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The car on the jacks is not really a big deal, getting it onto the jacks is. When you jack the first set of wheels the other wheels are in contact with the ground, they will be in park/parking brake and should be blocked. When you go to jack the second set of wheels there is nothing preventing the car from moving forward or backward except the jackstands.
Is your car going to to come off them? Unlikely especially if you have some good jacks with a wide base but this is something to be aware of. If you want to be safe after taking the first set of wheels off lower it a little before jacking the second set of wheels. As already mentioned leave the tires under the jacked end, you can remove them when you have to.
The car on the jacks is not really a big deal, getting it onto the jacks is. When you jack the first set of wheels the other wheels are in contact with the ground, they will be in park/parking brake and should be blocked. When you go to jack the second set of wheels there is nothing preventing the car from moving forward or backward except the jackstands.
Is your car going to to come off them? Unlikely especially if you have some good jacks with a wide base but this is something to be aware of. If you want to be safe after taking the first set of wheels off lower it a little before jacking the second set of wheels. As already mentioned leave the tires under the jacked end, you can remove them when you have to.
A floor jack will not prevent the center of gravity from shifting and since it's wheeled could enable it. Once again this is not something that is necessarily dangerous but be aware of what may cause potential problems. You could jack a car ten feet into the air if you did it right... might take all afternoon though.
I've had plenty of cars on 4 jackstands and it's perfectly safe if you know what you are doing. But since you're asking this question... I'd probably advise against it, and just work on 2 wheels at a time if possible.
I agree, I have been doing this for 60+ years. But I know what I am doing, and take extra time to make sure they are strong enough and positioned properly. However, if he feels concerned about it, better to do just two at a time.
BTW, I also sometimes will put a floor jack under the front and another under the rear, just so they are touching the bottom of the car, as an extra precaution. Can't be too careful.
(As for my completely imaginary pal who never happened and couldn't possibly have done what he did since jackstands are perfect technology... he later followed a Navy stint with two hitches in the Air Force, during which he was part of a crew that had a C-130 fall off of test jacks. He then went into commercial air maintenance and was in the chain of sign-offs for the Alaska Airlines 737 that went down because of a worn jackscrew.)
When you remove the wheels, I would place them under the vehicle and nearest the low-point of the underside as possible. Not great but it may prevent disaster.
And I'd want an escape route if the vehicle was in a single garage, i.e. get yourself pinned to a wall.
We'd block up cars for dad as kids so when he crawled under there to remove the trans. yanking and pulling, he'd be safe and we'd stand by to watch. Had blocks go once, too. Dad was faster than he looked.
We still have that air life Lincoln with the extended arms but you can only use it now on old metal cars.
Myself, I would probably just take 2 over at a time to have the wheels done, or pick up an extra spare at a junk yard and mount 2 spares on it. I have had vehicles slide off jack stands and jacks several times. I live in a rural area though and don't have any concrete. I really don't have a good completely flat/level area either. Definitely would not take off 4 off on an uneven surface. Also, if there are any kids around, I would not do it. Someone mentioned using a railroad tie under it, which is a great idea. I would not use cinder blocks as a back up support as they will just crumble. The times I have removed 2, I leave 2 floor jacks under it and use jack stands under as well. Having a couple of floor jacks under it will allow you to find the balance points better.
I would NOT use jack stands in quicksand, a mud pit for wrestlers, a fun house tilt-a-floor, or on a trampoline either.
Common sense people. If it's a dirt floor it might not be safe. If it's in an airplane, it might not be safe.... jeez!
Oh, absolutely correct, as stated above, don't use concrete blocks. They shatter/crumble if the load isn't evenly distributed over their entire surface area.
Reasonable people using jack stands to support a vehicle in a safe environment will be safer than with the dang wheels on it.
It shouldn't have to be stated, for folks with a modicum of sense, to use a level solid floor, frame members to make contact with the stands, and depending upon how high you need it, it may have to be raised a little at a time.
For those of you without that modicum mentioned above, DON'T jack it from the tailpipe, the gas tank, the door handles, the license plate bracket or the oil pan.
Why not do 2 tires at a time instead of all 4 at once?
Can be done, just gotta be careful. I've done it when I was younger but also had a few 4x4's stacked for added precaution.
Myself, I would probably just take 2 over at a time to have the wheels done, or pick up an extra spare at a junk yard and mount 2 spares on it. I have had vehicles slide off jack stands and jacks several times. I live in a rural area though and don't have any concrete. I really don't have a good completely flat/level area either. Definitely would not take off 4 off on an uneven surface. Also, if there are any kids around, I would not do it. Someone mentioned using a railroad tie under it, which is a great idea. I would not use cinder blocks as a back up support as they will just crumble. The times I have removed 2, I leave 2 floor jacks under it and use jack stands under as well. Having a couple of floor jacks under it will allow you to find the balance points better.
So by your own admission it’s really user error not the jacks themselves that are the issue.
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