Automotive Car Jack and Jack Stands Shopping Tips and Tricks
When it comes to working on your car, there are things you need to consider like having the right tools and equipment for a smooth and safe job. If you don’t have the right tools, it can lead to broken car parts and frustration. One of the most frequently used automotive tools is a floor jack, and it is also one of the most common garage tools involved in safety-related accidents because of several pitfalls with the use of this tool, ranging from purchasing an inferior product that does not live up to its false safety claims simple mistakes of improper usage that could have easily been avoided.
Floor jacks are used to provide a mechanical advantage to the use for lifting heavy loads such as lifting automobiles or trucks, using the mechanisms of hydraulics and lead screws. Auto mechanics need extra ground clearance when working on a vehicle in order to have better access to the oil pan drain when changing oil and to lift a car to remove wheels during a tire rotation. When it comes to automotive jacks, there are three types which are the hydraulic floor jack, scissor jack, and a bottle jack. A hydraulic automotive jack is usually used by most mechanics because of its convenience, consisting of a four-wheeled trolley housing a hydraulic cylinder that raises and lower a lever arm with a small platform which interfaces with a car or truck. In order to actuate the lifting mechanism, hydraulic floor jacks have a detachable lever that is pumped, allowing easy usage without requiring a substantial amount of physical exertion in lifting a vehicle. When compared to other types of jacks, hydraulic automotive jacks are heavier, less portable, and more expensive. Scissor jacks are space-efficient and lightweight, that’s why auto manufacturers choose to place them in the trunks of cars, used when swapping your spare tire on the side of the freeway whenever you have a flat tire. Scissor jacks have limitations when it comes to lifting capacity and height because they are designed to compact. A bottle jack is hydraulically operated, consisting of concentric hydraulic cylinder, providing stiffness that is actuated by hydraulic pressure, resulting from pumping a lever. Bottle jack doesn’t get nearly as low as a regular floor jack or scissor jack because of their very high free height, making it difficult to use on the sedan, sports cars, and lowered cars.
When it comes to your personal safety, you need to use a jack stand because mechanical components may fail, raise and lower your car slowly, always raise your car on ground level, and use appropriate jacking points in your car. If you want to know more about automotive jacks, uses, and care tips, feel free to check us on our website or homepage now.
