Floor Jack and Jack Stands

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myriad46
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Floor Jack and Jack Stands

Postby myriad46 » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:54 am

I have yet to rotate tires on my "new to me" 2005 Pathfinder. I had a floor jack and jack stands for my Sentra, but as they don't reach the underside of the truck when they are fully extended, it's time for an upgrade. I am hoping to not spend a great deal, as I mainly use them to rotate tires and do the occasional brake job.

First, I am primarily looking for the minumim height jack/stands that I'll need to get the tires off.

Any specific recommendations on equipment, as well as general tips for jacking this beast in the air would also me appreciated.

Thanks.


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blink32
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Postby blink32 » Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:52 pm

Jackstands are jackstands. Just make sure they are thick enough material and get Heavy Duty or "truck" rated ones. They are typically quite a bit taller. Jacks, find a good quality large model floor jack with a U-joint style connection between the handle and the valve. Not that shite style of star/gear style connection you see on a majority of the jacks.

I personally bought a "big red" brand heavy duty floor jack from Pep Boys because my old one busted and I needed it and noone else had one big enough with the above requirements.

Here are two threads over on Pirate4x4 that talk a lot about jacks that don't suck and the good harbor freight tool list.

http://www2.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=629747
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434877

Oh, and if your jacks don't reach it's not a problem to use short sections of 4x4 wood to extend the reach. I'm not advocating using a 2ft piece to make it work, I'm saying a 4 or 6 inch piece will work fine to give that extra boost assuming everything is secure, sits flat and is not all wobbly. You could also use pieces of 2x8 or 2x10 (or whatever width you need) under the jacks themselves to raise those up. Again, as long as the surface they are sitting on is flat and the integrity of the wood is not in question.

Npath
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Re: Floor Jack and Jack Stands

Postby Npath » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:06 pm

I use jack stands that will hold up 6 tons of weight.

I use the OEM jack that came with the vehicle.

What I do is jack up the front and place a stand on the frame. For the rear, I don't bother as it helps me save a bit of time. I use the jack to support the weight for 15 minutes or so to get the work done.

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Fofiddy
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Postby Fofiddy » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:39 am

I use a 3 ton floor jack and stands. Keep in mind you don't always have to go on the frame points to lift the vehicle. If you are on a level surface you can use a buffer (wood block) and jack the suspension arms. Since you are rotating (I'm assuming the x pattern) you can lift the two points necessary and let the suspension do the work of balancing the vehicle. since your not lifting it that high and the other two points can take up slack. This method comes especially handy for getting un-stuck if you have bellied up on a table top with no viable means for support*. That way you can build up traction under the freespinnig wheels with large rocks and other objects you can gather in the vicinity. It also helps you break suction if your really stuck in the mud.

* This statement pertains only to those mechanicly inclined with the common sense to see inherant hazards of the giving situation. In other words YMMV.

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Jegan
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Postby Jegan » Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:47 am

I am going to jack up the back of the pathy to install some airlift bags. I just had a few questions before I start:

1. Where should I place the jack to lift the truck? On the sides where they recommend for tire change? Near the rear diff? Keep in mind I need the springs fully extended to install the airbags.

2. I will be placing some jack stands once the truck is up. Where would be the best place to put those?

Thanks again.
J

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disallow
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Postby disallow » Fri Mar 15, 2013 5:38 am

If I recall correctly, I jacked under the diff, and put jack stands under the tire jacking spots for safety.

t

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Jegan
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Postby Jegan » Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:31 pm

Sorry about the newbie questions but:

Should I place the jack right on the rear diff? As in right in contact with it? and then lift the whole weight of the vehicle on it? Just paranoid, thats all.

J

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mypath
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Postby mypath » Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:14 am

hy just put the jack stand close to the wheel on that rond tube..uwill be find..and go luck whit the instal of the lift kit..just make sure that u connect the air hose before u put them in .after is just a pain to push it in..

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disallow
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Postby disallow » Thu Apr 25, 2013 12:32 pm

Jegan wrote:Sorry about the newbie questions but:

Should I place the jack right on the rear diff? As in right in contact with it? and then lift the whole weight of the vehicle on it? Just paranoid, thats all.

J
A piece of wood underneath to prevent metal on metal contact is good.

Obilod
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Postby Obilod » Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:00 am

I understand that I was a little late for the party, but I have some interesting observations that I want to share.
Most, if not all floor jacks are coming in from overseas, so I wouldn't worry about country of origin. My Chinese jacks
work well enough and have for quite a while. I would steer you with good thoughts: Get the longest reach floor jack
you can, b/c it's no fun trying to jack from a point far under the truck that the pump handle hits the bottom edge of the

vehicle thus limiting the total lift of each stroke. Get the highest tonnage jack within reason based on the weight

you intend to lift with it, b/c as with any leverage machine the higher the tonnage the jack is rated for the easier

it is to pump, and higher tonnage jacks usually have a higher total lift. Get a simple single stage pump, b/c the

more complicated the mechanism, the more can and will go wrong with it. Get a standard steel model, not that

aluminum is bad, but you won't be working in an Indie pit changing tires, you want something that is built to last.
Stick with those criterion, and you will be living the good life instead of sweating your keester off every time you
need a lift. Saving money on the jack, will allow you to spend more money on the all important jack stands.

Again, the heavier tonnage models will be overkill, but reassuring when you put your body under the vehicle that

is being held up by them. Also, the higher the tonnage the higher they will hold the car off the ground, a decided

advantage in some if not all cases.

Harbor Freight, Pep Girls, Princess Auto, Autozone, Advanced Auto, Sears,Tractor Supply https://wheelstips.com/best-floor-jacks et al, it makes no

difference b/c the jacks will be pretty much all the same.
There are a lot of cool videos on YouTube, here’s one of them. Good luck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88Y_IV9xX08

Good hunting and enjoy your new jack/jack stands.

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Graham W
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Postby Graham W » Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:32 am

I bought a long reach garage jack 3Tonne for under £100 GBP, it weighs a tonne to carry about itself, very sturdy.

I lifted the rear end on the rear diff and placed 2 axle stands on each rear suspension to stop swaying so i could change both rear brakes in one hit.

Online manuals have this diagram for jack lifting....

Imagelifting

I dont tend to rotate tyres any more, some are directional.
A decent tyre garage would probable do it on a 4 poster in one hit for a tin of biscuits lol

joe77
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Postby joe77 » Thu May 09, 2019 3:26 am

I use a 3 ton floor jack and stands. Keep in mind you don't always have to go on the frame points to lift the vehicle. If you are on a level surface you can use a buffer (wood block) and jack the suspension arms. Since you are rotating (I'm assuming the x pattern) you can lift the two points necessary and let the suspension do the work of balancing the vehicle. since your not lifting it that high and the other two points can take up slack. This method comes especially handy for getting un-stuck if you have bellied up on a table top with no viable means for support*. That way you can build up traction under the freespinnig wheels with large rocks and other objects you can gather in the vicinity. It also helps you break suction if your really stuck in the mud.


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