I've got a cheap hydraulic jack that I use to lift up my car, but it doesn't raise the car up that much, usually only enough to put jack stands on one side of the car. Tomorrow I want to change my balljoints, and maybe even LCAs while I'm at it, but I don't know if I can raise it enough to put the stands underneath. What do you all usually do.

 

put some cement blocks under the jack maybe if the jack stands will go up that high....


[Modified by Si.Hatch.92, 9:32 PM 2/15/2003]

 

seriously, invest in a real floor jack. down the line you're going to wish you had one.
trust me, it's worth it.

 

I always used my 20 dollar jack and it got the job done. It served me well when swapping axles, tranny's, motors, ect. just lift it up as high as it goes, block it, let the jack down, put a couple 2 by 4's on the jack, lift again. It might take awhile, but it will work.

 

just get a jack and jack stand set from Costco for 100 bucks! Had mine for almost 2 years now and had no problems. 3 1/2 tons, lifts about 24 inches too!

If not, just for tomorrow, jack the car up, rest iton stands, slap a couple of 2 by 4's between the jack and the car, BE CAREFUL, and raise up another 4 inches.

 

Sorry to jack your post but it goes along the lines of this....Where do you all jack up your car at. When i jack mines up i usually start jacking like a couple of inches behind the pinch rught under the side mirrors and i throw the jack stand under the pinch. This kinda sucks cause you have to do one side at a time. I was wondering if there is a spot you guess jack the car up closer to the front/middle of the car that.....you know wont collapse...

 

Thanks guys, maybe I'll go pick up some 2x4s. See I'd like to get like a 6 ton jack, cause they lift really high, but the seat is always too high up and won't fit under the car since it's low.

Also I was thinking one of those $100 racing jacks, since they're made for lowered cars, but they're just so expensive and i don't think they raise the car that high.

 

Lol i really need a jack too. I have been using the jack they provide in the trunk for the last year or two, but just to change tires. Sears jacks are not that expensive either.

 

i usually jack up the front because it's easier... dont have to do one side at a time. if you look under the front of you car, you will see this metal thing kinda shaped like a "U" and it has (i think) 2 bolts in it. that's where i usually jack it up from and it's pretty stable because it's very close to the middle or at least close enough.

as for a jack, i got a 3-ton one and it works great, lifts up to 24 inches. the only thing is that it's kinda big and wont fit under the car since my car is lowered, so i have to use a smaller one first.

 

drive up on some boards first and then put the jack under the car this way you dont have to jack it up twice. this is what i do. i made a long plank using a couple pieces of wood that gradually get higher so when i roll my car onto them it allows the jack to go under the car.

 

I don't even do that. One 2 by 4 is good enough for me to drive onto and jack up. I use the front fram support location for the front and behind the tow hook in the rear.

 

It sucks we have to do crazy stuff like this to
jack up our cars. Dosent anyone know were
to get one of those fancy low profile jacks?
Discount Tire had some last time I was there.

 

all you guys need to do is go to the gym and just do a whole bunch of dead lifts then you can just go up to your car and lift it up and get some friends to throw jackstands underneath.......its just that easy..duh

 

thats what I do, but I didn't want to show off. I still need a breaker bar to get my valve cover bolts loose though

 

That is not a good idea, as you jack the car up the jack rolls forward. It will roll right off the cement blocks. If anything put the cement blocks on the jack and then jack the car up like that.

 

Thanks guys, I' guess I'll try.....all that ****.

And BTW harbor freight sells those racing jacks for like $100

 

 

i did it my way and i guess i got off lucky...

But the way you said sounds a lot safer..

 

ditto. after my MVP from walmart after 2 years didnt go high anymore, i went out and got a craftsman trolley jack with free chocks and jumper cables for 29bucks. great jack, it only goes up to 14.5", but it goes down to 4.5" i think, which is perfect for my drop.

anyways, i realized i kept filling and flushing the old jack with hydraulic oil in the wrong holes. there should be a filler plug right on the cylinder. you might need to remove a flat cap that covers the whole cylinder, and the actual filler plug is rubber. jack is as good as new now. oh well, two jacks are better than one and i got it for cheap. good luck

 

Remember, when it comes to a jack, get as best as possible. This isn't something you can just "get by with" like a cheap intake tube.

This is something that your life depends on. Go with name brands and ALWAYS use stands anytime you go under the car.

I would suggest NOT going with Harbor Freight jacks. I have seen these fail after a little while. I have a Powerbuilt from Costco and a Craftsman, both 3 1/2 tons. I would not go cheaper than these. Keep up with the maintainence, and again, ALWAYS USE JACK STANDS. Also, get some good tire ramps for the oil changes, etc. Easy, sturdy, and faster.

 

I really don't think your life depends on the jack, I think it depends more on the jackstands. Unless you get under the car while your jacking it up or lowering it. But I would not go with a cheap jack because who knows when they can fail and drop your car, or not work at all. Awhile back sears had a sale for 2 jack stands and a jack for like 30 dollors or 60, I can't really remeber. Either way it was a good deal and I still think they have the deal going on.

http://www.craftsman.com

 

you life doesn't depend on the jack itself, true, but a lot does. I know I jack up my car to change wheels without stands all the time, just for a couple minutes. If my car was to fall down then, that would SUCK.

I've always seen Harbor Frieght Stands collapse. Which is not good.

 

AC Jack. 3" and can fit under really low cars
expensive **** though.

 

Aww very true

 

ive only heard of one incident of a stand failing on this board, and i think the use was skeptical. where exactly did you guys see jacks and stands failing?

always use stands. i take extra caution especially on inclines