Hey all, I'm getting into doing more and more of my own maintenance and repairs, and I find myself needing a car jack, maybe stands, and what not. I was curious as to suggestions for a good quality brand/model that I can trust, but it won't be used often and I'm hoping to minimize cost on the purchase, just without getting some piece of junk that I can't trust as safe for multiple uses. Also, would you use stands for after jacking it up, and suggestions for that? I drive a TL, should that matter.


Thanks!

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-tal...e-jack-829897/

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-tal...-money-960747/

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-tal...stands-776494/

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-tal...-jacks-833359/

 

harbor freight... search there are some really good youtube videos doing comparisons...

 

How much are you looking to spend?

 

This. The jack itself doesn't really matter provided it can lift your car. Get a set of quality stands to go with it though.

Also, jack stands are NOT optional. You CANNOT rely on a jack to hold a car up for any longer than it takes to lift it. Stands are a MUST unless you have a death wish.

 

^^^this - listen to this man... jack stands will save your life.... don't skimp...

my orange $65 HF jack i got with a coupon has been going strong for over 8 yrs now... i change the hydraulic fluid on it once and it has never skipped a beat...

 

friend of a friend's dad died when his classic 70's Chevelle collapsed on him working alone in his detached garage. No jackstands.
If you're rotating tires or working on brakes, sure but never get underneath a car with only a jack.

 

I still do jack stands. Takes an extra 30 seconds that you'll definitely wish you did when the car falls on the brake rotor/hub because you just left the jack under. I do leave the jack underneath on the jack point as a back up but that's only if the stands fail which is unlikely.

 

that's what happened to met the last time i did jack only.. now it's always jack stands!

 

Much appreciate the input all. I'll definitely make sure to get a pair of jack stands. Overall I'm looking to spend the least possible while making sure I don't get something that will damage the car or get me killed. I will only be servicing my own TL for the transmission fluid change and then oil changes as needed, as far as I intend for the moment. I'm happy to go get a Pittsburgh lift from HF, a couple HF jack stands and some wedges. I'm not looking to invest in especially nice equipment for now, just serviceable in a...again, not kill me kind of way.

 

if you are jacking the car up and taking off the wheel and don't have a jack stand, you can lay the wheel underneath the side of the car... i usually put it dead center of the pinch weld... just in case the jack does let loose, it will drop onto the wheel and keep the car up enough for you to crawl out... it's better to sacrifice a wheel rather than you... i also double this with a jack stands as there can be instances where you knock a jack stand and it releases... so its good to have a backup...

 

^ this. Good advice. Safety is the most important thing when it comes to crawling under a 4000lb object.