A jack is an essential tool for every vehicle owner, as it allows you to lift your car off the ground for maintenance and repair work. Whether you need to change a flat tire, perform an oil change, or make other repairs, having a jack and knowing how to use it properly is crucial. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps of using a jack for your vehicle, so you can feel confident and prepared next time you need to perform maintenance or make repairs.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools and Supplies
Before you begin, make sure that you have all the tools and supplies that you need. You’ll need your jack, a lug wrench, a wheel chock, and a jack stand. The wheel chock is a wedge-shaped block that you place behind one of the wheels to prevent your vehicle from rolling while it’s lifted off the ground. The jack stand is a support that you place under your car once it’s lifted, to keep it in place and prevent it from falling back to the ground.
Step 2: Choose a Safe and Level Location
Choose a safe and level location to perform your maintenance or repairs. Make sure that the ground is solid and stable, and avoid using the jack on soft or uneven surfaces. If you need to change a tire, it’s best to do so on a flat, paved surface. If you’re performing other maintenance or repairs, make sure that your vehicle is parked on a level surface and that the wheels are straight.
Step 3: Block the Wheels
Next, place the wheel chocks behind the wheels to prevent your vehicle from rolling while it’s lifted off the ground. Place the chocks behind both the front and back wheels on the opposite side of the vehicle from where you’ll be jacking it up. This will help to ensure that your vehicle remains stable while it’s lifted.
Step 4: Locate the Jack Points
Before you begin to lift your vehicle, it’s important to locate the jack points on your vehicle. The jack points are specific locations on your vehicle where the jack can be safely used to lift the car off the ground. The jack points are usually located near the wheels and are reinforced with metal to support the weight of the vehicle. Check your vehicle owner’s manual to find the jack points on your specific make and model.
Step 5: Position the Jack
Once you’ve located the jack points, place the jack in the correct position. Make sure that the jack is centered over the jack point and that the arm of the jack is in line with the center of the tire. Slowly start to pump the jack handle to lift the vehicle off the ground. Keep pumping until the tire is off the ground, but be careful not to lift the vehicle too high, as this could cause it to become unstable.
Step 6: Place the Jack Stand
Once the vehicle is off the ground, place the jack stand under the vehicle and make sure that it’s in the correct position. The jack stand should be placed under a solid, reinforced part of the vehicle, such as the frame or a suspension component. Make sure that the jack stand is secure and stable, and that it’s not likely to tip over or shift while you’re working on your vehicle.
Step 7: Use the Lug Wrench to Remove the Tire
Once the vehicle is supported by the jack stand, you can use the lug wrench to remove the tire. Loosen the lug nuts while the tire is still on the ground, and then remove them completely once the tire is off the ground. If the lug nuts are tight, use the lug wrench to turn them counterclockwise to loosen them. Once the lug nuts are removed, you can remove the tire.
