jacking up car to work on it

[phil97.3.8]

How do you guys do work under your car changing oil or whatever?

Do you use ramps for the front? Do you jack up one side and use jack stands?

I want to start doing more of my own work and just wondering what you guys use. I just don't want to go buy a $200 jack, and I'd mostly be doing work in a parking lot.

I'm thinking ramps and put them up against a curb, then put like metal ramp wedges in the back to keep it from rolling.

[kirk98]

I have a 2 ton Mack jack I got from Christmas a few years ago. It was only fifty dollars I believe, so not too expensive. I jack the car up and then put it on jack stands. That's it.

[Skapimp]

I just jack it up on jack stands and change the oil... but anything more, I put it on a lift. I hate working on my car on just stands. I put my headers and intake on w/ just stands though too.

[shenanigans]

Wish I had a lift...

I have a craftsman aluminum/steel jack... been great to me, but I have seen people ***** about it online. It was $120, I got it on sale for $80.

not sure if there is one near you but have heard good things about harbour freight jacks.

www.harbourfreight.com


I suggest if you have the room to hold one, get a full size floor jack vs. a "mini" hydraulic jack. But they are big, and unless you get a partial aluminum one they are heavy as hell.

I also suggest always getting a few jackstands, I have 4, and seem to get by, one time needed 6 but that is rare.


So you know what I am talking about...
this is a mini jack..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/pho...6199/36119.gif

this is a full floor jack.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/pho...0199/40105.gif


Lots at harbour freight scroll through
http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do

[V6Bob]

I hate working under a car on jackstands. So easy to make a mistake. I use ramps for everything I possibly can, ie anything that doesn't require removing a wheel.

I use these (forgive me for the reference site, it was the best info/picture):

http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/webmas/ramps.htm

[jutt26]

ramps for normal stuff. Craftsman full floor jack and stands for more involved stuff.
If you are going to buy a jack, the 'one stroke to frame' models are nice. I used the old style jack for years, but this makes it so much nicer.

[transamtom]

Jack and stands for me.

I did the torque converter in the TA on stands,man was that fun.

[zlexiss]

Ramps for easy stuff like changing oil

Jack and jackstands for everything else.

This jack (on the left) when I buy a house and get my own garage.

[shenanigans]

as for ramps I hear rhino ramps fit the best...


I just hate going up the ramps with a manual car, such a pain.

If I still had an auto wouldn't mind but alwasy hated ramps with a 5-speed.


Never had a car even shift on me on jackstands, its not rocket science to see that the car is set up right.

But with ramps, one little ooops and you driver over the ramp and really mess up your fender.

[BLLDOGG]

plus, i can get my car on stands alot quicker than getting my auto camaro up on ramps.

[V6Bob]

"I just hate going up the ramps with a manual car, such a pain.

with ramps, one little ooops and you driver over the ramp and really mess up your fender."

"i can get my car on stands alot quicker than getting my auto camaro up on ramps."

You guys gotta be kidding.

1. Place ramps in front of tires. 2, Drive up, with a 5-speed.

Takes me less than 30 seconds. The Rhino Ramps have a big lip at the end. Plus you have plenty of warning as the tires go from the slope to the flat. I'm not saying you couldn't drive over them, but, for me, it's dead easy.

It takes me longer to get out the jack and the stands (takes two trips), much less use them. And, with stands, one little oops and it's not the fender you're worried about.

[SilverRS96]

it sucks for me with the RS gfx...i have to jack the back up then get the sides cuz of it bein too low to the ground...pita i tell ya

[SpeedingFirebird]

I'm with v6Bob. What is so hard about pulling a manual car up on ramps. Let out clutch slowly. drive up. Press brake. [img]graemlins/stickpoke.gif[/img]

As Eric said, Jackstands are very safe if done correctly. Always shake the car though before crawling underneath - just in case. ;)

[transamtom]

Originally posted by SilverRS96:
it sucks for me with the RS gfx...i have to jack the back up then get the sides cuz of it bein too low to the ground...pita i tell ya

Drive onto a piece of 2x10 under each front tire,that should get you the clearance you need.

[97burnout]

I made my own ramps from wood... Stands when the wheel comes off but I don't like to, you don't feel completely safe.