How to choose the best floor jack for a Porsche
Mads van Appeldoorn
February 15, 2024
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How to jack up your car
Well, never needed a jack until about six month ago when I moved into my new house. Before that, I had my cars in a garage together with friends in DTLA and we had a Triumph Professional Lift installed which was very good.
Asked the neighbour first, saw him working on his orange BMW 2002 and he led me his jack. Well, he bought a Torin jack from Walmart and had used it just once. When I got it, it didn’t really jack up and it started leaking off. Tried it a few times, then the whole thing didn’t work at all, the release gear was stuck. It would not release safely with the car on the jack. It was next to impossible to rotate the arm and when it finally did, the car was practically (almost) falling to the ground. I felt bad so I told my neighbour that I somehow broke it and that I would get him a new one. But since it was just a week old, he returned it to Walmart and got a refund.
How I’ve chosen the perfect floor jack for a Porsche 911
I’ve asked a few of my my car buddies and at the LA’s Cars and Coffee about which floor jack they’re using. One question, ten answers. But most of them recommended Arcan jacks. Arcan, never heard of them. For me it was very important to find a high quality floor jack with a low profile so I could get under the front of my rather low Carrera 3.o. And it should go high enough so if I would work underneath the car, I would have enough space. Honestly, I ordered three different ones from Amazon and checked them out for a day.
1. Arcan 2-Ton Extra Long Reach Low Profile Steel Floor Jack
Profile 2,75″-24″ – Exactly what I needed. Perfect combination of high built quality, excellent handling and the perfect range, fits my very low 911. I’ve been using that floor jack for about five months when writing this and I am still happy. Priced right and very durable.
2. Arcan 2-Ton Low Profile Quick Rise Steel Floor Jack
Profile: 3,5″-18,5″ – That one was way heavier but somehow easier to handle, however, the profile was not what I needed. If I would just need a little jack to lift up the car in order to change tires, I would go for this one. It’s also really inexpensive.
3. Arcan 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack
Profile: 3,75″-18″ – That’s the only 3-ton jack I’ve ordered. Truth be told, I didn’t think about the weight of the cars when ordering. Since all my cars are below 2 tons, there is no need for that one. What I can say is, the built quality of that floor jack was outstanding. I would have kept it in terms of quality, but in the end the range (3.75″-18″) was not what I needed.
Arcan Jack stands
After I made my decision to keep the extra long reach version of the Arcan floor jack, I also purchased some Jack stands. Since I was convinced with the quality of Arcan, I bought two pairs of Arcan 3-Ton Jack Stands. Perfect match, very happy with them.
A standard jack will suffice for most jobs. But if you want to access all the tires at the same time, for example because you want to change the entire suspension, then it quickly becomes tedious to jack up wheel by wheel and change the springs, for example. I recently bought something else for this purpose. A few friends of mine had this portable car lift and I had plenty of opportunity to try it out. Works, lasts, feels secure and wrenching is even more fun. And this portable car lift packs away easily when you need the space for something else.
How to jack up your car
Jacking up the car is an easy job with the right tools and safe if you follow the points below. If you want to change a tire or change oil, it’s recommended to jack up the car safely and secure it with jack stands. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to jack up your car.
Step 1: Find a safe location
The first step to jacking up your car is to find a safe location to do so. Make sure that the ground is level and solid, and that there are no obstacles or traffic around you. It’s important to work on a flat surface to prevent the car from rolling or tipping over.
Step 2: Prepare the jack and tools
Before you begin jacking up the car, you’ll need to gather the tools you need. You’ll need a jack, working gloves also come handy, and the specific tools you need. Make sure that the jack is in excellent condition and properly rated for the weight of your car. And very important, check the owner’s manual for the proper jack points on your car.
Step 3: Use wheel chocks
A wheel chock is a wedge-shaped device that is placed behind one of the wheels to prevent the car from rolling. Place the wheel chock behind one of the rear wheels if you’re jacking up the front of the car, or behind one of the front wheels if you’re jacking up the rear of the car.
Step 4: Jack up the car
Place the jack in the appropriate jack point on the car, following the instructions in the owner’s manual. Make sure that the jack is centered and stable before you begin raising the car. Turn the handle of the jack to raise the car slowly and steadily.
Step 5: Use jack stands
Jack stands are designed to support the weight of a car while you work on it. They are more stable and secure than a jack, and they can help prevent accidents and injuries. If you’re working under your car, using jack stands is especially important to prevent the car from falling on you.
Step 6: Do what you set out to do
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Step 7: Lower the car
First remove the jack stands and then slowly lower the car back down to the ground using the jack.
Step 8: Remove the jack
Remove the jack from the car and stow it away. Don’t forget to remove the wheel chock as well.
And that’s it!
By following these steps, you should be able to jack up your car safely. Just remember to always be cautious and take your time to ensure that everything is done correctly.
