Proper Locations for Floor Jack

[Stephen R.]

Where are the safest locations to place a floor jack when lifting each of the 4 corners? Pics would be nice!

[bigdogdad]

Amazing question Stephen R.

On my way home today I am picking up 4 floor jacks for a project this weekend. I was going to post the same question. I want to make sure all is safe. Plan on painting the calipers and I have limited time to paint away so having all 4 wheels off will give me plently of time.

Could someone also advise the order of putting in the floor jacks (one side first or front end, etc) Thanks.

[CREWZIN]

Owners manual (2001) page 181 shows correct locations. Don't trust the scissors jack that comes from the car. We just had a person crushed to death here in my county when the OEM scissors jack failed. I have 2 heavy duty jack stands and three over 2-ton floor jacks to get the whole car off the ground. The front locations are supposedly marked on each side but it's hard to see. Feel under the welded lip where it's doubled up and use that point. On the rear, you should use the trailing arm bracket. You'll see it back by the rear wheels a little lower that the lip. What I do is get all four points set and slowly go around the car lifting up a couple inches at a time till the desired height is acquired. Be careful.[8D]

[bigdogdad]

Thanks for the input Crewzin. Careful I'll be!

[GTSteve]

Are you serious about using 4 jacks?

Haven't you heard of JACK STANDS.

NEVER and I mean NEVER work on your car when it is on jacks. ALWAYS use jack stands.

Just a word of caution from a retired (alive) heavy equipment mechanic.

quote:Originally posted by bigdogdad

Amazing question Stephen R.

On my way home today I am picking up 4 floor jacks for a project this weekend. I was going to post the same question. I want to make sure all is safe. Plan on painting the calipers and I have limited time to paint away so having all 4 wheels off will give me plently of time.

Could someone also advise the order of putting in the floor jacks (one side first or front end, etc) Thanks.

[bigdogdad]

I guess that I used the wrong terminology here. Not knowing exactly what name they were called by. Floor jack, jack stand? [:I] If floor jack is the same as the OEM supplied scissor jack, then I definately used the wrong terminology. I am thinking about the ones that look like a triangle so to speak. Wide at the bottom and tapers at the top. Are these jack stands? If yes, that is what I meant and had planned to used. Please explain. Thanks.

[GTSteve]

TO ANYONE WHO READS THIS THREAD.

The correct way to support your car is this:
1. Use a floor jack to raise one END of your car. If your jack will not lift the entire END of your car, then raise one side, place a jack stand on that side and then work on that side.
2. DO NOT jack one side, place the jack stand, and then jack the other side. You take the risk of having the car fall off the opposite jack stand.
4. Most floor jacks will lift the entire END of the car so you can work on the end. I DO NOT recommend that you try to lift the entire car and place it on 4 jack stands. Once again, you risk having the car fall off the jack stands as you attempt to raise the other end.

I hope this makes sense to all of the back-yard mechanics that might read this. Every year, people are killed when their cars fall on them because they ignore these common sense rules.

Please post anything you can add to this discussion. It may help save a life.

THANKS

[bigdogdad]

Thanks for your input GTSteve. There are alot of "back-yard" mechanics in these forums and because we all know that there are many professional mechanics here also, we will post questions for sound advise from knowledgeable people before we proceed, if we decide to proceed. We do appreciate your very good advise.

[fritz_t_coyote]

So I guess tossing a block-n-tackle over a tree-limb and hoisting the whole car would be on your 'not recommended' list?

;}

[trieber]

I do also believe that there is a diagram on the passenger side front door where to place the jacks, well, at least when you are changing a tire or placing on a lift.