[dassub]

I actually posted this in a random thread, but it didn't get much visibility.. it might actually be a dumb question, but here goes anyway:

Does it matter what angle the jack/handle is at? I have a single garage, and it's hard to use the jack when the jack/handle is positioned horizontal to the car. If it was on an angle, it might be easier to get the full jack pump motion.. but worried that the jack position might not be ideal, compared to being horizontal from the car.

Attached is a hilariously crude drawing I did in a minute to sort of illustrate my point. After looking at the drawing, I'm not even entirely sure the jack will be usable in that position.

[paintballdude05]

It won't really matter. If you have a jack with good casters/ wheels then it should move into the correct position as the car is being lifted up (so that you don't get any weird forces that would make the vehicle fall off the jack). Just take it slowly on the way up, most of the time you'll hear/ see the signs of something going wrong before it actually happens.

[shadow191]

I live in a loft so have to park in a deck. I have 2 spaces, but I can't move my other car every time I want to work on something since there's no other place to park it. I can't just back it up like if I had a driveway (I'd have to pull out and go across the street). So I jack up my cars the vast majority of the time with the jack angled like your 2nd picture. I've never had an issue yet. This is for both my 335 and my Infiniti FX which is a larger heavier vehicle.

[Meeni]

There is a chance of bending an aluminum jack going sideways. I'd advice against it. In all cases, be safe and cautious.

[dassub]

Originally Posted by Meeni

There is a chance of bending an aluminum jack going sideways. I'd advice against it. In all cases, be safe and cautious.

Interesting. I have an aluminum and steel racing jack:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mo...-0090021p.html

I'll see how much room I can make one side to jack at a better angle.

[jwalker87]

If your jack has a 2-piece handle, you can remove the second piece. Much harder to jack, but it can fit in much smaller spaces.

Also, if there's room front and rear, you can use the central jacking points without needing any side clearance.

I have jacked cars up like you illustrated, and its not ideal, and probably dangerous. The jack needs to move with the car as it rotates, and if its not perpendicular, then the wheels on the front of the jack have to partially slide sideways to stay with the car. Sometimes it slides well, and sometimes it sticks then "jumps" to the car's position, which is not good.

[paintballdude05]

You should have an issue with bending unless the car shifts an/or the ground lets go underneath you. If you're doing it on concrete or pavement you'll be fine.

A few years ago I bent a steel jack lifting a car. This was my winter beater and I was jacking it up higher on a gravel driveway. Luckily there was no damage to the car though.

[Efthreeoh]

Why don't you just jack the car up correctly with the front and rear center jack points and set it on stands? Since the jack sit so far under the front and rear, I doubt you'd have clearance issues with the jack handle.

[Leroi]

Originally Posted by jwalker87

If your jack has a 2-piece handle, you can remove the second piece. Much harder to jack, but it can fit in much smaller spaces.

Good call, listed in the features of the link he posted - Aluminum 2 piece long handle provides ease of pumping in tight areas when second handle is removed

[BashShah]

Dassub Canadian tire also sells Trolly Jacks.

I wanted the racing jacks also, and was about to buy it.
Went to Canadian Tire.
That day, they had it all assembled and when I saw it..... Ohhh shit.

Just like you, I have walls on each side..... No way I could jack it.
Even at an angle, risk of hitting black car was tooo high.

I Gota the $25 Trolly Jack.
I still jack horizontal.
But the pole has a 90 degree pivot on it.....
Its a slower jack but it does the job.

DN

[dassub]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

Dassub Canadian tire also sells Trolly Jacks.

I wanted the racing jacks also, and was about to buy it.
Went to Canadian Tire.
That day, they had it all assembled and when I saw it..... Ohhh shit.

Just like you, I have walls on each side..... No way I could jack it.
Even at an angle, risk of hitting black car was tooo high.

I Gota the $25 Trolly Jack.
I still jack horizontal.
But the pole has a 90 degree pivot on it.....
Its a slower jack but it does the job.

DN

Thanks for the heads up. I should say, that I've actually been using this racing jack after replacing my crappy ancient trolly jack.. the racing jack works much better, faster, and sturdier. With the single car garage, it's just a matter of either using half of the handle, or taking smaller pumps with the full handle until it hits the wall. It's served me well so far.

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

OP I had the same conundrum. I lifted the front at an angle like you showed, no problems whatsoever. It's a good question to ask: not many people ask this question!

From my experience, it should lift just fine. The jack is designed to pivot around, so any pivoting that will occur, the jack will handle it.

Use me as one data point. I may be entirely wrong. If someone knows as to why this could be dangerous, I'm all ears. Out of all the jacking tutorials I've read and watched, I haven't seen anyone specifically mention jack positioning regarding the central jack point.

[Nafy]

Use a scissor jack?

[mythek]

op you'll be fine with using your jack at any angles. but depends on certain angle, it may not lift your car as high. No matter what you do...please use a jack stand if you need to get under your car.

[Greatdane84]

I just did my water pump and when I lift car I use floor jack at an angle like you described on back lift location to the point where I can set a jack stand on the front lift spot same side as floor jack. Then lower and move floor jack to very front so that I can now reach front center lift spot high enough to slide other stand on opposite side at front !