Using Jackstands

[Guest]

If you're using the supplied jack what sequence would you use to get car up on jackstands..

1. Front then rear on each side

2. Back both sides then front

3. Front both sides then the back

It would seem to me that you would want to do each rear first while the lighter front is still on the ground firmly chocked...but I don't know

Also is it better to jack the car right next to the jacking point so the jackstands will be right where the jackpoints are? (I have hockey pucks)

I'm going to start a project of cleaning wheel wells, paint the hats and calipers and clean inside of wheels.

What do you think?

[Loren]

Don,

I tend to work on one side or one end of the car at a time. I have four jack stands but I think it is safer to keep two wheels on the ground when working in my home garage. I can only think of a couple times when I used all four jack stands. When I did I usually raised the rear first.

With that said I know some folks like Orient Express that do a lot of (under car) detail and use four stands all the time.

[clord]

Don....My personal preference is to have all four off the ground and 4 (at least) jack stands under THE RIGHT points. My process uses 2 floor jacks, not the supplied jack, so don't think you can do this with the supplied scissors jack.

Lift one rear side at the rear jack point using a jack pad that inserts into the jack point to avoid slippage and lift the whole side so the front is high enough for your front stand. Put the front stand under the front jack point and pad it with a puck or wood. Then lower the rear onto a jack stand (same height at the front) under that sturdy looking place where the angled bar bolts to the engine/rear susp cast aluminum carrier, pad with puck or wood. Do the same to the other side. I leave a floor jack just barely in support of each rear jack point all the while it's on the stands for extra safety. That way you can get all 4 wheels off at once, bleed brakes, clean stuff up....and if you learn something while doing one wheel, you can go back to a previous wheel and do it there too. It also relieves preload on the anti-roll bars. If it's level, it's a good time to change the oil too. YMMV

[Scouser]

With a cab have you got to be careful about how u jack the car up in case you twist the top frame?

Just a thought.