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All pictures and texts in this web page are the property of nomaallim.com. Any use of any part of those contents without the written consent of nomaallim.com shall be subject to legal procedures as per international and local laws in the concerned country. Using the name "nomaallim" or "nomaallim com" or "nomaallim.com" in the text describing the unauthorized copied content shall not constitute an exception and shall be sanctioned in accordance to the effective laws and proceedings.
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DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.
Purpose of jack stands and why to use them
Both hydraulic and mechanical jacks are not designed for prolonged or secure lifting.
They can be used only to lift the vehicle, but not keep it lifted.
For this reason, it is mandatory to use static jack stands after lifting a vehicle.
Never intervene underneath a car if your do not have jack stands, see below on how to use them for maximum safety.
They can be used only to lift the vehicle, but not keep it lifted.
For this reason, it is mandatory to use static jack stands after lifting a vehicle.
Never intervene underneath a car if your do not have jack stands, see below on how to use them for maximum safety.
Material needed for safely lifting a vehicle
You need the below for safely working underneath your vehicle:
- 1No 3-ton Hydraulic jack (see below for the different available types)
- 4Nos Jack stands
- 1No Piston jack or 2-Ton hydraulic jack (Optional)
You also need to block a back wheel if you're lifting the front of the car or a front wheel if you lift the back.
A solid wooden or plastic or metal triangle cut at a 45-degree angle is ideal.
Some vehicles are equipped with a steel foldable blocking triangle so use it if available, or use a large hammer or whatever can securely block the wheel from rotating. Always block the wheel to the opposite side to the one you're lifting.
A solid wooden or plastic or metal triangle cut at a 45-degree angle is ideal.
Some vehicles are equipped with a steel foldable blocking triangle so use it if available, or use a large hammer or whatever can securely block the wheel from rotating. Always block the wheel to the opposite side to the one you're lifting.
Different tyes of car jacks
As stated above, you need to acquire a hydraulic jack because the jack supplied with your car is designed for emergencies and in a manner not to take much space or add weight to your vehicle, while the purchase of a garage jack has many advantages:
- No need to remove the one in the car which could be of a difficult access if mounted within the spare tire beneath the vehicle
- More practical than the one provided with the vehicle
- You would need anyhow more than one jack at a time for some interventions
- The hydraulic garage jack (trolley jack) remains the most useful and safe (left), and costs between 100-300$.
- Piston jack can be found everywhere for $25 with an acceptable quality (middle) but is dangerous if not used on a horizontal and flat surface. It is better used as a second jack for some mechanical interventions like when compressing, adjusting levels, etc. rather than lifting!
- SUV jacks (right) are also to be used with care for being vertical and unstable like the piston jacks but are mandatory for SUVs with high ground clearance, unless you acquire a very large trolley jack (preferred).
If you have no rigid rubber pad to insert between the hydraulic jack and the lifting point of the car, use a piece of wood instead to avoid damaging the car:
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How to install the jack stands
After lifting the car, you need to insert your jack stands to secure it.
Lift the vehicle high enough to be able to insert a jack stand beneath a strong point like:
You can now move the hydraulic jack to the other side in case you need to lift both sides and repeat the procedure.
Lift the vehicle high enough to be able to insert a jack stand beneath a strong point like:
- The bolt of the lower control arm, underneath the car's pillar
- The bolt of the sub-frame and always underneath the car's pillar
You can now move the hydraulic jack to the other side in case you need to lift both sides and repeat the procedure.
After lowering your vehicle so it stands on the jack stands you inserted, add one more jack stand on each side as a safety jack.
Set its height as close as possible to a strong car sub-frame or suspension point and leave it there.
If for any reason the jack stand on which the vehicle weighs breaks, it will still hold on the spare one you added.
Now you can go underneath your vehicle safely and in full confidence.
Set its height as close as possible to a strong car sub-frame or suspension point and leave it there.
If for any reason the jack stand on which the vehicle weighs breaks, it will still hold on the spare one you added.
Now you can go underneath your vehicle safely and in full confidence.