The best jacks for all occasions: a guide

A car jack is a tool that can be used to lift a car wheel by wheel. It is part of the vehicle's onboard equipment. However, models supplied with new vehicles are for emergency use only. If you are looking for a Hobby Workshop Jack, there are other products available.

Variety of types

Jacks are offered in four different types:

– Mechanical
– Electromechanical
– Hydraulic
– Pneumatic

1. Mechanical jacks are scissor or screw. Both types are manually operated.

• Their advantage that they are relatively inexpensive and lightweight. This makes them ideal for use as an onboard tool.
• Their disadvantage is somewhat awkward handling. Proper handling of modern cars is very important, as improper use can cause damage to the car body.

2. Electromechanical jacks are quite rare. The handle is assisted by an electric motor. They speed up and make lifting the car a little easier, but otherwise have just a few benefits .

3. Hydraulic jacks are the most powerful models. They are offered in bottle jack or floor jack with four wheel chassis . These types are standard models used in workshops . They are easy to handle, very reliable and very strong when lifting.

• Bottle Jacks are very compact and also suitable as a high quality on-board tool.
• On the other hand, floor jacks very bulky , and it is better to store them in the garage.

4. Pneumatic jacks are extremely practical as a breakage aid. They are very easy to use and their design prevents damage to the car body. But they are quite expensive and somewhat bulky even when folded. They are ideal for off-road drivers, because they can be used on any surface.

Proper use of a car jack

The car body has certain points where it is safe to use the jack.

• At Mercedes-Benz there is a particularly handy solution for jack points: for many years the company has been equipping its vehicles with specially welded sleeves . They are simply inserted spindle jacks.
• All other drivers It is strongly recommended that you read your vehicle owner's manual to find out exactly how to attach the jack. This way, in case of an emergency, you will know what to do.

When using hydraulic jacks, you should also pay attention to the attachment points .

• These types have an additional feature, the purchase of which is highly recommended: accessories market offers thick rubber buffers for hydraulic jack baseplates .
• This virtually prevents damage to the paintwork or underbody protection. . Their use, on the other hand, is quite simple: they consist of a small hydraulic system with a master cylinder, a slave cylinder, a check valve and a lever pump .
• Hydraulic jack installed with a lifting bowl under the fulcrum of the car body .
• Then the shut-off valve closes and the plunger swings up with the lever . At the end of the repair work, the shut-off valve opens. Мы рекомендуем always open the valve slowly to avoid sudden lowering of the vehicle.

Pneumatic jacks consist of an inflatable impact bag connected to an exhaust hose .

• The bag is placed under the car and the engine is started . It then inflates for a few seconds and thus lifts the vehicle.
• The contact surface of the jack is very large, both on the vehicle and on the ground . This makes it especially safe for the car body.
• In addition, this jack type very safe and effective: it is almost impossible to slip off the jack, and only he manages to lift the car overboard . However, it does load quite far, which takes up space to work under the car.

Always guard your car

The most important thing after installing the jack in the right place is to fix the car when it is raised. . In all cases, except for an emergency wheel change, additional fixation of the vehicle is required.

In particular, scissor jacks tend to tip over, quickly burying you under your own car. Specialized dealers offer brackets for this purpose. They are available very cheaply today and are available in every workshop. When braced, the vehicle can no longer slip off the jack and is safe for the mechanic throughout the repair.

Temporary solutions are again very dangerous: whether it be bars, stacks of tires, paving slabs or other aids - none of them are suitable for securing a car. No one should put themselves at this risk .

However, if you want to work under a car, it doesn't always have to be jacks and safety brackets. The ramp is very bulky. But it's especially easy to deal with: two ramps are simply placed directly in front of the front or rear wheels, the vehicle is lifted and secured against rolling using the handbrake, gear shift and wedge . You can work under the car for as long as you like, as long as you don't want to remove the wheel.

How to find the best car jack

The ideal compromise between compact design, easy handling and high load capacity is the bottle jack. .

• It takes up no more space in the car, than a scissor jack. Although they are the cheapest, they are also the least secure of the tools.
• The jack is the ideal tool for getting to know the professional equipment for workshops for amateur mechanics.
• Jack with inflatable impact bag only interesting for SUVs. However, they are ideal for forwarders, rally racers, hunters and off-road enthusiasts.

You see: each type has its purpose. If the jack is only needed once a year to change tires, you can use an onboard jack. But as soon as you need to change the brakes yourself or work on the exhaust, a hydraulic jack plus safety brackets is your best bet.

Price of jacks also varies greatly within their individual models. Here it should be said that every pound added is a plus in quality and reliability. A 22 pound jack won't last long even with little use. On the other hand, a £250 tool can please the amateur mechanic for years to come. .

Car jack 2.0: mobile lifting platform

The next stage of development after the floor jack is the mobile lifting platform.

With them, the car can also be fully raised in the garage without the need for additional fixation. These tools are controlled by a convenient electro-hydraulic system. Mobile car lifts are now available less than 1300 pounds and offer amateur mechanics a range of new possibilities.