We’ve picked out these jack stands based on personal auto maintenance experience, as well consumer review data, and input from publications such as The Drive, AutoGuide, Forbes Autos, and Napa Know How. To get the car down, do it all in reverse. Repeat until all four corners are off the ground and stable.

Place the car on flat, level ground, jacking up each corner to the desired height, and then gently lowering them onto the jack stands. Parking brakes and wheel chocks should also be used along with your jack stands to keep any wheels on the ground from rolling during the jacking process.Īlways place jack stands beneath the manufacturer’s designated lift points, which are often marked along the underside of the vehicle. Plywood sheets can make a sturdy base when lifting vehicles on surfaces like dirt, but a hard concrete floor is always preferable. Stands with a larger surface area at the feet are typically more stable under load. Higher maximum settings may be useful for lifting taller trucks or SUVs, but most sedans and hatchbacks don't need extensive height settings. Most jack stands have adjustable height, with a locking mechanism to keep the desired setting in place. As a rule of thumb, make sure each stand can hold about 75 percent of the total weight of the vehicle to ensure safety. When using car jacks and jack stands, it’s always better to have too much weight capacity. In this case, each of the individual stands can hold 3,000 pounds-this pair would be plenty strong for most small- and mid-size cars. Jack stands are often rated as a set in a value of tons.įor instance, a pair of jack stands may have a 3-ton or 6,000-pound capacity when used together. The most important factor in any jack stand is its rated weight capacity, which you should never exceed.

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