How To Use Floor Jacks And Jack Stands To Lift A Car

Simple car repairs can be done without the help of a mechanic or a garage. No matter which floor jack model reviewed here you choose, you can count on it being faster (and easier) than a screw type jack. Leaking hydraulic oil seals indicates a floor jack which isn't trustworthy. In most cases, the weight capacity rating is provided in tons, with most small and mid-sized cars being below 3 tons.

Hi-Lift Jacks, also known as High Lift and Farm Jacks (mainly because they are an invaluable tool for the farmer as they can be used for an almost endless number of tasks) are an extremely versatile Jack when it comes to lifting, levering, pulling or winching.

The maximum strokes for a jack should not exceed 10. Although it is expensive, well-designed jacks may take less than five strokes to reach maximum lift range. As far as lifting range, this one starts out at a mere 3.6 inches and can take your car all the way up to 19.4 inches high.

Once you have raised your car using a floor jack, you should place the jack stands and lower the floor jack so that the vehicle rests on the jack stands. The last type of jack is one that is used in automotive shops: automotive floor jacks. IdeallyThe process of finding the best floor jack can be quite demanding, whether it is meant to be for home or garage use.

A 2 ton (4,000 pound) lifting capacity, the Pilot Automotive Q-HY-1500L is more portable than a hydraulic jack, and a more convenient alternative to the standard scissor jack. This tool appears to be a hybrid between a floor jack and a scissor jack minus the hydraulics.