Jack stands, on the other hand, are purpose-built to reliably hold static loads during routine maintenance. Users that fail to utilize jack stands are risking financial and bodily harm by doing so.
The most common reason given for neglecting the use of jack stands is efficiency. They say that it is a waste of time and therefore money to properly set a load on a stand.
However, the cost of damage caused by one vehicle hitting the ground, or worse, a workplace injury would immediately negate any perceived benefit. In fact, there are multiple fatalities reported every year that are clearly linked to the failure to use a jack stands.
While it may seem inefficient or even inconvenient in the moment, it is important to remember that jack stands are just as important as the jacks themselves. Always check the user guides for all of your equipment before use and follow all workplace safety guidelines. Skip to content To do anything underneath a car, you have to jack it up first. Jack Types There are two main kinds of jacks : mechanical like the scissor jack you may have stored with your spare tire and hydraulic a floor or trolley jack.
Emergency Situations One possible exception to this rules is changing a tire. Photo courtesy of Blair Lampe. Related Articles. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Close Menu Overlay. Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube. We use cookies to make wikiHow great.
By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Find a flat, level surface to park your vehicle. Work on a clean, paved area so your vehicle is on even ground. Avoid jacking your vehicle in a place that's bumpy, near heavy traffic, or covered in gravel.
Make sure each side of your vehicle is level so the jack or jack stands can't slip out from underneath it. Working in a garage or a flat driveway is the best place to lift your vehicle. Activate your vehicle's parking brake. Find the lever in your vehicle that controls your parking brake and pull it until it's activated. The parking brake will ensure your vehicle doesn't lurch forwards or backwards while you jack it.
Place chocks, or tire wedges, around each of your wheels if you're lifting up the back end of your car. Locate an area underneath your vehicle to place your floor jack. Use hydraulic floor jack for the safest way to lift your vehicle.
Slide the floor jack underneath your vehicle so the arm is underneath the frame of your vehicle or at a lift point. Consult with your vehicle's manual to determine the best place to jack it. Raise your vehicle so the tires are 2—3 in 5.
Crank the handle up and down to lift your vehicle off of the ground. Continue lifting your vehicle until the tire or tires closest to your jack are completely off the ground.
Part 2. Set the jack stand underneath the pinch points of your vehicle. The pinch points are located on the sides of your vehicle behind your front tires or in front of your rear tires. Slide your jack stand in from the side of your vehicle. Line up the divot on your jack stand with the part of the pinch point that extends down.
Don't crawl underneath your vehicle while it's jacked until you have stands secured in place. Adjust the height of the jack stand if you need to. If you have an adjustable jack stand, lift the top of the jack stand up until it's touching the pinch point on your vehicle.
Once you've changed the height of the stand, put the safety pin attached to the stand through the hole at the base to secure it place. That way, it won't fall down when the weight of your vehicle is placed on it. Some jack stands cannot be adjusted. If yours doesn't change height, you can skip this step.
Lower your vehicle slowly onto the jack stand. Slowly turn the lever on your floor jack counterclockwise to drop your vehicle back down. The jack stand will support the weight on the side of your vehicle so you can safely work underneath it.
Pull the jack out from underneath your vehicle. Push your vehicle slightly to make sure it's sturdy. Give your vehicle a small nudge to see if it moves around or shifts its weight. The jack stand and your vehicle shouldn't move when you push it.
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