Get a pinch weld puck because the jack points for the front and back wheels are close together. Or you may locate a solid wood block that is 2 3/4 inches thick and has a narrow valley in the centre that is 1 inch wide. The block should have a valley that runs long ways and be around 4 inches long. Should be 3-3.5 inches broad…
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m sure this is all very confusing. As soon as I can, I’ll snap some images of the tools I used.
In This Article...
How is a Kia Stinger jacked up?
I have to jack up my car twice a year to swap out the summer and winter tires, but I couldn’t discover a place to secure an axle stand when the jack is using the sill jacking point. Always be wary of hydraulic jacks. One did gently drop for me, and it was scary. The Rennstand by SafeJack, a straightforward yet innovative device, provides the solution. You jack the car up, slide in the 2 piece adjustable legs, insert the locking pins, lower the car onto the Rennstand, and then you remove the jack. You then install the horizontal bar on the jack saddle with the proper adaptor dropped in (for the Stinger, it is the usual seam weld one).
Simply jack it up again, take the legs off, and drop the car to the ground to remove it.
What price is safety for the automobile and the operator at when it must come from the US and costs a lot to ship?
To prevent metal on metal contact, I installed a piece of hard rubber into the seam weld adaptor. I changed all the wheels twice without causing any harm to the paint or weld.
Where may a Kia Rio be raised?
The luggage compartment houses the spare tire, jack, jack handle, and wheel lug nut wrench. To access the equipment, move the luggage under the tray out of the way. The jack is only available for changing tires in an emergency.
How safe are scissor jacks?
A jack is typically part of the factory tool kit in cars. A factory jack and a service jack are not equivalent in terms of automobile jack safety for a variety of reasons. A service jack or floor jack is designed for durability and versatility, as opposed to the screw jack or scissor jack that came with your car, which was designed for portability and short-term use.
But let’s explore the key distinctions in more detail:
Capacity
The scissor jack was constructed to fit your particular vehicle, therefore if it was intended for a little sedan, it can break if you try to lift an SUV. On the other hand, floor jacks are available in capacities ranging from two tons and higher, and they can raise anything from an ATV to a bulldozer.
Durability
The scissor jack isn’t anticipated to be used much because it was created for changing flat tires. They are only sufficiently sturdy to complete the task and are often composed of stamped metal. Floor jacks can withstand more abuse because they are made to be used frequently and heavily.
Versatility
The scissor jack was created to carry out the specific duty of changing a tire. To lift the tire a few inches off the ground, it may or may not fit lift points on your particular car, and it might only fit up to a set height. As a result, using it for other tasks like lifting another vehicle or doing an oil change is all but impossible. A floor jack, on the other hand, can rise high enough to reach below the car and can adjust to any vehicle’s lift points.
Don’t expect the scissor jack to be used for anything other than its intended purpose when performing DIY auto repairs. However, if you want to try larger repairs, you should get a floor jack and jack stands that are rated for the heaviest car you possess, keep them in good condition, and constantly think about your safety.
Employ Safe Lifting Practices
Safety should always come first, so think twice before climbing underneath your automobile. Never, whether utilizing a scissor jack or floor jack, place a portion of your body under a vehicle that is only supported by a jack:
- Block: Put the transmission in park or gear, engage the parking brake, and make sure your car is on a flat surface. Use chock blocks to stop the wheels in front and behind the wheel that is opposite where you are elevating. Put chock blocks in front of and behind the right front tire, for instance, if you plan to lift the left rear of the car.
- Lift: Raise the car to the required height using the jack. Use three-quarter inch plywood to prevent the jack from sinking into the ground on soft surfaces like dirt or asphalt.
- Support: Place jack-stands under a sturdy part of the automobile, such as an axle or suspension member, preferably ones that are rated higher than your jack. Shake the automobile to check for stability before lowering it onto the jack stands. You can take the jack out and start working on your car after you are certain that it is stable.
Both scissor jacks and floor jacks have their uses and are incredibly helpful, but when put to use outside of their intended purposes, they can be uncomfortable, if not downright dangerous. Use a floor jack or a scissor jack appropriately, and keep it well-maintained. You can work on just about anything underneath your car securely if you keep in mind these car jack suggestions.
For routine maintenance and repairs, turn to one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare facilities or check out all the tools & equipment offered on NAPA Online. Visit your neighborhood NAPA AUTO PARTS store to speak with a qualified professional for more details on car jack safety.
How long should a car be left on a scissor jack?
After employing a hydraulic lift or jack lift, a heavy object can be supported by a jack stand. In order to replace a wheel, change the oil, or inspect any other component underneath a car while working on it, you would use a jack stand. We have enquired as to the maximum amount of time a car can be supported by jack stands. Here is what they gave us.
A car can be left on jack stands for however long is necessary. For days, weeks, months, or even years, your car could be left on jack stands. As long as your car is jacked on a flat surface, everything will be OK. One thing to keep in mind is that it’s preferable to put your car on concrete rather than asphalt because asphalt is softer and your jack stands risk leaving a mark if left there for an extended period of time.
Since your tires will gradually lose air if you leave your car standing on its own and you run the risk of damaging your rim, leaving it on jack stands is a smart way to store your automobile. Additionally, check the vehicle’s security to ensure that even a small bump won’t cause it to overturn. Continue reading for more details about jack stands.
When changing tires, should the automobile be in neutral?
If an issue were to arise with one of your car’s current tyres, you might find yourself needing to change a tire.
If you follow the correct technique while changing a tire, even if you’ve never done it before, you should be fine. You can learn more about what to do in our changing a tyre tutorial here.
Here, we’ll concentrate on common errors that a novice tire changer could make and explain why you should steer clear of them.
DON’T change a tyre at the side of the road
The greatest places to change tires are places that are far away from the road. You’d be better off calling a breakdown service if you discover that a tire suddenly requires replacing while travelling on the road and you can’t safely stop your car somewhere away from the road.
It is challenging to do a tire replacement right alongside the road because you need a decent bit of space to do so securely and properly. Not to mention that you would be unnecessarily endangering yourself and other road users. Another major no-no is changing tires on the hard shoulder of a highway.
DON’T change a tyre on loose or uneven ground
If you’re going to change a tire on your car, you should do it where the ground is level and smooth.
It’s not a good idea to try changing a tire on a gravelly or grassy surface because it’s harder to work on and there’s a chance that equipment, like the jack, could slip while being used.
DON’T have any passengers in the car
Imagine that you had to change a car tire on short notice and that you were able to locate a location that would be adequate for the task. Before you start changing the tire, make sure all of your passengers, including any animals, have exited the car. Make sure they travel somewhere safe that is not near a vehicle or a busy road.
A person moving around inside the vehicle while changing a tire adds extra weight that could be obstructive and will just make the task more difficult than it needs to be.
DON’T do any checks or work under your vehicle while it’s raised on a jack
To prepare your automobile for a tire replacement properly, you’ll need a car jack. However, using this tool to perform lengthy work below your car is not recommended.
Therefore, resist the urge to even glance below your car while changing a tire, even if there is something else about the automobile you want to inspect.
You need the proper tools to perform any type of maintenance on your automobile that involves spending time underneath it, or you can get it serviced. Working underneath your car is not secure enough with only a car jack.
DON’T use the jack anywhere you’re not supposed to
A car jack should only be used on particular parts of an automobile. When replacing a tire, you should position the jack at the suggested lifting point near the removed wheel.
If you don’t install the jack correctly, you risk damaging your car’s undercarriage and risk having an accident since the jack may not support the car securely. To determine the proper lifting points, see the owner’s manual for your car.
If you don’t have the owner’s manual handy for whatever reason, you can look for information online or get support from your automobile manufacturer’s customer care.
DON’T leave the car in neutral
It’s crucial to remember to leave the vehicle in the proper gear when changing a tire on a manual transmission vehicle. Naturally, you should turn off the engine before beginning the tire change. However, you should leave the gearstick in either first or reverse.
The handbrake only works on two wheels, often the rear wheels, which is why you want to do this. With the engine turned off, shifting into first or reverse causes the front wheels, which are typically the driven wheels, to lock.
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, you may leave it in the “Park” or “P” position.
Should lug nuts be loosened before jacking up the car?
Although changing a flat tire isn’t difficult, there are a few things you should know to ensure that the spare tire is installed correctly so that you can go to the tire shop without incident. Watch this Les Schwab Quick Tips video to learn how to do it by following along as we walk you through each step. We discuss:
- What to do before pulling out the tools.
- how to locate your car’s ideal jacking point.
- how much lug nuts should be loosened before lifting the automobile.
- how to properly install the spare tire.
- the right way to tighten lug nuts.
How to Change a Tire
- security first. Maintain a safe distance from oncoming traffic, put your car in park, engage the parking brake, and turn on your warning lights. It is preferable to ask for roadside help if you are unsure that you can avoid danger.
- Consult the owner’s manual. It should have directions for changing tires, including where the jacking point is.
- Bring out your spares and tools. Typically, they are kept in a compartment in the trunk. The jack should provide usage instructions as well.
- Make sure the jack is set up correctly. Ensure it is positioned correctly in the vehicle’s jacking point and is facing the right direction.
- Before jacking, loosen lug nuts by roughly a quarter turn.
- The car should be jacked up high enough so that the tire is off the ground.
- The lug nuts should be taken off and placed so they won’t roll away.
- Pull the flat tire off and place it behind the jack underneath your car, or if it’s too broad, try another position under the car. This is crucial in the event that the car slips off the jack.
- Make sure the valve stem is facing you as you install the spare.
- Hand-tighten the lug nuts while reinstalling them.
- Once the tire is in touch with the ground and partially loaded, lower the jack.
- To ensure that the wheel is properly installed, tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern rather than a circle pattern. This ensures that the wheel is straight and won’t pop into place while you’re driving, allowing some of the bolts to become loose and the vehicle to wobble, or worse, the nuts to break and the wheel to come off.
- The car should now be lowered all the way. You’re prepared to make a cautious trip to the nearest tire shop to get your regular tire changed or repaired.
Spares should only be driven for brief distances and at low speeds. Your spare tire’s speed rating can be lower than that of your primary tires. Have a tire specialist inspect your spare at the shop so that it is in working order for the next time you need it.