How to safely jack up a car so all four wheels are off the ground?

[zeronero]

When I do all the work on my car I'm planning on jacking it completely off the ground so that it's horizontal about 15" of the ground.

I'm looking for a place to put the jack so that when jacked up I can slide jack stands under the car. I have heard that in the front the cross member will work and in the rear the diff. will work. Then I can put the four jack stands on those circles next to the wheel wells. I would do the front first and the rear second.

Will the cross member and diff. hold the front and rear of the car? I will be raising a 400E.

I never use jackstands for more than just two wheels...not that it can't be done. If you work on cars a lot I highly recommend investing in a lift, they start at around $1300 but they are truly the safest way to work on your car. Otherwise it is a 4500 lb balancing act. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[zeronero]

Originally posted by gstigler
IIf you work on cars a lot I highly recommend investing in a lift, they start at around $1300 but they are truly the safest way to work on your car.

When I finish school, get a GOOD job, and buy a house I WILL have one of those as well as a the full workshop. It'll be like the show "Trucks", until then I will have to dream and use jackstands.

[deanyel]

15 inches at the tires or the underbody? If you get under a car on 4 jackstands very often you're not likely to be finishing school or buying a house. I would say find a lift or use four good ramps.

[Southern]

I have been jacking my cars up the way you described for the last 10 years without any problems. I only do this when I rotate tires, for normal oil changes I only jack up the front end. I must clarify that due to my jack stands my tires are only 3" off the floor.

Regarding the proper places to jack up a car are usually covered in the owners manual and can be different for each vehicle. The rear differentials have worked for me in the past but using the front cross member should depend on the manufactures recommendation.

[87-300E_in_NC]

I jacked up my 300E with the diff. first, then with the front crossmember with no problems whatsoever. Main thing is to be sure to have it secure, no matter what type of jack you use. Try shaking it back and forth from side to side, and see how sturdy it is before lying down onderneath. If you feel that it is secure, it will work, but don't rely on the jack alone.

Extra blocks with stands also works well for peace of mind....one can never be too careful when risking your life. This has been my experience working on automobiles for the past 25 years.

[zeronero]

Originally posted by deanyel
15 inches at the tires or the underbody?

It will need to be 15" at the underbody, enough to get the tires off.

Originally posted by deanyel
If you get under a car on 4 jackstands very often you're not likely to be finishing school or buying a house.

You might be thinking of an hydraulic jack, I will be using the same type of jackstands as in the picture.

[87-300E_in_NC]

Picture??

[zeronero]

I didn't work the first time, here we go

[sbourg]

Those jackstands are similar to what most of us use - it doesn't change the equation. I do it all the time, but I place the stands under crossmembers or such to avoid marring the finish. I also leave the floor jack securely positioned at the end of the vehicle where my body is, and maneuver around it as needed. If an earthquake hits, though, I get religion fast!

Steve

[zeronero]

I just need the location to put the hydraulic jack and just need that location. I can't put the jack stands where the hydraulic jack goes for obvious reasons. So the diff. and front cross member will work?

[87-300E_in_NC]

So the diff. and front cross member will work?

YES, you got it.....

At Les Schwab tires they put one under the rear diff and two hydraulic jacks under the jack pads. (The rubber ones underbody)

Three point jack position is better than four.

They use three hydraulic floor jacks.

[deanyel]

I know someone who has built a concrete trench in his backyard - because he's lost two friends to jackstand accidents.