Making repairs on your car can be such a grueling process. You have to be underneath the vehicle for a long time. In order to do the best you can, you must be in a safe and secure environment. You do not want to worry about your safety in addition to trying to get your car in top shape. You therefore need to learn how to use a car jack safely.
What is a Car Jack?
Floor jacks are important tools when it comes to lifting your vehicle. They ensure that the vehicle comes off the ground and is suspended at a height that allows you to do repairs or maintenance. There are different types of floor jacks. They include piston, hydraulic and scissor jacks, depending on the type of work your car requires. The safety procedures for using each jack are widely similar.
Pick a Flat Surface
The first thing that you need to do is to pick a flat surface. If you use a jack to lift your car on a slanted or a tilted surface there is a high likelihood that it will tip over and fall. This could lead to damages on your car or even bodily harm. With the former, you might be able to replace car parts but for bodily harm, it will take a lot of medical bills and recovery time before you are back on your feet. If you have to use an uneven surface, then it would be best to use a bottle jack although this is not entirely safe.
Always Use Parking Brakes
Once you have parked your car on a flat surface, you need to ensure that it will not move as you lift it up. In order to prevent the car from rolling away, engage the parking brakes after you have parked it. This will not be enough. You will still need to use wheel chocks underneath your wheels to ensure that they do not have space to move about.
Using Jack Stands
While floor jacks are designed to lift vehicles, they are not designed to support the weight of the vehicle for long periods of time. They can easily give in and lead to the car collapsing. This is why you need High quality best jack stand. These are stands that are placed beneath the vehicle once you have already lifted it up. They support the vehicle and its weight ensuring that it does not collapse once you are underneath carrying out your replacement or repairs. Like floor jacks, jack stands have weight ratings. You should get floor jacks and jack stands that support the weight of your vehicle. If you get jack stands that support less weight, they could give in and cause the car to collapse which can be fatal if you are already underneath the car. Always ensure that you test the stability of the car before going underneath. To do this, try to rock the car gently with your hands after placing the stands and removing your floor jack.
