Jack stands on all four courners

[ksurfer2]

What is the best way to get jack stands under all four corners to get the car up in the air. I have had the front up, and the back up, but never the whole car at once. It seems like it would get very unstable jacking the front up and putting jack stands under the frame behind the front wheels and then jacking the back up from under the pumpkin. The last thing I would need is the car rocking back off the stands or forward off the stands.

 

[Ron H]

Patience and picking the best locations for the stands. If you get steep, set the stands at the desired height incrementally to keep the car more leveled out.

 

[Shorthorse]

I've been using two 3 ton jack stands with safety locking pins on the rear axles. On the front I jack it up and place a set of 12,000 lbs. composite ramps under the front tires facing forward. It does not rock or move. I generally leave the floor jack under the K frame unless I need access in that area. Also, with the ramps facing forward I have open access to underneath around the transmission area without having to work between jack stands.

 

[slepr1]

If you are steady and aware at all times you won't have any issues. I have done this many times.

 

[Bill Monk]

Done it many times, I set up the back first, then the front but I wouldn't risk it unless it's on a pretty level floor

 

[91r/t]

I've done rear end first then jack up on center of K member and put them under front frame area. I have also done the car ramp thing in the front and used the 4 Ton stands under the rear end up nice and high on the axle tubes. Many ways to do it safe. Biggest thing to remember is the jack wheels need to be able to roll and not be stuck which tends to pull the car off the stands as you jack higher.

 

[Fran Blacker]

On front I front frame rails behind bumper. I made blocks 6" tall out 2x4's capped with a 2x10 for jack stands to sit on. I do it 2 steps 1st rear then front back to rear then front. Have 2 floor jacks its easier. Another way with tires on, see pics.

 

[Don Frelier]

Strongly agree with letting the floor jack roll. The car needs to be on a fairly level floor. (Mine isn't)
I've jacked up more cars and trucks than you can count.
You can't rush this stuff, double and triple check where those stands are.
Finally I grab the bumpers and yank hard on that thing to see what moves I actually try and get it off the stands, if the car falls so be it.
It's just a car. I knew a man who died under a car what a terrible tragedy.

 

[64Belvedere]

Put your front stands under the front K frame or suspension if you can. That way the weight stays where it's supposed to. If you put the stands under the frame behind the wheels, the nose will flex.

 

[Ron H]

Someone posted not long ago about injuries and deaths being under a vehicle with some graphic photos. I'm shocked by watching some who are a bit careless including some real knowledgeable car folks when raising a vehicle. In all the decades where I've done this without incident, be damned if I didn't have a slip up last winter! I had some truck stands - my mission was to get the car up higher than I've ever done before as the older I get the more friggin difficult it is to work under a car! I had two floor jacks and another bottle jack under the K and the car slipped ahead a few inches. The bottle jack was trashed but kept the car up at least. I bent the exhaust hanger having to replace it; but fortunately no other damages or ahh...to me. As I had posted, I let the car get a bit too steep - angled - whereas I little more effort to keep it more leveled out while raising it up likely would have avoided the slip far as I estimated. And I was positioning the stands in some different areas to have the axle hanging free. Ahh...be careful...

 

[andyf]

I use blocks under the rear wheels and bolt on jack stands up front.

 

[gkent]

Jack front and rear NOT side to side. Jack the rear and put the stands under the axle. Jack the front and put the stands under the frame in the area of the front crossmember - this will give you the most height. On a smooth floor the jack will move under the car as you raise it so the car basically stays stationary. Once the front is on stands you can go to the rear again, raise it and move the stands under the frame around the front spring hangers or rear crossmember.

 

[moparedtn]

View attachment 784595 On front I front frame rails behind bumper. I made blocks 6" tall out 2x4's capped with a 2x10 for jack stands to sit on. I do it 2 steps 1st rear then front back to rear then front. Have 2 floor jacks its easier. Another way with tires on, see pics.View attachment 784585

Dang it Fran, every time I see your car...

 

[khryslerkid]

Heavy duty jack stands, quality hydraulic floor jack, (not one of those cheesy little things with the removable pipe handle) and a level concrete floor, is a must.

Light weight jack stands, cheep jack, blacktop, gravel or dirt is just asking for trouble.

I always jack up the front first. I place a short 2x6 flat on the jack so it fits center of the K frame. I place the jack stands on the lower control arms, close to the lower ball joint.

Then I'll place the floor jack under the center of the rear housing and jack it up. The rear is lighter than the front and works better than lifting the front with the rear in the air. JMO

Like stated when jacking, make sure you see the wheels rolling on the jack. If they don't, it's about to jump off. It only takes a little piece of something under a wheel to cause this.

If you're going to let the rear hang, like some cars need just to remove the wheels, place the jack stands in front of the spring hangers. There's solid frame there that will support the weight.

Once all four stands are supporting the weight, put some body weight on each front fender to settle the suspension. Do a good inspection on the stands one more time before going under to do any work.

One thing I always do when removing wheels is I'll throw the removed wheel under the car for a safty just in case something would slip. It could save you from getting trapped between the floor and car and will allow you to get a jack under there again.

Safety first!

 

[MoparLeo]

Just wondering...you never did say why you were jacking up the car. To work on ? To service something in particular ? Brakes ? For just storing ? Different ways to " Get it up" depending on your ultimate intent.

 

[ksurfer2]

Just wondering...you never did say why you were jacking up the car. To work on ? To service something in particular ? Brakes ? For just storing ? Different ways to " Get it up" depending on your ultimate intent.

Mostly just out of curiosity, but I have a feeling I am going to be swapping out my trans in the next year. I would rather do that without pulling the motor as well.

Thanks to all for the responses, lots of good info. I do need to pick up a second set of jack stands, but have everything else I need.

 

[tnfastback]

Just another option here. Best $200 I ever spent. They weigh about 5 lbs each and stack up when not in use. Support 6K or 1500 lbs per corner.

 

[ksurfer2]

Just another option here. Best $200 I ever spent. They weigh about 5 lbs each and stack up when not in use. Support 6K or 1500 lbs per corner.

View attachment 785820

Are those Race Ramps? Tough to tell from the picture. That is actually a route I was considering.

 

[moparedtn]

I've told the story on this forum before of becoming the de facto jack stand under my Ram one day when I had a failure of both the jack and my brain...
(hint: pickups are HEAVY. I don't recommend it...)

I had another pickup slide sideways off both front jack stands another day, when I got a little too boisterous while yanking on something with a torque wrench.
Literally grabbed ahold of the wheelwell opening and held on for all it was worth while yelling at the house for help, keeping it from totally coming off both stands.
That pickup was pretty heavy, too.
Managed to save her, though, and the wife got the jack back under there to get things sorted out.

Morals to the stories are to:
- never trust a jack, even for a minute
- never put jack stands under straight, flat portions of chassis when the stands have u-shaped heads
- ALWAYS put the u-shaped jack stands in the "crotch" areas of the chassis - or under the rear axle

Better yet, I like the idea of ramps turned backwards for the front wheels....

 

[tnfastback]

Are those Race Ramps? Tough to tell from the picture. That is actually a route I was considering.

Yes. Left my car on them for approx 9 months while removing everything prior to sending to the media blaster. If you decide to order some and can't find a 10% discount code PM me.