Jack and Jack Stands

BTG · Nov 17, 2004

Can anyone recommend a brand and model of jack and jack stands?

Thanks

Jquintel · Nov 17, 2004

Any one pump floor jack should be sufficent, check the load limits on both before you purchase ones, im not sure what we use in my shop..

Mavrick · Nov 17, 2004

The bigger jack stands are nice, becuase you can have the car a couple feet off the ground to work underneath it!

Find yourself a half decent 3 ton jack and that'll do you good.

jpctln · Nov 17, 2004

Craftsman is pretty good.

Black 93 Fox · Nov 17, 2004

I bought craftsman. It was actualy a kit type deal came with jack, jack stands, fender cover, jumper cables, wheels chalks, and something else. all of it was around 100. And if the jack or jack stands break sears replaces them free of charge. O ya it was the 3 ton set.

PhLoBuS · Nov 17, 2004

yeah I have a craftsman jack and I am going to get some jackstands this weekend sick of using blocks!

mackey · Nov 17, 2004

Lightweight aluminum ones are awesome and can be had cheap! Make sure you never go under a car without jackstands though... Most of my work is done indoors anyways so it isn't that hard to rip apart at the whole car.

liv2ride · Nov 17, 2004

Now that there is a thread about jacks and jack stands. Where is the best place the position the jack stands under the car? I know they can be used under the rear axle but where else do you recommend? When I did the front end bushing replacement I positioned two of them just beneath the driver and passenger door on that little bottle meeting point (crease) where the manual says you can place the factory jack. After jacking the car up and bringing it down on the stands a few times that lip became flat and I needed to massage it back into shape. I would like to find a more solid place to position them - it would help if the stands had a flat surface rather than the piece that they have which seem to be perfect for holding an axle or something similar.

Thanks guys.

Aloha

macx · Nov 18, 2004

Heck of a deal on a jack and stands

It was either Harbor Freight or Northern Tool (both are on line)
that has a pretty hefty jack that will lift like 25 inches or more,
in a package deal with a couple pretty heavy duty tall stands,
for like $80 or so. I've used them a lot since I got them a few
months ago and it really works great to get the car up in the
air a good distance.

Rockin302 · Nov 18, 2004

I don't know if I go to extremes but when it comes to safety and getting under a 3000 lb. car I personally use 2 sets of jack stands. Make sure you chock your grounded wheels with a big brick or rubber chock to make sure the car doesn't roll.

I also use craftsman and it's been great. Although the 3 ton jack I have is pretty cumbersome. The lightweight aluminum ones out right now are pretty trick.

Mavrick · Nov 18, 2004

liv2ride said:
Now that there is a thread about jacks and jack stands. Where is the best place the position the jack stands under the car? I know they can be used under the rear axle but where else do you recommend? When I did the front end bushing replacement I positioned two of them just beneath the driver and passenger door on that little bottle meeting point (crease) where the manual says you can place the factory jack. After jacking the car up and bringing it down on the stands a few times that lip became flat and I needed to massage it back into shape. I would like to find a more solid place to position them - it would help if the stands had a flat surface rather than the piece that they have which seem to be perfect for holding an axle or something similar.

Thanks guys.

Aloha

I wouldn't use the seam for a jacking point, that tends to make a mess of the car! Jack stands un the rear torque box and the front most part of the front sub frame... the car isn't going anywhere.

liv2ride · Nov 19, 2004

Mavrick said:
I wouldn't use the seam for a jacking point, that tends to make a mess of the car! Jack stands un the rear torque box and the front most part of the front sub frame... the car isn't going anywhere.

I have been around cars for years but these questions may appear a little dumb. By saying the front sub frame you mean the K-member, correct? Now what the hell is the rear torque box? Are you referring to the axle or what? I will be needing to put the car on stands again soon so I can do the ES bushing replacement on the control arms/axle housing and a few others so the axle will need to be dropped via a jack (at least one side at a time).

BTW, if one were to replace the K-member with a tube style unit where would the appropriate stand position be for the front if that is the place you are now recommending?

Thanks again.

Aloha

Scot

fly4spd · Nov 19, 2004

take those suggestions, they are all great... any will work, as you probally know... i do all of my work under a $20 local autoparts store bought jack and stands... works just fine for me and i'm still here. but of course i'm a poor college student so i don't have much to be working on.
by the way the jack and each of the stands are 2 ton stands, and since my entire car only weighs 3200 with me and a full tank of gas it does just fine lifting a portion of that.

Mavrick · Nov 19, 2004

liv2ride said:
I have been around cars for years but these questions may appear a little dumb. By saying the front sub frame you mean the K-member, correct? Now what the hell is the rear torque box? Are you referring to the axle or what? I will be needing to put the car on stands again soon so I can do the ES bushing replacement on the control arms/axle housing and a few others so the axle will need to be dropped via a jack (at least one side at a time).

BTW, if one were to replace the K-member with a tube style unit where would the appropriate stand position be for the front if that is the place you are now recommending?

Thanks again.

Aloha

Scot

The torque box is the rear most part of the frame rail, before the axle. The box where your lower control arms are bolted to the frame.

As for the front, i'm referring to the front most part of the frame rail as well. The K member will work as well.

rd · Nov 19, 2004

On jacks, make sure you look at how high the jack will lift. Many of the jacks, including the more expensive ones, don't lift very high. Better to know before you buy.

I have two sets of stands, both the parts store kind.

Do not use the stamped/welded round top type. I had one actually crush on me one time. I was not under the car at that moment, but it was interesting.

5spd GT · Nov 19, 2004

jpctln said:
Craftsman is pretty good.

Yep that is what I use...I have the one you see on commercials with Bob Vila ...it is a bit pricey but it pumps to the bottom of the car or whatever you want lifted within a couple pumps and once it feels resistance the pump is very smooth and precise...it also has a good front roller base so you can jack things up on even on the ground without them digging into the ground...

I use craftsmen jackstands...I usually put mine under the A-arms (front) and rear axles (back)...using two...and then position a jack underneath it as a catch and extra support...

Jquintel · Nov 19, 2004

yeh, i also recommend the 1 pump floor jacks if you can afford them

Kerpal · Nov 19, 2004

I got a really nice jack from Costco for about $75 a year or two ago... 3 1/2 ton, very well made, I think it was Alcan.

The main thing to me is to make sure the jack will lift fairly high, then you can use larger jackstands to get plenty of room under the car.

cobradvm · Nov 19, 2004

Black 93 Fox said:
And if the jack or jack stands break sears replaces them free of charge.

That's funny - if you are under the car when they break, I don't think you are going to be too worried if Sears is going to replace them for you or not!!!

And if you are not under the car and the stands break, would you really want to replace with the same ones again???

I use 6 ton stands from NAPA - the car ain't going anywhere.

Howard

notchman90 · Nov 19, 2004

cinder blocks always worked for me

Jack and Jack Stands

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