Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Changing oils by myself, are these a recommended jack+jack stand?

ToySub1946 · 05-07-2018, 01:59 PM

btan219,

Sorry I'm late in the game here, maybe will be help for others...

These notes are my opinion having been an auto tech for years, having also worked on vehicles at home:

The jack you showed would be a pia to use on a regular basis. Any floor jack which requires putting the metal handle in one place to raise the jack, in another place to lower the jack is a stupid design. Also that hollow, thin handle will bend at it's end becoming useless.

Though unlike the one you gave a link to, any floor jack which has a roller in the front instead of wheels is dangerous. That type of jack will easily tip over in use. A floor jack needs to have four wheels, not two.

I would suggest spending the money and getting an aluminum jack. There will be times you wanna put the jack in the trunk of a car, to move the jack. Much easier to lift a jack which weighs less. A steel jack is much cheaper yet very heavy to lift. A steel jack can be had for around $100. if that's all you have to spend.

Pay attention to the minimum lift height of any jack before purchasing it. My current jack has a minimum lift height of 3 3/4 inches and barely fits under the front center (radiator core support) of my car. I must lift the front of car slightly to get the jack under there. A lesser minimum lift height would be even better.

Make sure you know exactly just where to lift front of car...bottom of radiator core support...best place to lift for oil and filter changes...requires you slide jack under front of car, then crawl your body under there to find exact proper placement of jack before lifting...very little room for error here !
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10111

I am currently using a 3 ton Aluminum floor jack from Harbor Freight, cost was close to $200. (currently $160. with coupon) yet gets the job done. Makes sense to spend the money now for something which will save over a period of numerous oil and filter changes, tire rotations in the future.

The jack stands you picked look just fine for the money.
Best to have four jack stands available, not two.
Harbor freight makes soft plastic covers for top of jack stands, they work well to protect pinch weld area bottom of rocker panels.

05-07-2018, 01:59 PM	#20
ToySub1946 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Drives: 15FRS, 05MustangGT, 85Toyota truck Location: Eureka, Ca. Posts: 573 Thanks: 672 Thanked 590 Times in 279 Posts Mentioned: 5 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	btan219, Sorry I'm late in the game here, maybe will be help for others... These notes are my opinion having been an auto tech for years, having also worked on vehicles at home: The jack you showed would be a pia to use on a regular basis. Any floor jack which requires putting the metal handle in one place to raise the jack, in another place to lower the jack is a stupid design. Also that hollow, thin handle will bend at it's end becoming useless. Though unlike the one you gave a link to, any floor jack which has a roller in the front instead of wheels is dangerous. That type of jack will easily tip over in use. A floor jack needs to have four wheels, not two. I would suggest spending the money and getting an aluminum jack. There will be times you wanna put the jack in the trunk of a car, to move the jack. Much easier to lift a jack which weighs less. A steel jack is much cheaper yet very heavy to lift. A steel jack can be had for around $100. if that's all you have to spend. Pay attention to the minimum lift height of any jack before purchasing it. My current jack has a minimum lift height of 3 3/4 inches and barely fits under the front center (radiator core support) of my car. I must lift the front of car slightly to get the jack under there. A lesser minimum lift height would be even better. Make sure you know exactly just where to lift front of car...bottom of radiator core support...best place to lift for oil and filter changes...requires you slide jack under front of car, then crawl your body under there to find exact proper placement of jack before lifting...very little room for error here ! http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10111 I am currently using a 3 ton Aluminum floor jack from Harbor Freight, cost was close to $200. (currently $160. with coupon) yet gets the job done. Makes sense to spend the money now for something which will save over a period of numerous oil and filter changes, tire rotations in the future. The jack stands you picked look just fine for the money. Best to have four jack stands available, not two. Harbor freight makes soft plastic covers for top of jack stands, they work well to protect pinch weld area bottom of rocker panels. Last edited by ToySub1946; 05-07-2018 at 03:04 PM.