How To Use Floor Jack And Jack Stands

Jack stands do not lift vehicles.

How to use floor jack and jack stands.

Jack stands are important tools that keep a vehicle propped up after having used a floor jack like a scissor jack or a hydraulic jack to lift a vehicle once the vehicle is lifted enough to fit the jack stands on a solid part of the car underneath it like the chassis they can be carefully fitted and tested by hand for sturdiness at which point the jack can be removed. If you are fortunate enough to have a lift skip this video. Use the jack stands to support the lifted vehicle. Jack stands are a stationary objects that hold the vehicle at a desired height.

Many repairs and modifications require you to work under your car. To use jack stands start by activating your vehicle s parking brake and jacking up the vehicle with a hydraulic floor jack so the tires are 2 3 inches off the ground. Instead they provide a safe fixed support for a raised vehicle. Then slide your jack stand in from the side of the vehicle and line up the divot on the stand with one of your vehicle s pinch points which are located behind the tires on the.

Floor jacks may be strong enough to support the weight of a lifted car but you should never go under a vehicle if it is not supported by jack stands. Jack stands may be the most overlooked safety equipment items in a diy garage. Working under your vehicle can be very dangerous if you fail to take proper precautions. The ratchet style is much easier to use and usually supports more weight while the four leg base provides more stability.

Always use at least two jack stands and lower the weight of the vehicle onto the. Jack stands on the other hand are for supporting it above the pavement. For the rest of us we need to. Only use a floor jack to lift the vehicle.

When using a jack stand to support one corner of a vehicle place it under the jacking point adjust the stand s height and use the pin or screw or pawl in some cases to lock it in place according to manufacturer s instructions. This could mean the difference between life and death seriously. Use a pair of jack stands every time you lift a vehicle and you will vastly decrease the likelihood of becoming a victim of a falling vehicle. Follow all instructions carefully and do not attempt to take shortcuts or make do with missing or poorly maintained equipment.

Pin type jack stands use locking pins to adjust the height while screw type jack stands use adjustable screws. Don t crawl under any car supported only by the floor jack. For those of you interested in learning more about this we ve written a detailed guide on how to use a floor jack properly here. Check your owner s manual to locate the recommended jack support locations.

Use this guide to safely raise your car or truck using a hydraulic floor jack and jack stands.