Many of the injuries that happen when people are working on cars and trucks can be avoided by using jack stands. Jacks are designed to lift and lower the automobile.

They are not designed to hold automobiles up for an extended period of time. The jack stand is specially designed to hold the automobile in place and is easy to use, inexpensive to purchase and safe.

A car jack stand is designed to hold the weight of a car in place for a long time. Each auto jack stand has an SWL label which means the safe working load and is the maximum weight the stand will safely support. This rating is given each design after extensive tests done by a licensing or regulating authority. Most cars will need a level above two; this information can be located in the owner’s manual, along with instructions on where to place them. A higher rated stand is safe to use; a smaller, lighter unit should not be used.

When purchasing a set, the purchaser will check the quality by a visual inspection. The units should be well-made with clean welds and appear solid without rust, wear or rough edges. They should be a heavy-duty metal like steel or cast iron especially in the heavier rated stands. A wide base offers more stability and rubber feet keep the unit from slipping on the surface; a solid base offers even more support. There are two types of support systems, one is a peg support where clips hold the stand in place and is cheaper to make and sell. The racket system offers more choices in height and is easier to use; these are worth the few extra dollars.

To use the floor jacks and stands, the floor jacks lift the automobiles to the desired height. These stands go under the car or truck according to manufacturer’s suggestion, under a solid undercarriage support. The wrong placement will cause the automobiles to collapse around the stands, damaging the automobiles. Once these stands are in place, the floor jacks will be lowered slowly checking that these stands are supporting the weight of the automobile. After the floor jacks are removed, to check the security of the stands placements the mechanic will lean on the bumper and shake the car.

If the stands are in the wrong place and tips over, slides or is not correctly extended, this is the time for the car or truck to settle back on its wheels; not while the mechanic is under it. When using multiple stands it is important to make sure they are raised to equal heights. Wheels should be blocked when working on any automobile to keep the car and truck from rolling out of position.

These are inexpensive and start in the $20 range. The size and construction of the units increase this investment; aluminum jack stands are light, portable and more expensive. Trailer jack stands, heavy duty jack stands and 6 ton jack stands are more expensive as they are requiring heavier materials, designs and construction. Specialized stands like a motorcycle jack stand and a high-position hoist stand cost more.

These auto jack stands are very safe and once in position do not let the automobile down until they are released. The peg system has a pin or clip that is inserted to hold the stand in the correct position. The racket usually has a pawl and tooth design which is double locking for extra protection. The design is simple, yet strong and does not contain a lot of moving parts that can unexpectedly fail.

These should be in every mechanic’s tool box and are often overlooked. These wonderful devices are a safety feature and protect the user from injury or death by keeping the automobile in the desired position. They require a very small investment, are easy to move and easy to place in position under a car or truck.

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Filed under: Types of Car Jacks

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