How to Lower a Car With a Jack and Remove Jack Stands

Once you've finished work on your car, it's time to lower it safely to the ground. It's a fairly easy process to lower a car with a jack and remove the jack stands, but it's important to follow the right steps in order.

Instructions

1

When the car is raised up in the back by two jack stands, place bricks or small blocks of wood in front of the front tires. This will prevent the car from rolling forward while you're working, particularly with manual transmission vehicles. Place the bricks behind the back tires if you're working at the front of the car.

2

For a car held up with two jack stands, set the jack on one side of the car's frame first. Raise the car with the jack until there is 1 to 2 inches of space between the car and the jack stands.

3

For a car raised 1 foot from the ground or less, remove the jack stand. If the car is raised higher, then lower the jack stand's height a few notches and leave in place.

4

Slowly lower the car with the jack until it touches the ground, or the newly lowered jack stand.

5

Move jack to the other side. Repeat steps 2 to 4.

6

If the car is raised one foot from the ground or less, the car should now be safely on the ground. For cars raised higher, return to the opposite side and repeat steps 2 to 5, lowering the jacks until the car is at a height where you can safely remove them.

7

For cars raised on four jack stands, follow steps 2 to 6, working to lower the front of the car and then the back of the car. You want to lower the car, in steps, by *axle*. Do NOT remove both jacks on the same side of the car at the same time. There is much more danger of the car tipping over if you do it this way. Once you lower the front of the car, block the tires so they don't roll forward while you lower the rear of the car.

8

Cars may also be jacked up by the suspension. In this case, you can raise the car with the jack centered between the two wheels. Raise the car until there is a one to two inch gap between the jack stands and the car. Remove the two jack stands. Once again, if the car is raised higher than 1 foot, you may want to lower in increments.