Celica Forums General Discussion General Jacks and Jack Stands

Hey everyone! I've decided that my car is to cool to let other people work on, so I'm gonna invest in a good Jack and some stands. For those of you with 'em, what are the best and how much do they run. I just saw an ad in the paper for a 2-ton jack, 2 2-ton stands, and a creeper, all for 40 0r 50 bucks, but then I saw a 3 or 4 ton jack in another ad for 50 or 60, so you think the set would suck? (sorry I don't remember what ad or what brand)

I saw a few at Kragen, they were dirt cheap. I thought those things cost a bunch.

In any case, are you getting one of those sliding thing to go under your car?

yea me too...but there were like 30 bucks or less.


haha yea you should get that sliding thing...those are fun.

yeah, it was in the 40 dollar pack. it's called a creeper i believe.

I hear ya on working on your car yourself. The dealership costs too much and performance shops have done damage in multiple areas to my car. I don't trust anyone else.

just make sure the jack and jacks stands lift the car to an acceptable height for you to work under it. I've gotten jacks that were only good for getting your wheels off but not for comfortably working under your car. Although you don't need the weight capacity, the SUV 3 ton and 4 ton jack stands have a much higher lift height. If you don't need to remove your wheels (which you can do with the oem mini jack), you might want to get ramps which lift high obviously since they lift from the wheels not the frame (sturdy Rhino ramps for $20-$30). I have ramps and jack stands which would be good for a clutch job. Or if you're getting your rotors resurfaced, get 4 jack stands.
The ramps are good for motor oil/gear oil changes and getting cold air intake filters off for cleaning, or for doing the ghetto unbolting your stock muffler for racing at the track...
For other people: If you live in an earthquake area like in Cali, some people feel more comfortable with ramps than jack stands. You just never know...when you could be unlucky. And get the nice creepers that roll well, not the cheap kind so that you can roll out fast in case an earthquake starts, or one of your enemies comes by to knock you off hehe . It's no fun anyways to use a creeper that doesn't roll.

I'd say get a jack that lifts at least to 18.5" and jack stands that at least match that height.

there are those small wimpy $29.99 jack/jack stand combos that can't lift your car from the center bar attached to the subframe. don't get those.

another issue on the jack is you may want to get an expensive low profile racing jack if you've lowered your car significantly or plan to. The racing jacks normally cost between $100-$150. I got mine on sale for like $70 from Pep Boys with the rebate. With Eibach Sportlines I couldn't easily get the normal service jacks under my car w/o first using the stock scissorjack which takes too long to turn that handle (and then what's the point?).

I would get the 2 ton jack.

How do I know which rollers is good? Is not like I can test them out before buying.

Haha, that would be funny tho, if I just start sliding around inside Kragen, LOL.

I was thinking of getting a ramp instead but my uncle who is a mechanic said that jack stands are better and safer when compared to ramps.

GET A LIFT!!!!!!!!



j/k Even though I wonder how much those things are? Id guess between 7-15 Grand. Get ramps. My dad works on cars sooooo much and gettin ramps is easier if they get the car a foot and a half off the ground. And also get those shop boards...I dont know the real name but those things that have wheels that you lie on ur back and roll under ur car. It also makes for sum SERIOUS LUGE ACTION!!!!!!!

^^maybe if there is a good reason. ask him. I just feel safer under a ramp than jack stands here in earthquake prone Cali. maybe he thinks the car can roll off with a ramp? I set my parking brake and put it in gear on the ramp...

yeah, I was going to say roll around in the store on the creepers to test them...but I thought you guys would think I was weird or something . Ok creeper analysis time and things to look for in choosing a desirable creeper:

1. Comfort. Is it flat or molded? IMO, even if it has pads all over, the flat is not as good as a nice plastic one that is molded to your body that has a pad only for your head. I've rolled on both.

2. Wheels balanced? Ok not the same as tire balancing, but are the wheels even on the floor? Wobbling is annoying unless you like that unsettled feeling.

3. Handling. How well does the creeper change direction? How well are the swivel joints or casters made and aligned? This is a build quality issue.

4. Aesthetics. Do you really want that creeper with the big NOS letters on it? well it's all up to you.

5. Durability. Will it rust or will it stand the test of time (I prefer hard plastic again). If your gf wants to ride it, will it hold up or will it break? with her on it? with you and her?

If you enjoy the test drive, buy it.

OMG test driving creepers, that's so funny , but yeah I would also do it, if I wanted one.

Haha, cool, I gotta set up a time and date for the test drive, lol.

I think you can get a decent lift for 2k. I know someone who was selling a nice used one for 1k in NV. I know it was fine because my car went up on it, and down on it .
but then you need the tall garage for it that few people have and you couldn't keep it outside unsheltered as it wouldn't last long. I suppose you can build or have a wooden shelter built for it if you have the land... or if you're really nuts you can remodel your house to fit a lift. May as well throw in a dyno, but the cheapest ones run around 25k...so maybe you can convince your husband/wife that it will increase the property value of your home.

I bought a 2 ton hydraulic jack & it doesn't have enough reach to make it up to the jack stands in one go. I have to block it half way, raise the jack up & go again.

So, I would buy a jack stand with a long reach, that will lift car high enough in one shot, it will save a lot of trouble.

Be careful when jacking, I know two guys that have been killed doing it & one guy that is retarded from it. Having your head crushed is not fucking fun.

cool, thanks for the info everyone. i'd gladly shell out the money for a lift, but i', 17 and going off to college in a year (maybe the engineering department will let me use theirs, if they got one...). that creeper test driving sounds like it's from an episode of jackass or conan o'brian

You could always do this. Just be sure that you block that rear wheel with a rock or something, for safety! LMAO

*NOTE* don't do this.

ONLY about 2-3 Grand for a lift!!!! Id get that!! My garage is high. I have two garages. One is for our cars, the other is for our boat and RV. The RV requires a 14' garage opening with two more feet to spare inside. MAN THAT WOULD BE AWSOME!!!

That NOS sticker adds 5whp.

^^yeah, just add a type-r emblem and you can easily take a corvette or a skyline.