Things You'll Need:
- Floor jack (or any jack)
- Jack stands
- Wheel chocks
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Step 1
Park your car on a level, solid surface and set the emergency/parking brake.
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Step 2
Chock the wheels. Use a 1- or 2-foot long 4-by-4 inch block of wood cut diagonally--so you have two triangles--to wedge between the tires and the pavement. This will keep the vehicle from sliding if you're lifting the front or back ends.
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Step 3
Slide the floor jack under the frame of the vehicle. Use your car's manual to find the correct spots in your undercarriage that can support a jack and jack stands so that you don't damage what's under your car and don't risk having the full weight of your car fall on you.
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Step 4
Raise the car high enough with the floor jack to place the jack stands under the car.
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Step 5
Slide the jack stands beneath the designated spots in car's frame. Double-check the placement of the stands so that when the jack lowers the car, the frame is supported on the stands and won't slide or shift.
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Step 6
Using the jack, slowly lower the car onto the jack stands. If done correctly, the jack stands should support the full weight of the car at this point. Remove the floor jack from beneath the car.
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Step 7
Push down on the car's bumper or try and push the car forward or backward. If the vehicle holds steady, you're safe and ready to work. If the vehicle falls off the jack stands, you didn't support it correctly.
