars and the gum shun to succeed in life. That's all on you and the mrs for how those girls turned out. Kudos Koda to you and yours. Although the men in there lives don't deserve the tools the girls do and I'll bet they cherish those tools as you did your fathers.
Robert

 

[LoquetusofBorg]

Koda, it happened when women accepted it.

If a guy isn't getting what he wants, he'll figure out how to get it or leave.

You are correct!

 

[traveler]

Wow.. This thread sure has taken a turn! But then we haven't heard back from the OP with clarifications on his questions yet so in the meantime we wait and discuss various topics. hehe

 

[Speakerboy]

I know the importance of jackstands, trust me. I lost mine in my recent move, and I just talked myself into doing my brakes to get away from the chaos that is my life currently. I was nearly a quarter inch dug into my old rotors. (My car is my stress toy/me time place) I was not however aware of how flimsy jacks can be, I've never had that issue before.

The trans leak slowed to just being visibly moist and the powersteering fluid, well, I've NEVER added anything in the 18 months I've had my neer, and never seen it leak before. The bolts I mean about digging into the ground were vertical bolts on the bottom of the brake assembly. Not sure of the proper term for them.

I was terrified I cracked something.

My truck drives pretty damn strong for 210k on it, and only costing me $500 so I'd like to see what life I can coax out of it yet.

I'm down from seventeen codes thrown to just my sheared EGR causing bank one to run lean. I'm pretty stoked about trying to get it running solid again.

 

[koda2000]

The big stud/nut on the bottom center is the lower ball joint nut. I doubt you hurt it any.

 

[96eb96]

Maybe sticky this thread, save someones life. Especially young kids who will buy these vehicles.