Car jacks are designed to assist in lifting the weight of a vehicle and are a staple in any repair shop. Whether you are a professional mechanic, or just want to work on your own vehicle, jacks serve you well in a variety of applications…
Working under your vehicle will also necessitate professional-grade car jack parts, and axle stands to work safely.
Read this guide to read more about the different types of car jacks you can use in your garage.
What is a Car Jack?
These days we can get car spare parts and tools at any shop with ease. As the “DIY” continues to grow, it is equally important to discuss the proper way to do the work.
Eventually, a car is a piece of complex machinery and should be treated with the appropriate level of efficiency.
A car jack is another tool that is used the majority of the time for any given repair situation. One of the most common reasons for employing a car jack is to change tires. However, if you are removing any part of the car, you have to put down that part, and in most cases a car jack is required.
The jack is designed to handle the weight of a vehicle, allowing you to get a true view of what is going on under the body. As a result of working under a vehicle, you will also need quality car jack parts and axle stands to ensure proper safety.
It is always useful to have a car jack in your garage. There does seem to be some confusion about how to use a car jack, why they need it and when are they used.
Before you learn about how to operate a car jack, you must first learn about the different kinds of jacks.
Definition of Car Jack
A jack is a machine that is used to lift the car with its hydraulic power. It allows you to change the tire or do any maintenance work.
How Car Jack Works? Its Mechanism
Car jacks operate in three main ways: mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic. I will briefly discuss each below.
#1. Mechanical jacks.
These jacks lift a car using a mechanical method. A car mechanical jack will have a lifting screw, or a ratcheting system to crawl the car up gradually.
To make it clear, when i.e. a screw jack unit is operated, the worm shaft rotation also turns the worm gear.
The lead screw is attached to the worm gear are going to rotate the screw jack at the same rotational speed. While rotating, the worm gear rotation puts friction forces on the screw thread, which turns the nut.
#2. Hydraulic jacks.
Hydraulic jacks use hydraulic cylinders horizontally, or vertically, to lift large items. A hydraulic jack consists of a cylinder and reservoir with oil inside, pressurized oil pushes the cylinder up.
#3. Pneumatic jacks.
Pneumatic jacks are heavy equipment, powered by compressed air, that easily lifts, and places heavy materials, and machinery. Compressed air is pneumatic power which converts electrical power to mechanical power via compressed air.
Pneumatic jacks are interchangeable also known as telescope jacks are prevalent in many heavy machined maintenance fields. Pneumatic jacks are primarily used to lift buses, trucks, and construction vehicles. They are not used on small vehicles.
Types of Car Jacks
Following are the types of car jacks:
- Floor jacks
- Bottle jacks
- Farm jacks
- Scissor jacks
- Trolley jack
#1. Floor Jacks.
Floor jacks are the most commonly recommended type of car jack to use for car repair because of their low-profile design.
Floor jacks are designed to lift the vehicle whenever you working under the car. These jacks are often hydraulic jacks.
These jacks often have heavy steel wheels to roll under the car. The hydraulics of the floor jack allow you to gradually lift a portion of the vehicle by simply using a hand lever. Some models of this type of jack may have a release valve on the top of the handle.
These jacks are extremely durable, and you do not need much experience in using them. Because of the simple design, they are also useful for lighter construction projects.
#2. Bottle Jacks.
These types of hydraulic jacks look similar to a bottle that has a long, cylindrical body. Bottle jacks can hold more weight and lift the vehicle higher compared to an average floor jack.
Bottle jacks have an end of a pump handle, and/or an air compressor attachment at the top, which can lift anywhere from 4 tones to 50 tones depending on the manufacturing process.
Bottle jacks have high initial clearance, which can make them more challenging to use on smaller vehicles. Bottle jacks are more economical than floor jacks.
#3. Farm Jacks.
While farm jacks are often used for farming purposes, you don’t need to be a farmer or use it on a tractor to use one. Many people use them for their off-roading vehicles and high-clearance trucks.
Farm jacks are useful when you need to get a vehicle out of the mud. They can lift the car to about 5 feet off the ground, and you can easily throw them in the back of a big vehicle. Farm jacks are also known as high-lift jacks. They are useful as a pulley or clamp and can sometimes be useful in other situations as an all-purpose jack.
#4. Scissor Jacks.
Scissor jacks are not as important, but they are the standard or common and simple jacks, and they are mostly used on smaller cars with the least amount of lift. They are small and portable and can fit into a compact space.
Scissor jacks are the standard mechanical jacks and use a screw mechanism, so when you lift the car with a screw, you can use the jack to lift or support the car.
Depending on the taste test, the lift height is low, from 15-inches to 30-inches.
A scissor jack is safe, especially compared to a high-lift jack or farm jack that requires more skill and care to operate. Scissor jacks are light and not a heavy tool compared to a floor jack.
#5. Trolley Jack.
Trolley jacks are uplift jacks with the capacity of up to 4 tons; a trolley jack can roll in dirt and gravel. Trolley jacks have a braking mechanism on the jack, making it maybe the safest jack to use.
When you lift a trolley jack handle, you are pumping oil into the pump cylinder. As you lower the jack handle, you are now pushing that pressurized oil towards the main cylinder. The main cylinder is the piston that lifts. Trolley jacks are mostly used for automotive repair.
How To Use Car Jacks
Follow these important steps for the correct use of car jacks:
#1. Park and Secure the Car.
Your first task is to park your car on the ground on a strong surface. And use wheel wedges or blocks of wood or bricks to block the bottom wheels so it does not move on its own. Further, apply the emergency brake so it does not roll.
#2. Position and Raise the Jack.
Now, use car jacks, and ensure that they have enough weight limit to lift the vehicle. If your car jack is a mechanical type, insert the rod and crank, which lifts the jack until it connects with the car’s lift point.
If it is a hydraulic type, place the hand to the body of the jack and lightly pump the handle, which lifts the hydraulic jack until it comes in contact with the car’s frame.
#3. Position the Jack Stands.
Position the jack stand on the underside of the car frame where the jack is positioned. When using a jack stand, place it under the jacking point, then adjusted to the height of the jack stand, place a pin or screw to lock it according the directions.
Once your jack stand is in place, slowly lower the car to the jack stand.
#4. Lower the Car.
While the vehicle is at rest, remove the jack and provide a light push against the jack stand to confirm that it is applied to the jack stands and securely hold the car. If you are done with your work, use the jack to raise the vehicle an inch or two to remove the jack stand.
To lower the car, turn the jack handle or crank counterclockwise, slowly lowering it to the ground. Finally, remove the wheel chocks or wedges.
Safety Precautions of Car Jacks
- Keep in mind that a car jack should only lift the car off the ground and should never be used for an extended period of time.
- If you are planning to work under a vehicle, then you should use a jack stand. If you only use one jack, this is not enough. The car jack is only safe when you are turning the wheel.
- Always place bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks behind the wheels of a car to keep it from rolling.
- Always Park the car on level ground. Once you park, set the handbrake before lifting the car. This should prevent the wheels from rolling.
- Remember that changing tires along the highway is NEVER recommended.
- When you choose a car jack and jack stand, always choose a jack with the capacity according to the weight of the car.
Conclusion
As I said before, a car jack is an essential tool required when working under a vehicle. When you choose a jack, the ‘jack capacity’ has to be according to the vehicle you are servicing.
Instructions for vehicle jack size differ, but a good rule is to choose a jack rated for at least 3/4 of your vehicle weight.