Are wheel chocks necessary in addition to jackstands?

andysc said:

Newbie here delving into the DIY car repair/maintenance.

Going to be replacing an o2 sensor and will be jacking up the front of my 2000 Camry and putting it on two jackstands.

Is it necessary to chock the rear wheels? In general, when is it necessary to chock wheels?

Thanks!

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i would pull the parking brake as well, and why take chance, use the choke too if you are going underneath the vehicle.

I usually just set the ebrake. But if you have them, use them. I usually use a rock if I need chocks.

About the only time I use wheel chocks is when I'm changing a tire with the scissor jack and when I lift only the rear end of the car since I park my car in neutral (5 manual).

andysc said:

In general, when is it necessary to chock wheels?

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I use them most of the time, all of the time if I'm going under the car.
FWIW
YMMV

I have to agree with the above posters. There is no such thing as being too safe. You don't have to go out and buy wheel chocks; you can use a couple of lengths of scrap 2 X 4's if you have them lying around. I carry a scrap piece of 2 X 4 in the trunk of each of my cars, just in case I have to change a tire on the side of the road.

Mike

Dont trust the e-brake to prevent the car from rolling, especially not if you are going to be crawling around putting your body underneath. I use bricks or blocks of wood, i always block at least one wheel although two is best,

And i always use jackstands under the sub frame or a-arms when crawling underneath - not pieces of wood piled up or God forbid, concrete blocks - jackstands. I've known of more than one person killed by cars falling on them. So if you dont do overkill when chocking and blocking you could be the one getting killed.

As much of a safety nitz as I am, if you know the PB can hold the car still, I think jackstands + PB or jackstands + trans in park is enough.

Lumberg said:

As much of a safety nitz as I am, if you know the PB can hold the car still, I think jackstands + PB or jackstands + trans in park is enough.

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Parking brake only applies to the rear wheels and transmission park is only the front. So if you have the front or rear off the ground, you can't use one of those.

touringcamry said:

Parking brake only applies to the rear wheels and transmission park is only the front. So if you have the front or rear off the ground, you can't use one of those.

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Riiight. Thus my use of the word "OR"
So
Front off the ground->use PB
Rear off the ground->use trans in P

If you have both off the ground, you can't use chocks now can you?

Seriously though, do whatever feels comfortable.

However, if you feel comfortable being under a car that is supported only by a jack, we'll look for you in the next installment of the Darwin Awards!

I think we all agree that the most important thing is never, ever put any part of your body between the car and the ground if it's not firmly supported by an immovable/uncompressible object (such as a jackstand).

all the time if ur crawling under the car