Axle stands
Safety comes first when working under a car. We put eight pairs of axle stands to the strength test
It's easy to believe that using axle stands is too much bother, but when you consider that 20 people die from cars falling on them every year, you should think again. Every time you lift your motor, you'd be mad to get under it relying on a trolley jack alone. Seals in the jack can fail, sometimes suddenly, with disastrous results. With axle stands there are no seals to leak, and the weight of the car is spread over two points.
If you use a jack, you should have axle stands, too. The good news is that it won't break the bank to add a pair to your garage. All stands should be marked with a Safe Working Load (SWL) - the bigger the number, the better. However, as you'll only ever be supporting one corner of the vehicle with each stand, a one-tonne rating is fine for most applications. Take care, though, as some manufacturers sell axle stands on a 'per pair' rating.
As with a trolley jack, the size and shape of the saddle or dish is important. A flat saddle would be useless, as a vehicle could easily slide off. A wide top is good, and a cupped design is preferred, as it gives extra stability. However, if the cup is too deep, it can lead to the upper edges damaging the underside of the car. We prefer ratchet stands to peg types, as they are much easier to use, with a broad range of height settings. An iron saddle is another plus point, as it tends to be kinder to the vehicle than steel.
Other factors to look for include feet on each leg to spread the load and prevent the stand digging into the floor. If you have to work in the street, narrow tripod legs will easily sink into tarmac, particularly when it's warm. When it comes to height, a 280mm maximum is about right for the average car, although owners of 4x4s should add up to 100mm more extension.
Verdict
It was a photo finish in the ratchet stand class, despite different designs from Clarke and Kamasa. A slight price edge and a better saddle nudged the Kamasa ahead.
Among the peg stands, the folding Draper pair combined price with performance to win - but watch your fingers! The similar but more expensive MVP items came second.RATCHET STANDS
1st Kamasa Heavy Duty
2ndClarke StrongarmPEG STANDS
1st Draper foldable
2ndMVP Superline
