Safe way to get car on 4 jack stands?

kskillz · 03-26-2008, 07:06 PM

Hi, figured I'd ask about this before I found out the hard way.....

What is the safe way to get a car completely off the ground on 4 jack stands?

I've got a floor jack and can easily get the rear safely jacked up from the rear jack point and the 2 rear jack stands placed. I woulda thought all I'd have to do then is jack the front of the car up and place the other two jack stands in the front.

But my jack stands came with an instructions flyer that warns not to jack the end of the vehicle if the car is already supported on the other end by two stands.

I dunno if I believe that and I was going to go ahead and jack the front up, but I figured I'd ask first....

Thx!

asndragonboii · 03-26-2008, 08:17 PM

I dont see why it would be unsafe to put the car on all 4 jack stands. If the jack stands are rated for the weight of the car, then it should be fine. It's the same as how repair shops jack the cars with their lifts. They place it under the 4 locations and jack away!

You know the correct places to jack up the front and rear, correct? The tow hook and the little spot under the front.

kskillz · 03-26-2008, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asndragonboii

I dont see why it would be unsafe to put the car on all 4 jack stands. If the jack stands are rated for the weight of the car, then it should be fine. It's the same as how repair shops jack the cars with their lifts. They place it under the 4 locations and jack away!

You know the correct places to jack up the front and rear, correct? The tow hook and the little spot under the front.

The flyer that came with my stands scared me, it says not to jack the end of the car if the other end is already supported on stands.

I don't know, I think I'm going to try it anyways.... I'll jack the rear, place the rear stands, then swing the jack around to the front jack point, jack the front, and place the front stands. That stupid flyer has me paranoid now that when I jack the front while the rear is supported that I'm something's gonna go wrong.... we'll see!

FG2uner · 03-26-2008, 08:45 PM

jack up the car from the middle of your door, under the car on the frame rail...... DO NOT JACK FROM THE TOWHOOK.... my car fell off the jack and ****** up my rear bumper...

**Nomar06** · 03-26-2008, 08:52 PM

Jack the front from the middle where the arrow points to the jack point. Place jackstands on the side rails right behind the front tires. Jack the rear from the middle point right behind the sway bar and place jack stand on rails right in front of the rear tires.

See, no probs...

Weput the front stands on a different place than what the pictures say on the stock jack that comes with the car.

silverspoon1996 · 03-26-2008, 09:25 PM

just jack the front first.. and then the rear.. leave the parking brake up.. your good to go.. you could go around the car doing it one at a time if you wanted.. just make sure the car is on level ground.

e60.deluxe · 03-26-2008, 10:24 PM

do it side by side, not front and back.

just curious, why do you want to jack all 4 in the first place? except for doing something lengthy with all 4 wheels i dont see any reason...

bizzybearfigiblue · 03-26-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e60.deluxe

do it side by side, not front and back.

just curious, why do you want to jack all 4 in the first place? except for doing something lengthy with all 4 wheels i dont see any reason...

the opposite is better... front to back is safer than side to side... depending on the height of course...

asndragonboii · 03-26-2008, 10:36 PM

How can you do it side to side if you want to get all 4 on jack stands?

bizzybearfigiblue · 03-26-2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asndragonboii

How can you do it side to side if you want to get all 4 on jack stands?

from the frame rail in the middle of the car...

e60.deluxe · 03-26-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizzybearfigiblue

the opposite is better... front to back is safer than side to side... depending on the height of course...

ehh, id be worried about the car slipping down. side to side the frame gets wedged in the sides of the jack stand. of course, the weight of the car is going to cause a considerable amount of friction, but dependent on the height and the surfaces may be a bit smooth.

kskillz · 03-26-2008, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e60.deluxe

just curious, why do you want to jack all 4 in the first place? except for doing something lengthy with all 4 wheels i dont see any reason...

I'm going to be painting my calipers. The caliper paint instructions says to take all 4 wheels off at once, since you aren't supposed to reinstall the wheel for at least two hours after painting. The paint only stays paintable for a limited time too.

e60.deluxe · 03-26-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kskillz

I'm going to be painting my calipers. The caliper paint instructions says to take all 4 wheels off at once, since you aren't supposed to reinstall the wheel for at least two hours after painting. The paint only stays paintable for a limited time too.

yeah that was like the 1 thing i could think of where youd need 4 jackstands.

***maximus20895*** · 03-26-2008, 11:56 PM

Kidekat · 03-28-2008, 06:17 AM

Before leaving the car on jack stands, remember to set your all jack stand at the same height.

Go front to back. Don't forget to loosen all lug nuts/wheel locks first. When lowering, lower in reverse order. Torque wheels to proper specs( 80 I believe).

I think the hydraulic jack manufactures has to put that disclaimer in there for individuals that do not understand that if a portion of the car is already in the air, you are not suppose to raise the other half of the car beyond the point of the initial half, or the car can slide off the jack stands. To each their own.

TANGRANGER · 07-13-2008, 12:22 PM

i am going to be changing my transmission fluid so i need to put it on all jack stands right?

amerkel08 · 07-14-2008, 11:47 PM

I had a similar fear when I painted my calipers. I have 2 three ton jacks, so I had my friend help me by simultaneously (slowly) jacking both ends up and then putting stands underneath. but I guess you need another jack and a freind :)

708CvCSi · 07-15-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TANGRANGER

i am going to be changing my transmission fluid so i need to put it on all jack stands right?

no, just 2 up front or better yet use ramps, it's safer
you might not even need to raise the car if you can reach the drain and fill plugs...

NcSi · 07-15-2008, 01:49 PM

the tow hook is fine to jack it up on unless u barely have it on there! jack the front up on the bottom of the rad suppor(look under front of car behind splash shield for beam) put the stand on the jackpoints on the sides of the car.....then jack the rear up by either the tow hook or crossmember put the stands under the rear jack points on each side of the car and ur good to go :)

NcSi · 07-15-2008, 01:51 PM

as long as both side are balance its fine! just dont raise it past the height of the side thats jacked up like someone already mentioned!

03-26-2008, 07:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
kskillz Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Safe way to get car on 4 jack stands? Hi, figured I'd ask about this before I found out the hard way..... What is the safe way to get a car completely off the ground on 4 jack stands? I've got a floor jack and can easily get the rear safely jacked up from the rear jack point and the 2 rear jack stands placed. I woulda thought all I'd have to do then is jack the front of the car up and place the other two jack stands in the front. But my jack stands came with an instructions flyer that warns not to jack the end of the vehicle if the car is already supported on the other end by two stands. I dunno if I believe that and I was going to go ahead and jack the front up, but I figured I'd ask first.... Thx!

03-26-2008, 08:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nomar06 mmm...what a tasty burger Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Age: 27 Posts: 21,386 iTrader: 4 / 100%	Jack the front from the middle where the arrow points to the jack point. Place jackstands on the side rails right behind the front tires. Jack the rear from the middle point right behind the sway bar and place jack stand on rails right in front of the rear tires. See, no probs... Weput the front stands on a different place than what the pictures say on the stock jack that comes with the car. __________________

03-26-2008, 11:56 PM	#14 (permalink)
*maximus20895* Teach me how to take pics Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 1,594 Max iTrader: 0 / 0%	__________________ P2R TBS/TBGs / Fujita SRI / Skunk2 10th Anv. Knob/Radiator Cap / TWM SS/ Auger Boot TWM Cable/Base Bushings / StrutKing DP Cover / JDM Dipstick / Cleared Head/Tails / My Car Build Thread - Amilia

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03-26-2008, 08:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
asndragonboii Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,713 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I dont see why it would be unsafe to put the car on all 4 jack stands. If the jack stands are rated for the weight of the car, then it should be fine. It's the same as how repair shops jack the cars with their lifts. They place it under the 4 locations and jack away! You know the correct places to jack up the front and rear, correct? The tow hook and the little spot under the front.

03-26-2008, 08:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
FG2uner Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hickory, NC Age: 23 Posts: 4,187 Mark iTrader: 4 / 100%	jack up the car from the middle of your door, under the car on the frame rail...... DO NOT JACK FROM THE TOWHOOK.... my car fell off the jack and ****** up my rear bumper...

03-26-2008, 09:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
silverspoon1996 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rockland County New York Age: 27 Posts: 461 JJ iTrader: 0 / 0%	just jack the front first.. and then the rear.. leave the parking brake up.. your good to go.. you could go around the car doing it one at a time if you wanted.. just make sure the car is on level ground.

03-26-2008, 10:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
e60.deluxe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lake Forest, CA Age: 22 Posts: 4,752 iTrader: 3 / 100%	do it side by side, not front and back. just curious, why do you want to jack all 4 in the first place? except for doing something lengthy with all 4 wheels i dont see any reason...

03-26-2008, 10:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
asndragonboii Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,713 iTrader: 0 / 0%	How can you do it side to side if you want to get all 4 on jack stands?

03-28-2008, 06:17 AM	#15 (permalink)
Kidekat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Corona/Redlands, CA Posts: 682 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Before leaving the car on jack stands, remember to set your all jack stand at the same height. Go front to back. Don't forget to loosen all lug nuts/wheel locks first. When lowering, lower in reverse order. Torque wheels to proper specs( 80 I believe). I think the hydraulic jack manufactures has to put that disclaimer in there for individuals that do not understand that if a portion of the car is already in the air, you are not suppose to raise the other half of the car beyond the point of the initial half, or the car can slide off the jack stands. To each their own.

07-13-2008, 12:22 PM	#16 (permalink)
TANGRANGER Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Clear Lake City, Tx Posts: 408 iTrader: 0 / 0%	i am going to be changing my transmission fluid so i need to put it on all jack stands right?

07-14-2008, 11:47 PM	#17 (permalink)
amerkel08 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Spokane wa Posts: 24 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I had a similar fear when I painted my calipers. I have 2 three ton jacks, so I had my friend help me by simultaneously (slowly) jacking both ends up and then putting stands underneath. but I guess you need another jack and a freind :)

07-15-2008, 01:49 PM	#19 (permalink)
NcSi Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Willow Springs, NC Age: 22 Posts: 3,146 Bryan iTrader: 3 / 100%	the tow hook is fine to jack it up on unless u barely have it on there! jack the front up on the bottom of the rad suppor(look under front of car behind splash shield for beam) put the stand on the jackpoints on the sides of the car.....then jack the rear up by either the tow hook or crossmember put the stands under the rear jack points on each side of the car and ur good to go :)

07-15-2008, 01:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
NcSi Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Willow Springs, NC Age: 22 Posts: 3,146 Bryan iTrader: 3 / 100%	as long as both side are balance its fine! just dont raise it past the height of the side thats jacked up like someone already mentioned!