Which floor jack and stands?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Which floor jack and stands?
Ok...I really want to buy a floor jack and some stands so I can do a few things to the car. I posted in the past and seems everyone has a recommendation on which floor jack and stands to purchase...now im ready to buy so ...I dont want to spend mega $$$ on these and have seen package combos to buy relatively cheap....
Im lookin at Sears , as they have a good selection..anyone have one? Costco?? Etc??? What kind do you have or recommend..thanks alot!
Im lookin at Sears , as they have a good selection..anyone have one? Costco?? Etc??? What kind do you have or recommend..thanks alot!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 252
Likes: 2
From: lancaster pa
I bought a low profile floor jack at harbour freight,good price,I forget the price but I remember it was cheap.Check their website.Their stuff is not the highest quality available but we don't use this stuff everyday to make a living with
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,742
Likes: 1
From: Middletown de
I got mine from my local farm and tractor supply store. The jack is a light weight 1 1/2 pump jack that was 120 bucks and the stands were like 30 bucks. I dont know if that is a good price or not but seemed relatively close to my local auto parts store. I stayed away from the wally world stuff. Good luck!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Avoid the jack stands sold at H F. they are Chinese, and the quality looks really horrible.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
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I saw a nice set at Sears Auto that I might go back and get. I already have a low profile jack, so I'm more interested in the stands.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 1
From: LEBANON PA.
Hi There:
I,am looking at a sears flyer that the sale ended on 5/28/09.They will have this sale again for the 4th of july. For $99.99 you get a craftsman 3-ton floor jack with stands (2) and a 36" red creeper.
What I have is the big red by torin 3ton floor jack (well made pretty heavy). I bought this at Pep Boys for $50 life time warrenty a few years back.In 06 I bought a 3ton Black jack by torin professional low profile series 3.3" to 17.72" at Walmart for $72. I like the low profile as I can jack the vette using the pucks without the car being on a wooden platform/ block.When I want to use both jacks to raise the car evenly.I have to use a 2x12 under one wheel as the torin big red is too high to fit under the puck. I f I have a helper( a spotter) than I use the brute race ramps & drive right up & no stands required in the front.I use the low profile with a 2x6 & center it on the frame then raise both rear wheels up together then lower on blocks & stands. I work on other peoples vettes so I like the added safety of using 3 ton jacks. Never had any close calls
robsc501
I,am looking at a sears flyer that the sale ended on 5/28/09.They will have this sale again for the 4th of july. For $99.99 you get a craftsman 3-ton floor jack with stands (2) and a 36" red creeper.
What I have is the big red by torin 3ton floor jack (well made pretty heavy). I bought this at Pep Boys for $50 life time warrenty a few years back.In 06 I bought a 3ton Black jack by torin professional low profile series 3.3" to 17.72" at Walmart for $72. I like the low profile as I can jack the vette using the pucks without the car being on a wooden platform/ block.When I want to use both jacks to raise the car evenly.I have to use a 2x12 under one wheel as the torin big red is too high to fit under the puck. I f I have a helper( a spotter) than I use the brute race ramps & drive right up & no stands required in the front.I use the low profile with a 2x6 & center it on the frame then raise both rear wheels up together then lower on blocks & stands. I work on other peoples vettes so I like the added safety of using 3 ton jacks. Never had any close calls
robsc501
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Southwest Kansas
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I bought the Harbor Freight 1 1/2 ton aluminum "racing" jack on sale for $79. It goes under the car without driving up on 2x stock, and I even have room to use the "jacking pucks" I made. Like someone said, maybe the quality isn't what some others are, but for my use it is great.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,062
Likes: 103
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
i believe mine cost me around $60.00. it has a 20" max lift height and has been dependable. i've owned it (and used it) for about 3 years now.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 132
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I bought the Sears (alum & steel) and really liked it until a couple months ago when it started slowly coming down (always use stands, but didn't lower weight onto the stands). Now it doesn't even want to raise the car. Looks like a seal is leaking. Really disappointed as it is only 2-3 yrs. old.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 20
From: Santa Fe TX
I have a pair of 3 ton stand (I think also craftsman) but I like my 2-ton aluminum ones from harbor freight more. Just need the 3 ton ones now and then for bigger jobs.
Mine has never leaked down, but I
a) always lower at least some of the weight onto the stands
b) don't use it more than twice a month. It's 5-6 years old.
I used two hockey pucks and an eyebolt for my pucks. I like the cushion of the pucks
Last edited by jedblanks; Jun 4, 2009 at 02:04 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
For 6 years now I've been using the same Harbor Freight aluminum racing jack (low profile), 4 craftsman jackstands, and 4 18" 2x10s to do everything.
Also very helpful is having rocker rails. I can put a jack right in the center of the side of the car and jack it up to change wheels one side at a time.
To get the car in the air I either drive on the boards first or if I'm in the garage I use the rocker rails to jack it up on each side and put the boards under the tires. Then I jack up the front and rear using the sub-frames (using a board to span the ribs) and put the jackstands on the subframes.
Also very helpful is having rocker rails. I can put a jack right in the center of the side of the car and jack it up to change wheels one side at a time.
To get the car in the air I either drive on the boards first or if I'm in the garage I use the rocker rails to jack it up on each side and put the boards under the tires. Then I jack up the front and rear using the sub-frames (using a board to span the ribs) and put the jackstands on the subframes.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
ALL GREAT info...now this will be my first time jacking my 04 coupe...basically I just want to do a few things with it...I want to take the wheels off to install my side racemesh screens...also paint my calipers....perhaps if not too much a pain, to install new drilled n slotted rotors.......ANY advice on the actual JACKING process would be great now as well...any tricks, precautions etc...step by step...anything and everything...VERY much appreciated my brothers!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
Jack
I bought the Harbor Freight 1 1/2 ton aluminum "racing" jack on sale for $79. It goes under the car without driving up on 2x stock, and I even have room to use the "jacking pucks" I made. Like someone said, maybe the quality isn't what some others are, but for my use it is great.
Which one did you go with/is best. I see four. They are all different heights. Which ones will fit under a 2004 C5? I'd like a new jack for my C4 that can also get under dad's C5.
ITEM 91039-9VGA $99.99 3" to 14 3/4" 3000 lb
ITEM 96562-3VGA $119.99 3 3/8" to 14 3/4" 3000 lb
ITEM 40105-1VGA $159.99 3 1/2" to 17 1/2" 3000 lb
ITEM 92782-1VGA $179.99 3 1/4 to 18 1/4" 4000 lb
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Jack the front up using the crossmember below... make sure you use a board so the jack pad spans both ribs of the crossmember. Place the jackstands as shown below. Then do the same in the rear. If you're trying to go high make sure you do it in stages... lift the front a little, then do the rear, then raise the front some more, then balance out the rear.
Front:
Rear:
Front:
Rear:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Here's another angle... right where it says "Front Mounting Brackets" is where you want to jack from. You can see the 2 "ribs" of the crossmember here... just want to make sure the jack pad touches them both. All pics have been taken from www.ls1howto.com which is a great resource.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Ok Im looking at 2 low profile jacks on Harbour Freight right now.....one is rapid pump one is not.....one has a minimum 3" saddle height..the other is 3.5" saddle height.....both are 3000lb capacity...few other minor differences..rotating pad, things like that......one is priced at $99...the other $149
Any advice??
Any advice??