Do I need a jack stand in addition to the floor jack for swapping wheels?

[masab321]

Hey guys. I am going to install my winter wheel/tire set up on F82. I have all the required equipment including the jack pads. Only thing I am missing is the jack stand. Do I need to have a jack stand while using floor jack to swap wheels? If I do, what should be the jack stand location?


Thanks

[hC1001]

No, a jack is good enough. I lift the rear jack point of each side and it gets both front and rear wheels up in the air.

[Tangent]

As long as you never put any body part where it would get smashed if the jack suddenly failed you're fine to skip the jack stands.

[masab321]

Originally Posted by Tangent

As long as you never put any body part where it would get smashed if the jack suddenly failed you're fine to skip the jack stands.

Agreed. I was thinking to use a jack stand as a back up to prevent any car damage in case jack fails. I want to work on one wheel at a time. It's hard to find a spot on the side of the car to use jack stand because the normal jacking spot is being used by the floor jack.

[espressoo]

I agree with what the others have recommended. I use to jack each wheel individually but it really speeds up things if you use the rear jack point and raise it high enough so both wheels on a given side is off the ground. You only need the front wheel a few inches off the ground. I use an electric torque wrench so don’t have to worry about loosening the lugs/bolts while the wheel is on the ground. Big time saver for me.

[9M71]

Depends on your jack...I wouldn't trust the shoddy 1.5 ton ones, going under the car or not.

[masab321]

Originally Posted by 9M71

Depends on your jack...I wouldn't trust the shoddy 1.5 ton ones, going under the car or not.

I got a HF Pittsburgh 2 ton floor jack.

[9M71]

there are a few variations of those jacks at HF. I would never trust the 1.5t "'racing"" jack or the 2.0t compact trolly jack. both have failed on me before.

most likely you'll be fine. just don't get curious and stick your head under the car w/o jack stands.

[agentrnge]

I have a pair of the 3 ton HF/Pittsburgh jacks and they seem very solid/beefy. 2 ton should be fine too. As other said, as long as your body is never under the car you are fine to just jack it up, do the work, lower back down. When I do use jack stands I usually put them under some heavy suspension bits/mount points and leave the jack on the jack point locations.

[SD ///M4]

My wife and I have swapped between our racing tires and our street tires on our M3 and M4 many, many times at the track where all we had was a portable racing floor jack.

We use the front jacking point. Once the car is up high enough to get the wheels off, take off the rear wheel and stick it under the car near the middle where it will wedge under the frame. Then remove the front wheel, and put on the snow tires on both the front and the rear. Remove the street tire that you wedged under the car and then let the car down. Repeat on the other side.

This will ensure that if your jack fails the car will not drop to the ground. We've even swapped brake pads this way, but this is usually only the front pads, so you just use the front wheel after you take it off. This is a little risker because you have to stick your hands in the wheel wells and maybe even your head to make sure that the pins are in all the way, but with the wheel underneath the car you won't get trapped.

[Kilabyte]

Whatever you do, throw a wheel under the frame

For wheels I use the jack, if I'm working on the car I include stands

[masab321]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

My wife and I have swapped between our racing tires and our street tires on our M3 and M4 many, many times at the track where all we had was a portable racing floor jack.

We use the front jacking point. Once the car is up high enough to get the wheels off, take off the rear wheel and stick it under the car near the middle where it will wedge under the frame. Then remove the front wheel, and put on the snow tires on both the front and the rear. Remove the street tire that you wedged under the car and then let the car down. Repeat on the other side.

This will ensure that if your jack fails the car will not drop to the ground. We've even swapped brake pads this way, but this is usually only the front pads, so you just use the front wheel after you take it off. This is a little risker because you have to stick your hands in the wheel wells and maybe even your head to make sure that the pins are in all the way, but with the wheel underneath the car you won't get trapped.

This is the best suggestion I got. Thanks a lot.

[ano0oj]

I use both -- adding a stand into the mix is an additional 30 seconds of work, but you can be assured your car is secure! Stand on the front point, jack on the rear point

[Romeof80]

Originally Posted by masab321

Hey guys. I am going to install my winter wheel/tire set up on F82. I have all the required equipment including the jack pads. Only thing I am missing is the jack stand. Do I need to have a jack stand while using floor jack to swap wheels? If I do, what should be the jack stand location?


Thanks

I personally use both. Use front jack point to lift up then use jack stands and leave the jack under the jack point just in case. Do the same at the back.

[ShopVac]

I've thad a 2 ton Pittburgh Harbor Frieght jack explode on me while in use. Car's front tire was about 3" off the ground, luckily tire was not off the car (getting ready to take it off). Blew out the C clip and the rod it was connected to on the jack...car slammed down.

Takes all of 2 seconds to toss a jack stand beside the jack...doesn't even need to touch, just there in case the jack breaks. Would rather have it damage some plastic underneath than the brake disks.

[agentrnge]

*adding new nicer jack stands to Christmas wishlist*

[MisterF80M3]

Originally Posted by ShopVac

I've thad a 2 ton Pittburgh Harbor Frieght jack explode on me while in use. Car's front tire was about 3" off the ground, luckily tire was not off the car (getting ready to take it off). Blew out the C clip and the rod it was connected to on the jack...car slammed down.

Takes all of 2 seconds to toss a jack stand beside the jack...doesn't even need to touch, just there in case the jack breaks. Would rather have it damage some plastic underneath than the brake disks.

The only issue I have with my jack stands is they are V shape. It would bend the plastic jack points like hell if I use it.

My buddy uses these:

https://www.amazon.com/ESCO-10498-Ja...language=en_US

[Kilabyte]

Originally Posted by Romeof80

I personally use both. Use front jack point to lift up then use jack stands and leave the jack under the jack point just in case. Do the same at the back.

What jack? I'm lowered 1" with a CS front lip. Is there a low profile long reach jack that actually reaches the jacking point without the car driven up on anything?

[Romeof80]

Originally Posted by Kilabyte

What jack? I'm lowered 1" with a CS front lip. Is there a low profile long reach jack that actually reaches the jacking point without the car driven up on anything?

Good point. mine is not a CS model but I drive the car over two 2 X 10 wood pieces under the front tires. I use a harbor freight 3 ton low profile jack. Dont forget to have the wood under the tires when you lower it. otherwise, Jack will get stuck or even break the bumper.

[Ferg]

Quick Jack system is the best investment ever!

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by Ferg

Quick Jack system is the best investment ever!

I agree, if you need to frequently swap tires, do brakes, oil changes, or any other work that requires your car to be elevated. I've had mine for 2 years. To me it's totally worth it and I wish I had bought one earlier. But not worth the price if all you do is swap summer tires and winters tires twice a year.

For the OP's solution, a single floor jack and wedging a tire/wheel under the middle of the car is safe, fast, and easy.

[ShopVac]

Originally Posted by Ferg

Quick Jack system is the best investment ever!

I've been asking the wife for this for years. I think she wants me to get killed under a car and collect all that insurance money