Many times, in order to do maintenance on cars, they must be lifted. You must lift your automobile, whether it’s to rotate the tires, change the oil, bleed or service the brakes, or inspect the exhaust catalyst. Whatever the cause, not every automobile owner can afford to purchase a car lift.
So, how to work under a car without a lift?
The good news is that there are a few things you can do to help achieve the boost you need so you may work on your automobile in safety and comfort. You can work beneath your car without a lift by reading on if you’re an inquisitive soul.
Car ramps, garage pits, Jacks, and axle stands are simple, uncomplicated, and reasonably priced options. Safety measures, a set of wheel chocks, wheel spanners, a Jack, and a few axle stands are needed to complete the task.
In this article, we’ll go over in great detail how to operate underneath a car without a lift and safety precautions to take.
How To Work Under A Car Without A Lift?
There are various techniques to boost your car without a lift, as I have said. The methods to work underneath a car without a lift are listed below.
Changing-Oil Ramps
Ramps for changing oil are often composed of resin. They are made to lift only a few inches, giving you a small amount of access to the engine’s underneath.
These are excellent for performing small repairs and maintenance like oil changes, but they are less useful for larger repairs. They also don’t provide much assistance for accessing the rest of the underbelly of your car.
An oil change ramp’s benefits include affordability, portability, and ease of usage. Some drawbacks include limited use and the potential for sliding when your automobile is backed up over them on a smooth surface. Be cautious!
Normal Slope
You can utilize that to lift your automobile if you’re able to or if you’re in a location with naturally inclined slopes. If you’re in a pinch, a ditch will do. This may even be a curb or a little hill.
Drive at an angle onto the slope if you need to raise one of the wheels. This will provide you the necessary leverage. Driving upward or backward at an angle that only elevates the portion of the car you need to work on will raise the back or front wheels.
This approach is the most affordable, but it would be a good idea to keep a list of your instruments, especially if the location is far from your home.
Jack And Jack Stands
This is one of the earliest and most straightforward methods for raising an automobile without a lift. Because jacks are standard equipment on all automobiles, automakers are aware of their importance. They have a variety of applications. Using jacks and axle stands will be demonstrated.
Parking on a level, sturdy surface is the most important safety precaution to take while using jack stands and jacks. The jacks and axle stands will be less likely to fall off as a result of this.
Track down the jack points. Jacking points are present on every make and model of vehicle. The jacking points should be located before you begin lifting your car. Consult your ancient, dusty handbook if you’re having trouble finding it. What position to put your jack and stand in is described in the instructions.
Pay attention to the directions on where to set up the axle supports and jack. Pay attention to the jack capacity restrictions as well as the weight of your car. Follow the guidelines in your owner’s manual carefully and lift your car using supports and jacks that are rated correctly if you want to know how to jack a car up high.
Put together your lifting equipment. If you’re working on all the wheels, I suggest lifting them two at a time. In other words, start with the two front wheels and then, after finishing the front wheels, continue to the back.
Get your jacks, jack stands, and wheel chocks ready. Block the opposite wheel if you are working on one of the front or back wheels.
In any event, you must use caution if you want to elevate all four wheels at once. Start with the opposing rear wheel and one front wheel. Don’t save money on jack stands by supporting two wheels with a single axle stand. Ensure that each wheel has one axle stand.
Put your gear lever in low gear or the park position to block the wheel. After that, block off the wheel on the side you wish to work on, or if you’re working on the front wheels, block off the two back wheels. When working on the back wheels, do the exact opposite.
Find reliable jacking and supporting points before lifting your car. Lifting the opposing side will ensure that both wheels are at the same height when working on just one. Obtain a sturdy jack stand and hold both wheels steady.
Use an excellent axle stand to support the car. Make sure the opposing wheel rises to the same height. In other words, the height of the two front wheels should be equal. The back wheels are the same way. Always order your stands in pairs.
Lower the car slowly after setting the jack stands on the supporting points until the entire weight is evenly distributed among the jack stands. Use a pair of jacks to make sure the front and back wheels are supported.
Look over the jack stands. Make sure they are evenly supported by the car. Move the automobile around a little. Consider raising the wheel again and properly resetting the jack stand if you see any movement.
Regardless of your degree of skill, whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, a beginning mechanic, or a petrolhead, you should be aware that keeping a car on two or more jack stands unevenly might turn a simple brake system bleeding into a catastrophe. Prior to beginning work, you must adequately support the vehicle.
Despite being great and well-known and being accessible to everybody, jack and jack stands have safety concerns. Be careful, then!
Air Lifting Bag
Pneumatic jacks and air lifting bags both employ the same technique. Typically, they are inflated and have a little pillow-like shape. Simply place the bag beneath your wheel to get started. You can always stack many bags on top of one another if you need more lift.
Air Hydraulic Jack
An air hydraulic jack is a different technique that can be employed. This kind of jack raises by utilizing the force generated in an attached hydraulic cylinder.
We don’t advise getting one of these if you don’t already have one or have much need for it, similar to some of the other techniques listed before.
Safe Notes When Work Under A Car
To protect your own safety, whether you are an undercarriage repairman or simply an owner, you must pay attention to the following issues:
- Choosing the suitable equipment for the size of the vehicle, if utilized incorrectly, can easily result in a crash, posing a threat.
- To enhance safety during automotive maintenance, choose a strong position when using vehicle support equipment.
- Before beginning with the repair, make sure the handbrake is pulled and the wheels are securely fastened.
- When performing, lift jacks and racks in flat positions to minimize tilting, sliding, and falling.
- When utilizing a 2-post lift in a garage, shake the vehicle when it is 1m off the ground to ensure that it is securely in place. Care must be taken when disassembling vehicle parts so that the vehicle does not lose its balance.
- When repairing parts such as trailers, you must have a full set of supplementary support equipment on hand to avoid the cockpit or trailer being overturned and creating an accident.
- To avoid the danger of respiratory and ocular problems, wear glasses and masks when exposed to automobile fumes or other toxic pollutants.
- It is advisable to utilize an exhaust gas extraction system or perform repairs in a well-ventilated area with good air circulation before starting the engine.
- When working with poisonous solutions or liquids, wear rubber gloves and wash your hands with soap afterward.
- To maintain safety during auto maintenance, avoid asbestos-containing parts such as clutches, brake systems, and seals. Users should also use a specialist air cleaner or clean them with a moist cloth.
- Do not beat the brake drum or spray it with a high-pressure hose, since this will distribute asbestos dust into the air.
Read more: Driving Cars In Winter Without Heat
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long can you leave a car on a scissor jack?
Your vehicle could be propped up on jack stands for days, weeks, months, or even years. As long as your vehicle is jacked on a flat surface, it will be alright. One thing to keep in mind is that it is preferable to leave your vehicle jacked on concrete rather than asphalt; because asphalt is softer, your jack stands may leave a mark if left for an extended period of time.
Q: Can you use a jack without jack stands?
When performing any maintenance underneath your car, jack stands are a requirement. You could suffer severe injuries or possibly lose your life if you don’t. Vehicles that were not properly secured have fallen on people, killing them. Never jack up a car without stopping it from rolling by blocking the wheels.
Final Thoughts
We demonstrated how to work under a car without a lift. Finally, the alternative to a jack and jack stands was discussed along with the safety precautions that should be followed. If you were wondering how to get your hands dirty underneath a car without a lift, we hope this article has provided the information you need.