Author Topic: Using the Jack from the car. (Read 6965 times)

tortoise · « **on:** May 27, 2018, 11:21:48 pm »

I recently took off a wheel using the Jack that came with the car. I was surprised how easy it was to use. It's just a scissor jack but it lifted the car quickly and easily.

Is there any reason why I just couldn't use that for seasonal wheel change overs?

G.Bombay · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2018, 11:28:12 pm »

I'm not sure if they were designed for such amount of use....I did for years in the past until a finally got a jack. I also used the supplied bar to loosen and tighten wheel nuts.

rrocket · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2018, 11:58:00 pm »

Quote from: tortoise on May 27, 2018, 11:21:48 pm

I recently took off a wheel using the Jack that came with the car. I was surprised how easy it was to use. It's just a scissor jack but it lifted the car quickly and easily.

Is there any reason why I just couldn't use that for seasonal wheel change overs?

Sure, why not.

johngenx · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2018, 12:50:10 am »

OE jack can certainly be used for changeovers. I just find my floor jacks just easier to use, but some OE jacks are decent.

rrocket · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2018, 04:31:18 am »

Quote from: johngenx on May 28, 2018, 12:50:10 am

OE jack can certainly be used for changeovers. I just find my floor jacks just easier to use, but some OE jacks are decent.

I don't like the handles and how long it takes to raise/lower those scissor jacks.

Though I suppose using a drill with a socket to raise/lower would make things considerably easier.

quadzilla · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2018, 07:03:59 am »

Quote from: tortoise on May 27, 2018, 11:21:48 pm

I was surprised how easy it was to use.

Is there any reason why I just couldn't use that for seasonal wheel change overs?

There is easy and easier. Take your pick.

tortoise · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2018, 07:08:04 am »

Quote from: rrocket on May 27, 2018, 11:58:00 pm

Sure, why not.

The only issue I see is that they probably aren't as stable as a floor jack. But that probably isn't an issue for changing tires.

Quote

There is easy and easier. Take your pick.

Fair enough. We're tight on space in our place so it would be nice to not have a floor jack laying around never getting used.

Fobroader · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2018, 10:19:07 am »

I just have never found a factory jack I found trustworthy of using over my floor jack, ok in a pinch on the side of a road, but I just don't trust them as much.

Great_Big_Abyss · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2018, 10:23:44 am »

I've used the factory jack plenty of times for lifting my van in the driveway in order to do a tire changeover.

The only disadvantage is that it takes more time to use than a floor jack. Other than that, it's perfectly fine.

JG20 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2018, 11:11:00 am »

You guys should see the jack that comes with the Toyota FJ. I do the tire changeover for my cousin. One time, my floor jack was acting up (one of the pins fell off so I couldn't lock and unlock it) so we used jack that came with his FJ. It's nice hydraulic bottle jack with all the extensions needed to get right under the axles. Would be very useful if something happened out in the trails.

bridgecity · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2018, 12:32:15 pm »

^ That's what my Tundra has also.

carcrazed · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2018, 10:52:26 pm »

I used the scissor jacks from my MDX and Civic for the tire switchover to winters. Then I got a floor jack over the Christmas and used it for putting the all seasons on for the MDX.
I like the floor jack much better, more stable on my sloped driveway and it was much quicker.

tenpenny · « **Reply #12 on:** May 29, 2018, 06:01:16 am »

Oh, I long the days of the old bumper jacks. Those were fun.

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pi314 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 29, 2018, 08:57:33 am »

I haven’t tried the Volkswagen jack but the floor jack is way easier.

You can always come borrow mine and try it to make a décision (or, honestly, seasonally) . I’d say it’s money well spent.

Off topic but I also have a threaded metal piece that you screw in and put the wheel on that. Makes using the lug system really easy!

tortoise · « **Reply #14 on:** May 29, 2018, 10:09:31 am »

Thanks for the offer. In the past I've borrowed floor a floor jack from my neighbour. I agree they are easier and faster but it might save what, a minute per wheel at the most?

Rrocket was kind enough to offer to make a lug bolt guide for me, it will definitely be nice to have.

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #15 on:** May 29, 2018, 11:34:00 am »

Quote from: tortoise on May 29, 2018, 10:09:31 am

Thanks for the offer. In the past I've borrowed floor a floor jack from my neighbour. I agree they are easier and faster but it might save what, a minute per wheel at the most?

Rrocket was kind enough to offer to make a lug bolt guide for me, it will definitely be nice to have.

With the Prius and BMW I could lift the whole front/rear end at a time with a floor Jack

tortoise · « **Reply #16 on:** May 29, 2018, 12:23:41 pm »

Same with my Mazda5, it was great. I think the only jack options on the Golf are the pinch welds so I will have to lift each corner individually.

pi314 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 30, 2018, 09:01:40 am »

Is your driveway super level? That was my main problem in the past - at my parents' place the driveway is still crushed gravel so we'd do it in the garage; using the small scissor jack in a tight space is not so fun.

tortoise · « **Reply #18 on:** May 30, 2018, 09:18:26 am »

No, not super level. But I used it on the gravel driveway at the cottage with no issues.

Great_Big_Abyss · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2018, 10:15:02 am »

Another consideration is this: if the space you work in is gravel (like my driveway) and you don't have a garage, a scissor jack will still work as intended. A floor jack will be much harder to use in gravel, as it won't be able to roll as it lifts.