How to use jack stands properly

[Bart Hinder]

I need to get The Beast off the ground to work on the brakes.
Not to sound like a complete noob, but is there a consensus on the proper method?
Raise the front axle first, the rear axle first, or both at the same time using two jacks?

I'm guessing jacking up the port side then starboard side isn't the way to go.

 

[zraffz]

I do the front and then the back. This way the truck can't roll away. I tuck the front stands under the frame as far forward as I can and I tuck the rear stands under the axle.

The bigger question is why don't you just do one axle at a time?

 

[Bart Hinder]

I do the front and then the back. This way the truck can't roll away. I tuck the front stands under the frame as far forward as I can and I tuck the rear stands under the axle.

The bigger question is why don't you just do one axle at a time?

Good question. I want to flush/bleed the brake fluid, and somehow I got it into my head that all four wheels would need to off the ground.

 

[swathdiver]

Flat surface, doesn't matter which end you lift first. Put the jack under the pumpkin and put the stands under the axle tubes in the brackets made for the bottle jack. Then lift the front from the engine cross brace and place the stands in the space on the frame behind each wheel made for the bottle jack.

 

[zraffz]

Good question. I want to flush/bleed the brake fluid, and somehow I got it into my head that all four wheels would need to off the ground.

I have legitimately never flushed a brake system on anything. After I do brake lines, I pop the top off the master cylinder and open one axle's bleeder at a time. 90+% of the air will gravity bleed if the lines are routed correctly. I can instantly tell if I manually need to bleed them afterwards.

Their isn't a reason to really even jack the truck up. I get some rubber hose that fits over the bleeders and bleed the fluid into old pickle jars.

 

[zraffz]

Flat surface, doesn't matter which end you lift first. Put the jack under the pumpkin and put the stands under the axle tubes in the brackets made for the bottle jack. Then lift the front from the engine cross brace and place the stands in the space on the frame behind each wheel made for the bottle jack.

Be leery of using this method if you aren't on flat ground. I have had trucks rolls on the slightest incline by jacking up the rear end first. A floor jack can't roll on a zip tie but surprisingly rolls very quickly with the weight of the truck on it!

Or just chock the tires like everyone else does

 

[Bart Hinder]

I have legitimately never flushed a brake system on anything. After I do brake lines, I pop the top off the master cylinder and open one axle's bleeder at a time. 90+% of the air will gravity bleed if the lines are routed correctly. I can instantly tell if I manually need to bleed them afterwards.

Their isn't a reason to really even jack the truck up. I get some rubber hose that fits over the bleeders and bleed the fluid into old pickle jars.

I'm not spry enough these days. I gotta take the wheels off.

 

[Bart Hinder]

Be leery of using this method if you aren't on flat ground. I have had trucks rolls on the slightest incline by jacking up the rear end first. A floor jack can't roll on a zip tie but surprisingly rolls very quickly with the weight of the truck on it!

Or just chock the tires like everyone else does

Good tip, thanks. Plus I needed an excuse to go to Harbor Freight. I've wanted some proper chocks for some time.

Safety first, safety last, safety always. I am risk-averse, which is why I posted the question.

You guys are great. Thanks for the replies.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Good tip, thanks. Plus I needed an excuse to go to Harbor Freight. I've wanted some proper chocks for some time.

Safety first, safety last, safety always. I am risk-averse, which is why I posted the question.

You guys are great. Thanks for the replies.

Do it. I don't even break a tire off the ground without chocking it. With trucks as large as ours, things can get ugly fast when they decide to move on their own.

 

[PG01]

Do it. I don't even break a tire off the ground without chocking it. With trucks as large as ours, things can get ugly fast when they decide to move on their own.

X2

 

[swathdiver]

Plus I needed an excuse to go to Harbor Freight. I've wanted some proper chocks for some time.

Those Harbor Freight chocks stunk up the truck on the way home, left them outside for 2-3 months to off gas and they finally quit smelling so bad!

Parking pawls have been known to break and my parking brakes weren't working when we bought it. Too heavy to not chock the wheels. There were a few youtube videos of guys who'd been run over by their trucks and admonishing the rest of us to use wheel chocks.

 

[zraffz]

You guys have no sense of adventure! I tried decompressing a torsion key on a lift by using an old axle shaft and lowering the truck down onto it... the truck shifted on the lift and I had to go change my underwear

I have gotten better about wearing safety glasses as I've aged though.

 

[Bart Hinder]

Those Harbor Freight chocks stunk up the truck on the way home, left them outside for 2-3 months to off gas and they finally quit smelling so bad!

Parking pawls have been known to break and my parking brakes weren't working when we bought it. Too heavy to not chock the wheels. There were a few youtube videos of guys who'd been run over by their trucks and admonishing the rest of us to use wheel chocks.

I brought home a couple of those whisky barrel planters once. The sour mash stench lingered for days. I was worried about getting pulled over.

Wouldn't putting the truck in 4H add an extra margin of safety?

 

[SnowDrifter]

I jack up one side at a time.

Use 12 ton jack stands. Not because I need the weight, even though that's always welcome. But because the wide base provides stability

Leave thr jack contacting the frame rail nearest to where I'm working

And if I need to take the tires off, I kick them under the vehicle to profide a third catch should both thr jack and hacjsfands fail

 

[PG01]

I jack up one side at a time.

Use 12 ton jack stands. Not because I need the weight, even though that's always welcome. But because the wide base provides stability

Leave thr jack contacting the frame rail nearest to where I'm working

And if I need to take the tires off, I kick them under the vehicle to profide a third catch should both thr jack and hacjsfands fail

Same here, except when rotating tires, i put entire truck in air on jackstands and the jack is always up under either the front or back. Peace of mind, ive heard too many stories.

 

[swathdiver]

I've used my buddies 10-ton bumper lift jack. Got the arms under the bumper and under the frame and nearly lifted the whole truck off the ground. Since it locks in place as it goes up, there's no way for it to drop. Fun stuff.

 

[Fosscore]

Great info. Today I went super slow. Chocks on the rear wheels. Emergency brake on. Jack under center front cross member. Jacks on the driver and passenger side lift points behind the front wheels. Wheels were just barely touching the ground. Jack stayed under the front center. I know the chocks worked as they had stuck in the driveway a tiny bit. Project completed safely.

 

[Bart Hinder]

I jack up one side at a time.

Use 12 ton jack stands. Not because I need the weight, even though that's always welcome. But because the wide base provides stability

Leave thr jack contacting the frame rail nearest to where I'm working

And if I need to take the tires off, I kick them under the vehicle to profide a third catch should both thr jack and hacjsfands fail

And here I though I was joking about jacking up the port side first, then the starboard.

Good tip about the wide base for stability, thanks.

 

[07Burb]

I jack up one side at a time.

Use 12 ton jack stands. Not because I need the weight, even though that's always welcome. But because the wide base provides stability

Leave thr jack contacting the frame rail nearest to where I'm working

And if I need to take the tires off, I kick them under the vehicle to profide a third catch should both thr jack and hacjsfands fail

I do exactly this! I’ve heard a few stories of jack stand failing and that’s a few too many for me!! Never can be too safe

 

[Bombsquad85]

When I was changing my transmission fluid I went to put the truck down and dropped 1 side and the other side gave out and the truck fell off the Jack stand. I about shit my pants. Good thing I wasnt under it. I want to get some nicer Jack stands and a Jack that can get higher than 20" but then again.... I'll be buying a house and it will either have a garage or I'm going to build a garage and the garage will have a lift in it for sure. Wife is already tracking lol