How do i jack my car up?

[cx32m4]

where am i supposed to put the jack and axle stand?
i'm afraid i might put it in the wrong place and it's gonna puch a hole through the floor or soemthing

 

[udonoogen]

i thought you meant like jack = screw up

if you do it on your driveway in a garage (cement floored) i dont think you'll have a problem with the jack thing going through the floor ... more like it going through your car

 

[Amused]

<< i thought you meant like jack = screw up

if you do it on your driveway in a garage (cement floored) i dont think you'll have a problem with the jack thing going through the floor ... more like it going through your car >>



LOL, he means through the floorboards of the car.

CX, do you have the manual? It usually tells you there where the jack points are.

 

[notfred]

the owner's manual will tell you the proper place to put a jack. it varies from car to car. Usually, it's right behind the front wheels on eaqch side, and right in front of the back wheels, on each side.


udonoogen - please tell me your drunk or joking.....

 

[bacillus]

the manual will tell you where to put the jack but not where to position the axle stands but you should be able to work it out by just looking under the car!

 

[Jerboy]

<< where am i supposed to put the jack and axle stand?
i'm afraid i might put it in the wrong place and it's gonna puch a hole through the floor or soemthing >>



Well I can tell you that easily in person or if I had a picture of undercarriage, but its hard to describe.

I recommend you take a safety course before you start crawling under your car so you don't end up like this guy

 

[compuwiz1]

RTFM! All cars are different.

 

[cx32m4]

ah crap i don't have manual

 

[Jerboy]

<< ah crap i don't have manual >>



Shell-out $10 or so and buy a Hayne's or Chilton's manual

 

[bacillus]

perhaps the question should be, why do you want to jack up your car as axle stands aren't absolutely necessary if you're just going to change a wheel!

 

[compuwiz1]

You may be able to do a search and get the info you need, without having to buy a manual.

BTW I sold cars for years, as well as I was a service advisor for a short time. Give your make and model and maybe one of us knows how to do this.

 

[udonoogen]

<<

<< i thought you meant like jack = screw up if you do it on your driveway in a garage (cement floored) i dont think you'll have a problem with the jack thing going through the floor ... more like it going through your car >>

LOL, he means through the floorboards of the car. CX, do you have the manual? It usually tells you there where the jack points are. >>



hahaha ... last time im commenting on car threads =)

 

[Amused]

At the jack points on newer cars (less than 12-15 years old) there are usually little arrows indented in the metal. Get on your knees and take a look at the very bottom of the body panels at each wheel. Most newer cars (unit body) require the jack to be placed here, with the V of the jack directly over the arrow that is on the lip of the bottom of the body panel with one side of the V visable and the other behind the lip and therefore under the car.

A side view
| <--- bottom lip of body panel
\/ <---Jack

 

[Monel Funkawitz]

IF you don't know how to jack up a car, I HIGHLY recommend you don't, or you learn from a friend that can walk you through it. All it takes is a slip of the jack for it to turn ugly REAL quick.

JAck the car up, and support it with jackstands. NEVER use the jack to keep it supported while you work on it.

 

[PirateX]

Do yourself a huge favor, run out to 1.) large bookstore ie. Barnes and Nobles. 2.) Mid-Large automotive parts/repair store. Then find the automotive books section. Look for the chilton line of books, look for your make/model and year. It'll have information from jacking the car up, replacing the oil, all the way to rebuilding a new engine and replacing other miscellaneous innards.

 

[GigaCluster]

<< JAck the car up, and support it with jackstands. NEVER use the jack to keep it supported while you work on it. >>


Can you elaborate? I only have a jack, and when I last changed my tire, I just used that jack.
What is a "jackstand"?

 

[goodoptics]

What year, make and model is your car? All cars are jacked at different locations underside.

 

[geno]

cx32m4, you mentioned an "axle stand" in your first post, I think you're referring to the jack stands. They're the adjustable/ratcheting stands that are meant to be placed under the car while you work on it. Never work with the car just supported by the jack, always use jackstands. And like everyone said, either have someone help you, or buy a manual to help you out.

 

[Zenmervolt]

If you absolutely have to get the car up and you have no idea where to put the jack, it is generally safe to place the jack at the point where the suspension meets the wheel hub. However, if you are working with the spare tire jack and not a typical 2.5 ton hydraulic jack then you will probably be unable to raise the jack if you do place it under the suspension, and the spare tire jack is also very likely to slip unless it is placed at the point specified in the manual. And a jcakstand is a variable height stand that positively locks at certain heights. It cannot be used to jack the car up, but it is the best way to keep the car up if it will be up for an extended period of time.

ZV

 

[etech]

Jack stands

A jack stand is a more stable support for working on your car than the jack. A good hint if you are working on your car is to take a spare tire that is mounted on a wheel and place it under your car. If all you are doing is changing the tire than a jack stand is not needed. Never ever crawl under a car that is only supported by a jack.

As has been stated above, read the manual, each car has differenct points to place the jack. I have seen what happens if you place it in the wrong position, it isn't pretty. Someone just placed a jack behind the front wheel on the body of the car. It wasn't strong enough to support the weight and crumpled the body panel.

Set the parking brake and chock the wheels. By chocking the wheels I mean placing a brick or something similar in front and behind the wheels at the opposite end of the car from where you are jacking it up. That helps to keep the wheels from rolling. Yes, I have carried bricks in a car for that reason. Usually only two so I could chock just one wheel though.

Once again, read the manual or at least look around where your jack is stored in your vehicle. Instructions are usually posted there also.

 

[Imported]

Yea, you definately need jack stands. I picked up a 2.5 ton with 2 jack stands at Sears the other day for like $40.. I also have a 3.5 ton jack with accompanying stands.. Don't ask why I have both.. I just do.

 

[Scootin159]

If he is just changing a tire & not climbing underneeth the car though just the spare tire jack should be enough....as long as he is VERY careful not to be underneeth the car at any time as it may fall. Right?

 

[Keego]

<< How do i jack my car up? >>


drive it off a cliff

 

[Keego]

I always thought that you jacked the axle up to change a tire?!?!! :Q