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Ever since I found this website which has lots of DIYs, I've been doing small and easy repair jobs for my car. The next job I was going to do was drain/refill transmission fluid as well as replacing gear pressure switch. So I was looking to get myself a floor jack and jack stands. I am a little bit confused on this one.
When I get those, I was going to jack up the center with the floor jack and put the jack stands while they are high and still have the floor jack holding the front of the car. Is this proper way to do it? I'll put a piece of wood behind the rear tires so it blocks the car from moving.
Another question is, where do I put the jack stands? I believe I will have to place them where I would put the scissor stand for any kinds of emergency or is there another spot for jack stands?
I've been reading those horrors stories on failure jacks and I just wanted to make sure before I crawl under the car.
I was looking at Craftsman 2.25 ton jack and stand set for less than $70, and I wonder if these are good.
^^^all good information. I jack my car up just like kaiii said above. I ONLY jack up from either the front center or rear center. I hate jacking the sides as it always gives me the impression that your twisting the car. It just doesn't seem right doing it that way. When you do it from the front or rear center it keeps the car nicely planted with no body flexing or twisting. Just my personal opinion on doing it. And if you don't think it twists a car by jacking from a single point on the side, jack the car up and look at how all the body panel gaps expand or close. Kinda scary actually lol.
I also use BLUE practice hockey pucks on both the jack lift point, as well as the jack stands - puck placed on the jack stand top and supports the jack point on the car underbody. This prevents scratching, bending, or otherwise damaging the jack points on the car body. Just be very certain that the pucks cannot slip. They will compress quite a bit, which is why I use the practice pucks - the regular pucks are too hard, and more likely to slip.
The DISCOUNT TIRE place that I visit uses pieces of heavy foam, at the car jack points, to protect the car body, on their floor jacks. Not sure where they get it. And its not like any foam you may be thinking of - its like very heavy black dense foam that barely compresses.
Also, I would use inexpensive Wal-Mart wheel chocks instead of a piece of 2x4 - the chocks are less likely to allow the car to move. Place both in front of and behind one (or both tires), take your foot heel and slam the chocks into place firmly.
When lifting/ jacking from the front, the car will try to move forward, and then as you lower the car onto the jack stands, the car will try to move backward. That is the reason to chock both sides (back/ front) of at least one tire.
This the proper place to jack the front of my TL up correct? The aluminum/steel piece with the 3 holes. Then jack stands on the support points on the side by the front wheel as posted above?
That has become my preferred place to jack the car up. I usually jack it up there, put the stands on the sides and let it down on the stands. I once tried leaving the jack there as a back up but it restricts access too much so I just put it off to the side as a backup either at another joint on the frame or even just towards the sides. Better safe than sorry and I always use wheel blocks. I see that overlooked sometimes and it can stop a major accident. My car is getting all messed up right there tho because the jack kind of digs into the metal but whatever it needs the maintenance at over 150,000 miles.
That has become my preferred place to jack the car up. I usually jack it up there, put the stands on the sides and let it down on the stands. I once tried leaving the jack there as a back up but it restricts access too much so I just put it off to the side as a backup either at another joint on the frame or even just towards the sides. Better safe than sorry and I always use wheel blocks. I see that overlooked sometimes and it can stop a major accident. My car is getting all messed up right there tho because the jack kind of digs into the metal but whatever it needs the maintenance at over 150,000 miles.
I use a hydraulic floor jack from Harbor Freight and it doesnt dig into the metal, as it has a "padded cup"
I use the Aluminium light weight jack.
I have the heavy duty steel version that is 3 tons. It weighs about 75lb and I keep it on the basement lol. It is super fun I tell you. I wish id bought the light weight one but I went over kill...
The other jacking points are on the sides and the hook in the rear, which mine is slightly worn from something so I dont use. The sides I will use to rotate tires only, jacking up both on the same side with two jacks.
how could you not see this 4doorturbo
read; floor jack
Yeah I saw that, I was just making sure. The generic picture looked a bit different plus it looks to be a aluminum piece. But then I saw the arrow underneath my car and I knew it was correct/ Never jacked a vehicle from the front like that before. It worked perfect. I wish all cars could be jacked directly in the front like that. I am just super cautious working on a different car for the first time is all. Thanks again for the confirmation people!
Now there is a picture to help special people like me that google search :P
I have the heavy duty steel version that is 3 tons. It weighs about 75lb and I keep it on the basement lol. It is super fun I tell you. I wish id bought the light weight one but I went over kill...
The other jacking points are on the sides and the hook in the rear, which mine is slightly worn from something so I dont use. The sides I will use to rotate tires only, jacking up both on the same side with two jacks.
I bought the same steel jack!!!
but after doing a little work with it, I SOLD THAT BISH!! lol
Yeah I saw that, I was just making sure. The generic picture looked a bit different plus it looks to be a aluminum piece. But then I saw the arrow underneath my car and I knew it was correct/ Never jacked a vehicle from the front like that before. It worked perfect. I wish all cars could be jacked directly in the front like that. I am just super cautious working on a different car for the first time is all. Thanks again for the confirmation people!
Now there is a picture to help special people like me that google search :P
I have yet to use the front or rear jacking point. Out of habit, I do the same process I have done on all of my uni-body cars prior. Jack up on the side lifting points, and place the jack stand under the mount point for the suspension or somewhere else "solid" nearby. Several of my prior cars did not have valid front/rear lifting points so I have always used the side locations. I think I tried the rear center on the TL once before, but my poor little jack wasn't tall enough to lift the tires off the ground.
What about min/max height of the jack and jack stands? There is a pair of Torin Jacks on Amazon for $20. Min height is 10 inch, max 16. Will it be enough? What about Jack itself?
I'm asking as it will be my first time working with Jack. No access to the shop no more
I had a $20 auto zone jack I used for years and years. It was similar to what youre talking about 10"-16" range. In that price range they are generally all the same. Anyways it was good enough for my cavalier and the little rx7, and surprisingly I was even able to use it on a 2000 accord sedan. But when it came to the TL it didnt have enough height or strength. I would skip it and just spend the money on a decent one right off the bat. I still have it as a back up tho, always good to have an extra jack for safety.
I have one of the cheesy Wal-Mart special jack and stand kits that I have had for probably close to 20 years. It has served me well on my previous cars but without a doubt has limitations mostly related to the lift height. I would never recommend anyone going out to buy one of these to use on a TL. If you are planning on doing work yourself, get a proper sized jack and stands. If it is just to change/rotate your tires, the cheap will be fine. But if planning on doing other maintenance tasks, go big or go home. When my brother downsized from his house, he gave me his much nicer Craftsman high-lift jack. Much heavier, but sooooooo much nicer to use. The only time the smaller jack ever comes out now is when I must travel with it to help a friend. The Craftsman is far from portable.
This is similar to what I have:
Sorry for the image size...no idea how to resize on here.
Last edited by Jackass; 03-24-2017 at 10:09 AM.
Reason: Holy big picture!!!
That has become my preferred place to jack the car up. I usually jack it up there, put the stands on the sides and let it down on the stands..
This. I just my wife's up for the first time today in the middle and then put jack stands on the sides. I took the front wheels off and used a drill with wire bushes to remove rust on the calipers and on parts of the rotors. EZ Cheese Z.
01-06-2014, 07:43 PM
This the proper place to jack the front of my TL up correct? The aluminum/steel piece with the 3 holes. Then jack stands on the support points on the side by the front wheel as posted above?
