How to Use Jack Stands

Jack stands are a crucial part of any garage, whether you're a professional mechanic or a weekend warrior only interested in performing basic maintenance. Vehicles come with either a scissor or a bottle jack, and these are great to have in a pinch to change a flat tire, but for anything beyond roadside service, it is recommended to use jack stands. Jack stands (commonly referred to as just "stands") offer more strength than your conventional jack, and more stability, meaning the car is less likely to fall off of them while they are in use.

When using your stands, they must be placed in certain spots. These spots can be found in your vehicle's owner's manual, or more often than not can be pointed out by looking under the car. They most often appear as square cuts in the frame, making it easy to see where they line up the jack stands. Lift your vehicle with a floor jack, and place the stands under the lift points at both sides, adjusting them for the height you need to do your work. If you do not own a floor jack, you can use the bottle jack or scissor jack that comes with your vehicle. However, if you do this, you must raise one side of the car at a time and place stands individually, rather than lifting the whole vehicle and placing them together.

After your vehicle is safely resting on the stands, remove the floor jack so it isn't in your way while you're trying to do repairs. Then go to the bumper of the car closer to where your stands are and shake it. If the car shakes, be sure that your stands are under the correct and closest lift points, and adjust accordingly. It's always better to test and have the vehicle fall on its wheels than to fall on you. When working under the vehicle using jack stands, apply the emergency brake and put blocks behind wheels that touch the ground.

If the stands appear sturdy, you are clear to begin the repairs or maintenance on your vehicle.

Where to Buy Jack Stands
Available for about $20 and up, jack stands are a critical safety and convenience asset for many projects. When choosing stands, make sure they support enough weight for your vehicle and that your jack can raise the vehicle high enough to clear the minimum height of the stands. If you need a good jack, consider buying a hydraulic jack sold as a package deal with the stands for an extra $30 more or so.

Many stores have websites offering specifications and pictures of their product. Some store websites even allow you to find the store nearest you to verify if a particular model is in stock. If not, you can order it online for delivery.

Auto parts franchise chains abound, including Pep Boys, Advance, Kragen, Checker, AutoZone and NAPA. Look for advertisement leaflets displayed at the store entrance for special sales on jack stands and other equipment. Also visit home equipment warehouse stores like Home Depot and Lowes. Some Deportment stores such as Sears have substantial automotive tool sections which include jack stands. Hardware and tool stores provide another source. Ace offers several models as does Harbor Freight Tools, for example.

Online trading accounts provide a source for jack stands as well. People with eBay accounts can find jack stands online, but the bidding process, of course, takes time.

Whatever location you buy from, take a few minutes to read the safety instructions. Since the jack stands are protecting your body from thousands of pounds of metal, inspect them to ensure they're free of defects. Practice locking the stands in place properly.