Car stands are common metal tools that are essential to ensure the safety of people who have to carry out work under vehicles. Keeping a car raised properly can make the difference between a good maintenance and a tragic accident. People who need to use tripods can follow simple instructions to avoid possible disasters.
Steps
Step 1. Find a flat work area
It is very dangerous to lift a vehicle on inclined or uneven ground; check that the surface is level, properly paved and offers strong support.
Step 2. Read the machine's user manual
It should contain general information about lifting the vehicle.
Step 3. Find the car's "curb weight" and make sure the jack stands are rated to withstand it
It is very important that the supports you use have been built and tested to safely withstand the weight of the car (or van); you can find these data in the maintenance booklet, online or on the sticker placed on the door pillar.
Step 4. Apply the parking brake
By doing so, you prevent the machine from moving while it is raised; also add wedges or wedges in front of and behind the wheels that are on the opposite side of the one you lift. This additional safety measure avoids any accidental movement of the vehicle; a car that sways forwards or backwards can fall off its stands causing a fatal injury. Warning:
the wedges are indispensable when you lift the rear wheels, because the parking brake does not generally act on the front ones; without the wedges the front tires can turn even if you have applied the handbrake.
Step 5. Use a jack to lift the car
Many vehicles are equipped with a standard tool (for example the parallelogram one) and a cross wrench which are supplied by the manufacturer, but which must only be used for the emergency change of a tire and not for maintenance work.; in the latter case, you need a pneumatic jack or a specific jack that is able to lift any type of vehicle. Never use jack stands on wet ground or very hot asphalt, as they can sink under the weight of the car and the car can fall.
Step 6. Install the jack stands under a sturdy, structural part of the frame
The maintenance manual should indicate which are the suitable points under which to insert the jack and supports; usually, there are small notches on the chassis, near the wheels, in correspondence with these anchors.
Make sure not to place the stands under elements that are not very strong, such as the floor of the passenger compartment, otherwise they could perforate the surface; It also avoids all moving parts, such as suspension components
Step 7. After inserting the first stand, repeat the procedure with the second on the other side of the machine
Experts recommend using at least two at the same height to support both sides of the car in a balanced way.
Step 8. Verify
Once the jack stands are properly positioned, push the car with your hands to make sure it doesn't move or sway. Apply pressure to both sides of the car and the back; if you notice any suspicious movements, change the position of the stands (after inserting the jack) to keep the structure stable.
Step 9. Add other security elements
Although kickstands and wedges offer good stability, it pays to overdo it when life is at stake. To do this, insert the jack under the body where it fits snugly, but does not have to bear weight (jack stands must continue to do this). You can also place the spare tire (fitted with a rim) or wooden blocks under the car, so that they block it in case it falls. Never use, for any reason, concrete blocks or bricks, as they can crumble under the weight of the machine.
Advice
- To avoid accidents, read information sources about the correct use of easels; you can do some research online to find a security "protocol". Before committing to a project that requires the use of these tools, make sure you understand all the responsibilities involved in lifting a car.
- Place other items under the vehicle to minimize the risks. Some mechanics recommend removing the wheels and placing them laterally under the chassis as an additional safety measure; alternatively, you can use solid blocks or any other sturdy material to complement the action of the trestles. When working under the body of a car, it is better to overdo it when it comes to safety.
Warnings
- Never perform maintenance work under a vehicle that is not well supported; it is one of the least safe practices in mechanical projects and should never be done. Using jack stands correctly eliminates some of the risks associated with these repairs.
- Always block the wheels on the opposite side to the one you are working on using wedges or wedges; jack stands are safer than jacks, but if the wheels are not secured, an accident can always happen, as the car can move and fall off the stands.
- Stand manufacturers provide these warnings: Use a pair of stands to support only one end of the car; use only one pair per vehicle; do not use them to support the front and rear of the machine at the same time; if you do not follow these instructions you could be the victim of injury and property damage.
