Car jack stands are designed to support a vehicle after lifting it with a floor jack. This is a common tool you’ll see in all auto repair shops and in the garages of weekend DIY mechanics.
You need to know how to properly use car jack stands. This is necessary for your safety during vehicle maintenance or routine repairs.
Car Jacks: How to Use the Tool
A car jack is a specialized device used to lift heavy objects. It’s quite bulky and difficult to operate with human strength alone. You can therefore use this equipment to lift objects weighing several tons, even tens of tons, or even hundreds of tons.
Regarding cars, if there are no specialized lifting platforms like those found in service centers, people will use jacks or stands to lift and hold the car chassis at a height, in order to create more favorable conditions for inspecting and repairing the car, especially for replacing car tires. Nowadays, car owners often equip their vehicle with a jack or stand so they can use it in situations where inspection and repair are needed:
Park the car.
The first step in using jack stands is to park the vehicle on a solid, flat surface, free of debris. Otherwise, an uneven or soft surface can cause the jack stands to slip, which could lead to a serious accident or fatal injuries. Make sure you have used the parking brake to keep the vehicle stationary.
Use wheel chocks.
If you need to work on the front, use chocks on both sides of the rear tires and vice versa. The chocks will keep the vehicle in place and prevent any sudden movement or slipping.
Identify the lifting points.
The lifting points are the strongest areas of a vehicle. These points are capable of supporting the weight when the vehicle is lifted. Consult the owner’s manual provided by the car manufacturer to find the lifting points before using car jack stands.
Lift the car with a floor jack.
Place the floor jack under a lifting point on the side where you will be performing the work. Lift the car to a point where you can comfortably perform the repair or maintenance work.
Place the jack stands.
Once the vehicle is lifted, place the jack stands under the lifting points. Adjust the height so that the car is securely nestled in the jack stands. If necessary, raise or lower the floor jack to achieve the appropriate height.
Remove the floor jack.
Once the jack stands are in place, slowly remove the jack. Then, gently push the car to ensure it is securely fixed on the jack stands.
You can now begin working under the car. Knowing how to properly install jack stands under the car will allow you to more easily perform many small maintenance and repair jobs yourself. However, you must always take all precautions and safety measures before crawling under the car.
For complete and risk-free safety, place large wooden blocks near the lifting points. They will protect you in case the jack stands fail.
Notes on Using Car Jack Stands
- Only use the jack to temporarily lift the vehicle; never lift it for an extended period. Lifting the vehicle for a long time, or lifting the entire vehicle, is the task of a vehicle lift (a device with a professional safety system) or a mechanical lift (a mechanical lifting mechanism, where the risk is very low).
- Choose the correct location for the lifting jack and the placement location. Under the car, there will be locations for placing jacks, specialized pads, and suitable locations for placing both.
- Shift into Park for automatic transmission vehicles, or into 1st gear for manual transmission vehicles, before lifting the vehicle.
- Engage the parking brake and place wheel chocks on the opposite side of the wheel being lifted (diagonally) to prevent the vehicle from moving when lifted. The chocks can be as simple as bricks, stones, or wood found by the roadside. In situations where the parking brake cannot be used, such as when repairing a rear wheel, wheel chocking is even more important.
- Park the vehicle on level ground before proceeding with lifting. If your car has a flat tire on a sloped road, try to park the car near the curb, turn the wheels toward the curb, engage the parking brake, and chock the wheels on the downhill side to prevent the car from moving.