Working on your car at home can be rewarding and cost-effective, but safety should always be your top priority. One of the most fundamental tasks in DIY car maintenance is safely jacking up your vehicle. Having worked on cars for over 50 years, I’ve learned firsthand the importance of doing this correctly. I’ve had a couple of close calls with cars falling off jacks and jack stands, experiences that underscore the need for caution and proper technique.
Let me share a couple of those experiences. Once, while restoring a 1969 Camaro, I had the body shell on four jack stands, or so I thought. While underneath, scrubbing away, the front end started to lift, and the whole thing began to tip backward. It was a moment of sheer panic, bench-pressing the car to keep it from crushing me. Luckily, my young daughter heard the commotion and her small amount of extra push helped to re-balance the car. I was incredibly fortunate.
Another time, more recently, involved my Chevy Nova, a car I’ve lifted countless times. This time, complacency almost got the better of me. While jacking up the front, I forgot to put the transmission in neutral. As the jack raised the car, it couldn’t roll, and the jack didn’t either. Inevitably, the car slipped off the jack. Pride was the only thing really damaged that day, but it could have been much worse.
These experiences, and likely many similar stories from fellow car enthusiasts, highlight why a guide on How To Safely Jack Up A Car is essential. This article aims to provide you with a detailed, step-by-step approach to safely lift your car using a jack and jack stands, ensuring your safety and preventing damage to your vehicle.
Lifting the Front of Your Car Safely
From my years of experience, I always recommend lifting the front of the car first. The heavier end of the vehicle is best raised and secured initially. Before you even position your jack, there are crucial preliminary steps. Always ensure the parking brake is firmly engaged and, importantly, the transmission is in neutral. This allows the car to roll slightly as it’s being lifted, preventing binding and potential slippage.
Many vehicles feature a crossmember beneath the engine, which appears to be a convenient jacking point. While it can be used, directly jacking on the crossmember can lead to deformation. To mitigate this, I use a section of 2×4 lumber, about 12 to 18 inches long, between the floor jack pad and the crossmember. This distributes the lifting force and prevents damage.
While jack stands are vital for safety, I often incorporate ramps when lifting the front. However, I don’t drive the car onto ramps. Instead, I use the floor jack to lift the front end and then carefully position the ramps under the front tires. This provides an initial, stable support. For vehicles with a full frame or subframe, like my Nova or a Camaro, additional security can be gained by placing jack stands under the frame rails. Be mindful that frame rail placement might reduce your working space under the car.
Alt text: Lifting the front end of a classic Chevy Nova using a floor jack positioned on the front crossmember, illustrating a proper jacking technique.
Safely Lifting the Rear of Your Car
Moving to the rear of the vehicle, my preferred jacking point is the center section of the rear axle. Once lifted, I place jack stands under each axle tube, providing robust support. Alternatively, for cars equipped with frame rails or subframe connectors, these can also serve as suitable locations for jack stand placement.
However, some car designs present challenges at the rear. In the case of my Nova, a rear sway bar interferes with the floor jack as the car is raised. To overcome this, I use a wooden block between the jack pad and the rear axle housing. This creates the necessary clearance and ensures a secure lift.
Alt text: A close-up of wooden blocks used on a floor jack pad to provide clearance and prevent damage when jacking up a car, highlighting a practical solution for specific vehicle designs.
Side Lifting Method: Proceed with Caution
Another approach is to lift the car one side at a time. Jack up one side, securely position jack stands, and then repeat the process on the opposite side. While convenient, this method requires extra vigilance to avoid lifting too high on one side, which can destabilize the vehicle. Always use wheel chocks placed both in front of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels when side lifting. For manual transmissions, engage first gear when lifting the front and reverse when lifting the rear, in addition to the parking brake, for added security. For automatic transmissions, ensure the vehicle is in Park (P).
Modern unibody cars often have designated reinforced areas along the rocker panel seams that are specifically engineered as jacking points. These are ideal for both lifting the car and positioning jack stands. Always opt for a sturdy floor jack over the flimsy scissor jack that comes with many cars. Scissor jacks are less stable and prone to slipping, especially if you need to lift the car higher than just for tire changes.
Alt text: A floor jack positioned under the rear axle of a Chevy Nova, demonstrating a common and effective jacking point for safely lifting the rear of the vehicle.
Vehicle-Specific Jacking Points: Know Your Car
It’s crucial to remember that some vehicles have unique jacking requirements. Vintage Corvettes, for example, sometimes feature six specific jack stand points – two ahead of the rear wheels, two behind the front wheels where the frame is level, and two at the very front of the frame. Always consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual or a service manual for the manufacturer’s recommended jacking points. For classic cars, vintage service manuals, like the Chevrolet example shown below, are invaluable resources.
Alt text: Diagram from a vintage Chevrolet service manual illustrating the six recommended jacking points for a Corvette, emphasizing the importance of vehicle-specific jacking instructions.
Final Safety Checks and Important Considerations
Once your car is resting on jack stands, never skip the crucial “jiggle test.” Give each end of the car a firm shake – using both upward and side-to-side motions. This confirms that the jack stands are properly seated and securely supporting the vehicle. Using jack stand pads, or even shop rags in a pinch, can protect your car’s chassis from scratches, especially important on well-maintained vehicles.
As an added safety measure, I always leave the floor jack slightly engaged under either the rear axle housing or the front crossmember, depending on where I’m working. This provides a secondary support in case of jack stand failure. Remember, never rely solely on a floor jack to support a car while you’re working underneath it. The hydraulic seals can fail, causing sudden and dangerous collapse.
If you are using ramps at the front and not jacking up the rear, ensure you chock the rear wheels meticulously. Cars can, and do, roll off ramps if not properly secured.
Avoid placing jack stands on soft surfaces like dirt or gravel. If unavoidable, use substantial sections of plywood under the jack stands to distribute the load and prevent them from sinking. The jiggle test becomes even more critical when working on uneven or soft surfaces.
Alt text: Jack stand positioned under the front subframe rail of a Chevy Nova, showcasing a secure jack stand placement on a vehicle frame.
Investing in Safety and Organization
To further enhance safety and protect your vehicle, consider investing in quality jack stand pads and floor jack pads. Pads like the Ernst jack stand cover and Summit Racing™ Jack Pad prevent metal-on-metal contact, safeguarding paint and undercoating. High-quality jack stands, such as Summit Racing™ Premium Jack Stands, offer increased stability and safety features like locking tabs. Finally, a Summit Racing™ Jack Stand Organizer keeps your workspace tidy and prevents tripping hazards.
Alt text: A jack stand fitted with an Ernst polyurethane pad cover, demonstrating a protective accessory to prevent damage to vehicle surfaces.
Alt text: Summit Racing Premium Jack Stands, highlighting their heavy-duty construction, wide base, and lever-action adjusters for safe and easy vehicle support.
Conclusion: Safety First, Always
As you can see, safely jacking up a car is not overly complicated, but it demands attention to detail and a commitment to safety. Taking a few extra minutes to follow these procedures can prevent accidents, injuries, and damage to your vehicle. Prioritizing safety is always a better choice than a trip to the emergency room or costly repairs. Work safe and enjoy the satisfaction of maintaining your own car!
