When you’re working on your car, it can be a hassle to try and adjust the jack so that it’s at the right height for the wheel you’re trying to raise. But with a few simple steps, you can easily adjust the spring on your car jack without ever having to get down on the ground.
Jacking Up The Spring
If your car jack doesn’t raise your car easily, you may need to adjust the spring. This is a common problem and can be solved with a few simple steps.
1. Remove the cover around the spring by unscrewing the four screws around the perimeter.
2. Loosen the screw that holds the spring in place and pull it outwards.
3. Put the new spring in place and screw the screw back in. Tighten it up by turning it clockwise with a wrench.
Removing The Spring
The spring on a car jack can become compressed and worn over time, limiting its effectiveness. To adjust the spring, follow these steps:
1. Locate the spring inside the jack. It will likely be a metal coil with a plastic housing.
2. Grasp the coil and twist it to loosen it from the housing.
3. If necessary, use a small flathead screwdriver to pry off the housing. The spring should now be visible inside.
4. Loosen the spring by rotating it in one direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) until it is fairly loose from the housing.
5. Reposition the spring by twisting it back into place so that it sits evenly in the housing and screws back onto the coil securely.
Adjusting The Height Of The Jack
When you’re using your car jack, it’s important to make sure the height is adjusted properly so it can reach all the way to the ground. If the jack isn’t at the right height, it won’t be able to lift your car, and you’ll have to use a different jack.
There are a few ways to adjust the height of your car jack:
– Pull up on the lever on one side until it clicks into place. The lever will now be in the raised position.
– Push down on the other lever until it clicks into place, and then drag it towards the front of the car. The jack should now be at its lowest setting.
– Push down on both levers at once until they lock into place, and then release them. The jack should now be at its highest setting.
Adjusting The Width Of The Jack
When adjusting the width of a car jack, it is important to keep in mind the gauge of your vehicle. The jack should be adjusted so that the handle is at least 18 inches from the base of the vehicle. If you have a metric car jack, it should be adjusted so that the handle is at least 2.1 meters from the base of the vehicle.