How to jack car for 4 axle stands?

[Matt_T]

Hi,

I want to put my 2005 Civic S-Type on 4 axle stands to clean all the wheel wells and get underneath it with the jet wash.

Once the fronts are on the stands, do I just use the sill jack points for the back, one side at a time? Or with the front on stands do I need to jack the back from the centre somehow?

I'm concerned about the front slipping off the stands when I jack up the back corner.

Also, do the back axle stands go under the sills and the front under the drice-shafts / axles?

Thanks

[GAjon]

Can’t help what the best way would be on your specific car.

I regularly Jack up my Cars on 4 stands doing both front from centre first then both rear from centre second, and reverse for lowering.

The only thing I would advise to be careful of is making sure the Jack can roll freely on whatever surface you are working on.
If the Jack can’t roll, especially when lowering the car, it can cause the stands to be pushed over.

[Matt_T]

Thanks GAjon - so will there be a suitable jacking point in the centre at the back? Or do I just choose a suitable part of the chassis?

[thebraketester]

Jack front and put on stands. Jack back from one side under a suspension arm and put stand under the other side. Then do the other rear side.

[GAjon]

Matt_T said:

Thanks GAjon - so will there be a suitable jacking point in the centre at the back? Or do I just choose a suitable part of the chassis?

I’m not sure on your particular car, Braketesters method above sounds good.

When we do my sons 3 MPS we can’t get a Jack under the front, so drive it up ramps ( actually motorhome levelling ramps) then do each rear side to minimum height of the stands, then Jack the front up on to stands, then the back a side at a time to working height.

A lot of a faff, but it’s safe.

[Caddyshack]

I often put the axle stands under hard points where sub frames bolt to the chassis. If you use a jack then lower on to axle stands and then bring the jack back up to just touch as a fail safe and when you take wheels off pop them under the car for extra safety and just move them for each area to be cleaned.

I bought a full ramp in the end as had a scare when a car moved on an axle stand.

Just don’t take any risks

[GreenV8S]

Matt_T said:

the front under the drice-shafts / axles?

If you mean using the drive shafts to take the weight of the vehicle, don't ever do that. Only lift and support the car by strong points on the body or suspension, never by transmission components, steering links etc.

It is possible to jack up most cars one axle at a time and put them on stands, but if you don't need to take the wheels off then backing it onto a pair of ramps can be much easier/safer since you can use the handbrake to stop that end moving around while you jack up the front. If you have space and expect to do this a lot, you can even get long ramps that you simply drive the whole vehicle onto.

However you decide to jack it up, make sure your trolley jack is free to roll in the longitudinal direction since the car will be moving in an arc when you jack it up. If you push the jack in sideways then the car will try to push the jack over when you jack it up.

[ChocolateFrog]

It'll be fine. Either use the lower arms or the jacking points. If you're worried or you see one of the front stands start to rock then just jack it up in stages.

[tux850]

Is it essential that you lift all four corners at the same time? Will it not suffice to raise and clean the front, then drop and repeat for the rear? It'd be considerably safer and I can't envisage any compromises in terms of cleaning efficacy.

[darreni]

tux850 said:

Is it essential that you lift all four corners at the same time? Will it not suffice to raise and clean the front, then drop and repeat for the rear? It'd be considerably safer and I can't envisage any compromises in terms of cleaning efficacy.

For wheels and arches, use this method, it’s not worth taking any chances.

[NH-0]

Honda Integra (2001 to 2005) you put the jack under the rear tow hook and lift it.

[Matt_T]

Many thanks everyone - good info above.

Of course, doing the front first then repeating for the back is a great suggestion - thanks tux850

The image below shows a Civic using the towhook as a jack point - this makes life easier.