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Old 03-14-2005, 12:00 AM   #1
Riot Type WRX
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Default Using Jackstands

I bought two pairs of jackstands so that over the summer I can get to know my car a lot better by working on it. My brother, who does a lot more work on cars than I do gave me a *** look when he saw I had 4 jack stands. He said I can't use all 4 at the same time, and I need a special jack (floorjack) to raise the car up to slide jack stands under.

Is it true I can't have the car up supported by 4 jackstands at the same time? Do I really need a floorjack? Or can I use the stock jack?

<--- newb

p.s. also, if anyone has any reading on properly jacking a car up, would be much appreicated
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Old 03-14-2005, 12:24 AM   #2
nick04263
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I wouldn't recommend using the "came with car jack" to get your car up on 4 stands. I don't trust the stock jack to change a tire. But you certainly can put your car up on 4 stands (assuming you got 4 that are of quality). Get a nice floor jack (doesn't have to be that expensive but capable of lifting your car to a desired height. Lift using the jack plate in the front and the rear diff in the back. I recommend using the subframe in the front or the area right behind the subframe for the front jacks and a sturdy area right in front of the rear tires (near the factory jack locations found in your manual) for the rear stands. You won't have to look far. Also, I would recommend using a block of wood between each stand and the car. It will absorb most of the stress and reduce the risk of metal scarring. Just my .02 cents.
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Old 03-14-2005, 12:28 AM   #3
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The stands hold 6 tonnes each, so I think I'm in the clear. All good advice, thanks for the tips. I'll probably borrow a floor jack from my neighbor or Advanced Autoparts, they rent out some tools.

Only think I'm nervous about are the jacking points. The manual indicates notched areas, but for the life of me I can't find the notched areas ...
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Old 03-14-2005, 12:44 AM   #4
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....get a set of Rhino ramps...they are FAR more convenient than stands...you cah drive either end of the car on ramps, and other than struts, most suspension work needs the wheels loaded anyway....and buy DECENT floor jack....and you can jack the rear by the diff, no worries.
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Old 03-14-2005, 01:32 AM   #5
Guru Imakuni
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Scotty
....get a set of Rhino ramps...they are FAR more convenient than stands...you cah drive either end of the car on ramps, and other than struts, most suspension work needs the wheels loaded anyway....and buy DECENT floor jack....and you can jack the rear by the diff, no worries.
These types of ramps? Looks pretty dangerous like the car could roll off of them?
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Old 03-14-2005, 01:34 AM   #6
fogdor
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Hehe, get the LOOOOONG rhino ramps. I must be chicken, but I burned my clutch badly trying to get up a steep set of cheesy metal ramps (I didn't wanna gun it TOO hard and drive over the end of them...)
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Old 03-14-2005, 01:48 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guru Imakuni
These types of ramps? Looks pretty dangerous like the car could roll off of them?
Damn, I might just return one set and get a pair of those.
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Old 03-14-2005, 09:17 AM   #8
Team_ky
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double post
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Old 03-14-2005, 09:18 AM   #9
ff45726
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I really dont like using ramps. I have an old project vw i work on and always use stands becaues it gets the car a lot higher then most ramps. Also, when you are by yourself its hard to safely get your car on the ramps. Had one crash of them once
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Old 03-14-2005, 10:05 AM   #10
SchnorrCS
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I have jack stands and ramps, and I find myself using the ramps alot. However, my car is lowered and I can't drive up them. Here's my solution to getting the car in the air...
1) Use cheesey stock jack to jack the car up high enough to get the floor jack under it
2) Use floor jack and jack plate to jack car way up in the air
3) Slide ramps in under the wheels.

Takes like 15 minutes just to jack the car up.....
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Old 03-14-2005, 10:43 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Guru Imakuni
These types of ramps? Looks pretty dangerous like the car could roll off of them?
Not dangerous at all. The incline is so gradual that you'd pretty much have to be an idiot and gun the throttle to go past the stops. Lots of people have used ramps like the one's pictured. Most people use Rhino ramps.

Calvin
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Old 03-14-2005, 10:43 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fogdor
Hehe, get the LOOOOONG rhino ramps. I must be chicken, but I burned my clutch badly trying to get up a steep set of cheesy metal ramps (I didn't wanna gun it TOO hard and drive over the end of them...)
I am going to get a set of these tonight. I won't feel too safe under my car on jack stands under the control arms doing the sway bars.
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Old 03-14-2005, 10:45 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchnorrCS
I have jack stands and ramps, and I find myself using the ramps alot. However, my car is lowered and I can't drive up them. Here's my solution to getting the car in the air...
1) Use cheesey stock jack to jack the car up high enough to get the floor jack under it
2) Use floor jack and jack plate to jack car way up in the air
3) Slide ramps in under the wheels.

Takes like 15 minutes just to jack the car up.....
Why waste your time like that? Just get some wood to put in front of the ramps. Drive up on the wood to give you more clearance and then up the ramp.

Calvin
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Old 03-14-2005, 11:13 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cnk
Why waste your time like that? Just get some wood to put in front of the ramps. Drive up on the wood to give you more clearance and then up the ramp.

Calvin

Exactly . . . if not even using ramps, drive up on a block of wood 2x4, then you can get a regular jack underneath it
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Old 03-14-2005, 11:37 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobby d
I am going to get a set of these tonight. I won't feel too safe under my car on jack stands under the control arms doing the sway bars.
your suspension needs to be loaded when you change a sway bar anyways (i.e. ramps, or no lift...not jack stands)...I changed my rear sway with out any lift or ramps...it's not hard at all...took like 20 minutes...
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Old 03-14-2005, 12:02 PM   #16
districtlogic
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get the floor stands. There solid metal with close to no moving parts, jack stand are all about going up and back down. Use the jack stand if you do a quick job (45min) anything else use the floor jacks. I happen to know someone who's car dropped on him using jack stand (he's ok now)
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Old 03-14-2005, 12:15 PM   #17
Synx
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Holy ish ^^^^

Did a tooth snap off and drop on him or what?
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Old 03-14-2005, 12:23 PM   #18
DetroitWRX
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I don’t like the Rhino Ramps they are to light and when I try to drive up them they move on me. The old school metal ones are better and don't move as much but they do no fit under our lower than old school cars.

I just use a jack.. I can just barely get my Craftsman 3.5 ton jack under my car and rise it up in the front. In the back no problem. For jack stands I use the point right at the end of the sub frame and the rear body mounts as locations for the stands.

After going to Sno-Drift want rally jack-stand mounts on my car. Those are cool as hell and are a no brainier to getting perfectly stable car up high every time.
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Old 03-14-2005, 01:06 PM   #19
bobby d
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DetroitWRX
I don’t like the Rhino Ramps they are to light and when I try to drive up them they move on me. The old school metal ones are better and don't move as much but they do no fit under our lower than old school cars.

I just use a jack.. I can just barely get my Craftsman 3.5 ton jack under my car and rise it up in the front. In the back no problem. For jack stands I use the point right at the end of the sub frame and the rear body mounts as locations for the stands.

After going to Sno-Drift want rally jack-stand mounts on my car. Those are cool as hell and are a no brainier to getting perfectly stable car up high every time.
See, I have just the oppisite happen to me. With my experience the metal ones I have fly out while getting on or off the ramps.
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Old 03-14-2005, 01:08 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BluprlW05
your suspension needs to be loaded when you change a sway bar anyways (i.e. ramps, or no lift...not jack stands)...I changed my rear sway with out any lift or ramps...it's not hard at all...took like 20 minutes...
If you put the stands under the rear control arms it will be loaded.
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Old 03-14-2005, 01:11 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobby d
If you put the stands under the rear control arms it will be loaded.


...if you do that they WILL bend.

DO NOT do this.
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Old 03-14-2005, 01:13 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cnk
Not dangerous at all. The incline is so gradual that you'd pretty much have to be an idiot and gun the throttle to go past the stops. Lots of people have used ramps like the one's pictured. Most people use Rhino ramps.

Calvin
.....
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Old 03-14-2005, 01:21 PM   #23
Robin2
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I use these ramps (made from old tires) by EZ Rizer rubber car ramp:



they're good for 12000lbs.....

Robin
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Old 03-14-2005, 04:38 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Riot Type WRX
I'll probably borrow a floor jack from my neighbor or Advanced Autoparts, they rent out some tools.

Only think I'm nervous about are the jacking points. The manual indicates notched areas, but for the life of me I can't find the notched areas ...

Don't need to rent one. A 2 ton floor jack can run $20 at WalMart. Use it to jack the car up. Set your jacks under the car and lower the lift. Leave a little pressure on the lift.

Be careful using the "notched areas" on the car. You need to have a jack that has a notch indentation in order to support the car correctly.

Do a search for "jacks" under the Maintenance forum. Set of instructions and pictures.
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Old 03-16-2005, 12:37 AM   #25
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The "search" idea is a very good one. There are a number of threads (maybe even a forum sticky link) on where the easiest jack points are when using a floor jack (hint: they are not the "notched" areas).
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