Jacking and Lifting

**j nix** · 09-27-2010, 04:57 PM

Before you start reading, I just have to say, I know this is a stupid question. I just haven't ever been under my vehicle when it was on all jack stands. I am changing my trans gasket and fluid. 2 questions. Is it safe to go under our car when it is on all stands? And where do you put the jacks? I am asking because I notice indentations in the frame where I have been putting them. Oh and 1 more question. Is it ok to leave our car jacked up with the wheels hanging for a week?
Any help would be great. I want to make it back out from under neath my car after this. Stupid I know.

**Cutlass** · 09-27-2010, 05:52 PM

http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...ift_points.htm
If you support the car properly with jack stands, then yes it is very safe. Just don't crawl under a car supported by only a hydraulic floor jack. They can suddenly collapse or tip over.
You can leave the car in the air with the wheels hanging down for years without problems.

**blue02Z** · 09-27-2010, 06:02 PM

cutlass hit it all. if you look right under your car you'll see cutouts on the body and even parts of the unibody to set the jacks.

**j nix** · 09-27-2010, 07:07 PM

I have four 3 ton jack stands. I put them under a 2-3 inch wide part of the underbody that is box shaped, yet 2' long and has holes cut out along the bottom of it. I think it is the frame. I bumped and shook the car a little and it didn"t budge.

**FORD RECOVERY EXPERT** · 09-27-2010, 07:48 PM

Should be good.... I do my best to push the car over before trusting it. If it passes that test, on all rigid stands (no hydraulics) then you should be good to go.

**Lunatikgixxer** · 09-27-2010, 08:57 PM

yes dont go under the car if its on a hydraulic jack, even if im only going underneath the car for a minute or 2 to inspect something i stick a jack stand under it and let it down a tad bit until its resting halfway on the jack stand and halfway on the hydraulic jack.

**0rion** · 09-27-2010, 09:25 PM

I put the stands under the lower A-arms up front and under the axle in the rear.

**j nix** · 09-28-2010, 06:11 PM

I think I will put the stands under the A arms next time. i was going to put them under the axle but the sway bar is in the way. I changed the trans filter and cleaned out my pan. I forgot that i was worried about being under there once i started working.

**0rion** · 09-29-2010, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by j nix

I think I will put the stands under the A arms next time. i was going to put them under the axle but the sway bar is in the way. I changed the trans filter and cleaned out my pan. I forgot that i was worried about being under there once i started working.

I have 2 smaller stands that fit right between the shock mount and LCA mount on the rear axle. I think they're the $10 stands from wal-mart......had them a long time and I think that's where they came from.