Need to put car on jack stands - is an adapter required?

[Felixlamb]

Hi all,

Hope you're all managing to keep safe.

Although I'm not going to be driving my car much over the next few months, I want to take my winter tires/rims off so that the car is ready for summer. When I put the winters on last year I just jacked up each corner, did the wheel and moved onto the next one.
In hindsight that was super dumb as the jack could've failed at any point.

Therefore I'm looking to get some jack stands so that the car is lifted safely and I can work on all 4 corners at the same time. I bought a shaped rubber adapter so that my jack fit the jacking points properly. However I've been having trouble working out if I'll need a similar rubber adapter for each jack stand so it doesn't muller my car's jacking points?

Can anyone who has experience with this offer their thoughts? Also, any recommendations for jack stands / adapters would be appreciated as I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to this.

Thanks,

Felix

 

[srhutch]

I see no issue in jacking one corner at a time just to swap the wheel over. Just make sure you’re using a descent trolley jack.

 

[Bombardino]

If you went to a tyre shop for a new tyre they wouldn't use axle stands, they just jack the car up. For peace of mind once you've removed the wheel place it under the car next to the jack, if the jack fails the car is only going as far as the wheel next to it.
If you was working on the brakes or under the car then stands are definitely recommended.

 

[R.E92]

For swapping wheels you only need to jack one corner up at a time. If the worst happens and the jack fails then you still have the 3 other wheels supporting the car. Just don't put your head or feet under the brake disk!

When using jack stands I don't use the adapter. The adapter only really works on jacks and those 4 post lifts. Jack stands tend to have curved tops so the jack pads don't really help.

 

[mcbutler]

One wheel at a time is a lot safer than balancing the whole car on 4 stands

 

[Silverzedtom]

X8R make half decent adapters for a tenner or so.

On mine the plastic blocks on the car have a plastic dimple sticking out of the centre. I tend not to bother with them now but if I were to drill a hole in the centre of the adapters they’d be perfect.

 

[Jasonn]

I prefer to stick axle stand onto/under suspension components, they're built like brick outhouses and I have more confidence in them than jacking points marked on the cills (just personal preference - had an old hillman imp where the cill had been filled with newspaper and waxoyl, ever since I've preferred suspension components - quick tap with a hammer before hand if uncertain just to check

 

[Baza]

Having pondered how to jack the car up and then put axle stands where the jacks fit. I came across these " Jack Stands" this allows the jack to lift the car using the top part of the stand with the square key that fits into the car jacking position the base is then slid under the top and the jack let down and removed leaving the car on a solid jack stand.

 

[Silverzedtom]

Having pondered how to jack the car up and then put axle stands where the jacks fit. I came across these " Jack Stands" this allows the jack to lift the car using the top part of the stand with the square key that fits into the car jacking position the base is then slid under the top and the jack let down and removed leaving the car on a solid jack stand.

Good job I don’t have room for those as they look great

 

[lewis1962]

I prefer to stick axle stand onto/under suspension components, they're built like brick outhouses and I have more confidence in them than jacking points marked on the cills (just personal preference - had an old hillman imp where the cill had been filled with newspaper and waxoyl, ever since I've preferred suspension components - quick tap with a hammer before hand if uncertain just to check

I've just bought some axle stands, where would please these on the Z4 if not using the jacking points, do you have any pics ?

 

[Jasonn]

I prefer to stick axle stand onto/under suspension components, they're built like brick outhouses and I have more confidence in them than jacking points marked on the cills (just personal preference - had an old hillman imp where the cill had been filled with newspaper and waxoyl, ever since I've preferred suspension components - quick tap with a hammer before hand if uncertain just to check

I've just bought some axle stands, where would please these on the Z4 if not using the jacking points, do you have any pics ?

My skills at attaching photos are basically cr@p - the following is just generic advice that's worked for me over the years - only put the jack where suspension points are bolted to the car - eg where the moving bits fit to the not moving bit - that's the strongest point.

DO NOT be tempted to put a jack or axle stand under bits that move (friend lost a finger on a zodiac - so I'm paranoid)

If your drive is on a slight slope position the triangular base to point down that slope as it'll be less likely to topple - if it is more than a very slight slope don't jack it up there.

Once it is on the axle stands and before you take the wheels off or even think of getting under - try and push it off the axle stands - remember this is the only thing that's going to stop you being embedded in the ground if it all goes wrong.

Safety first - you don't want to be going anywhere near a hospital (even more so at this time)

 

[Nictrix]

Having pondered how to jack the car up and then put axle stands where the jacks fit. I came across these " Jack Stands" this allows the jack to lift the car using the top part of the stand with the square key that fits into the car jacking position the base is then slid under the top and the jack let down and removed leaving the car on a solid jack stand.

Those are a brilliant idea but rather expensive if I remember

 

[Baza]

Those are a brilliant idea but rather expensive if I remember

Yes Not cheap and there imported from the States, bought them when I decided to replace discs allround/have the calipers professionally painted replace pads and fit s/steel brake cables. Didn't fancy working on each corner without a safe method of keeping the car in the air all at the same time. Must admit I haven't used them much since.