jack stands...

[Gibson486]

So...what do I get?

Autozone has some for $25....but I see they go all the way up to $300. Since i have a econo box, I am guessing that 2 tons is good enough?

 

[fbrdphreak]

2 tons is fine, just make sure you match the jack stand height to your jack's max height. I'm guessing you don't have a high lift jack, but it would be fairly pointless to have a 20-inch lift jack and 15-inch jack stands.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I can see having a jack a bit higher than the stands, you don't always place the stands where you need to jack it up, and a few extra inches never hurt. Just make sure they're tall enough to reach what they need to reach. A small jackstand doesn't do much good when it won't reach the axle of a 4WD when you have said 4WD truck, but is just fine if you have a normal car. And a tall jack stand just becomes a nuisance with a normal car when you need to jack it up 3 feet in the air to get the stands under it.

I'd avoid the post style personally, but that's just my superstition. They don't inspire confidence in me. I prefer the ratchet style with the pyramid bases.

 

[Audiotherapy]

I like the jacks with the flat tops not the "V" shaped ones.
If your car weighs 3000lbs+ i'd get the 3tons or more, the 2ton stands that I've seen are a bit flimsy.

I recommend the 3ton "torin Blackjack" stands that's around 25$ for a pair at walmart, they have the flat top, and they are the same as the craftsman 3 ton jacks.

 

[Gillbot]

harbor freight, I got some 6 ton ones so the car can go up pretty high for transmission work and etc.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
2 tons is fine, just make sure you match the jack stand height to your jack's max height. I'm guessing you don't have a high lift jack, but it would be fairly pointless to have a 20-inch lift jack and 15-inch jack stands.

unless your car is fully off the ground at 15". if you have a taller vehicle (frame is already pretty high off the ground) then get taller jacks. i have tall jack stands because ive always had trucks, but when i got a dodge intrepid i had to buy shorter stands the first time i jacked it up.

 

[Black88GTA]

Jack stands are one thing you don't want to cheap out on. Get the beefiest ones that will fit properly under your car. A nice set costs a bit more than cheap ones, but it is worth it. I've seen pics of cheapies that have buckled...not cool if you're under it when one goes.

 

[thomsbrain]

This is one of the big unsaid problems with DIY maintenance. A decent jack and stands are freaking expensive. To get most cars jacked high enough from the front or rear points takes a full-size heavy-duty jack. Most of the cheaper jacks like they sell in kits at Kragen won't lift the car high enough and/or are too tall to fit under a sports car without first driving it up onto some 2x4's or something. They are basically useless.

As for stands, it's hard to know what height to get. I actually need shorter stands for my Accord than for my S2000 because the front jacking point is so damn far from the side points.

 

[Gibson486]

what is the difference between the torin big red and the black jack? Just color? They sell the Torin big red everywhere (some places it seems they are rebadged as husky), but the black jack in walmart. I am inclined to just go to homedepot and get the 3 ton big red which looks like it is rebadged as husky.