Recommend me a decent floor jack?

tRidiot · 09-09-2019, 08:19 AM

So I'm putting coilovers on, just for aesthetics, essentially. I need new shocks anyways, so why not. But, I imagine I'll probably need to adjust them a little to get the stance I am looking for.

My driveway is on a slope, but I have a 2-car garage I can get the car into and turn it at an angle - my garage has 2 smaller doors instead of one large one.

I'm looking at some of the low-profile jacks at Harbor Freight and I like the price, but I am a little concerned about quality and durability. Now, I won't be using this a TON, I mean I'm not a pro mechanic. I can change oil, an alternator, a water pump, etc. But I'd like to be able to get under my car and learn a bit more, especially about the suspension. And this may open up some more opportunities for me to do a little of my own work.

So, looking at what is available on Harbor Freight's website, they all seem to be in the range of 3¼" or so, which I don't think will even fit under my car right now. I am slightly lowered on Swift Spec-R springs and I believe I am just under 3". I'd like to come down a bit more, which will make it harder. Are there any jacks out there (that aren't prohibitively expensive?) that will fit under 2½" or so? Because of having to pull my car into the garage and then turn it to fit kind of catty-corner or half-sideways, it makes it difficult to get lift blocks in position.

I'm open to ideas. And that lift system is kind of out of the question at the moment. lol

Jayhovah · 09-09-2019, 08:42 AM

I have the older harbor freight 2.5 ton long reach low profile jack and love it. Drive the car up on a couple of 2x blocks and it can actually reach the front subframe jack point.

Not sure if the newer versions of this jack are similar or not...

gomer_110 · 09-09-2019, 09:06 AM

The harbor freight jacks are all I buy. Great bang for the buck. Only thing is that a very small percentage will die shortly after purchase. I've bought 4 of them over the last 8 years. Only the very last one that I bought a month ago has failed.

tRidiot · 09-09-2019, 10:08 AM

Good to know the Harbor Freight ones are good.

wanker · 09-09-2019, 10:14 AM

I have the low profile HF Daytona Jack. It's outstanding.

JARblue · 09-09-2019, 10:52 AM

I picked up a 3.5 ton low profile ARC floor jack from Northern Tool about 7 years ago on sale for around $100 IIRC. One of the two pistons stopped extending fully a couple of years ago but it just means a couple of a extra strokes for the same lift height. No issues with it under medium use over the years.

Last year I purchased the extended reach low profile HF Daytona jack on sale for ~$160. It is very nice and definitely of superior quality (hence the price difference). Totally worth it.

SouthArk370Z · 09-09-2019, 12:01 PM

Hydraulic jacks are not very complicated machines and are easy to rebuild with no special tools (except maybe a small magnet to remove steel check balls). Rebuild kits are readily available for most jacks, even the older ones. You can save a lot of money by buying a used jack and rebuilding it. My "other" floor jack is one that a buddy gave me because it would leak down (he bought another jack and this was just taking up space). All I did was disassemble/clean/reassemble and I had a working jack.

An inner tube (or other heavy-duty air bag) might get you off the ground far enough to get a regular floor jack underneath the car.

Some short ramps might give you enough clearance.

Jayhovah · 09-10-2019, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

Some short ramps might give you enough clearance.

I use these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

tRidiot · 09-10-2019, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayhovah

I use these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's really good to know. I was afraid I would need longer ramps, how low do you sit? I was concerned if I lower mine much more, I would not be able to use short(ish) ramps.

SouthArk370Z · 09-10-2019, 10:20 AM

Although a long ramp will help (less angle), it's the height that is most important. You need one short enough (vertically) that it will get under the body work but still provide enough lift to get your floor jack under the car. If you are real low, it may not be possible.

Fab up a set of test ramps with lumber to see if it will work.

tRidiot · 09-10-2019, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

Although a long ramp will help (less angle), it's the height that is most important. You need one short enough (vertically) that it will get under the body work but still provide enough lift to get your floor jack under the car. If you are real low, it may not be possible.

Fab up a set of test ramps with lumber to see if it will work.

Up to this point, I have used some MDF circles I cut out of a speaker box I made. I have 6 of them, 3/4" each, so I set them up in steps of 1 and 2 and it gets me about 1.5" up and can just barely get my current crappy jack under there. The problem is, slick garage floor and they tend to want to slip out from under, etc. It's a bit of a hassle to kind of jury-rig it like this, but I really should buy some ramps. Just gotta make sure they're short enough to be able to do this in my garage semi-sideways.

CM370z · 09-10-2019, 10:44 AM

I have been using a Harbor Freight 2.5 ton low-profile floor jack and 4 Harbor Freight 2-ton jack stands for the past 5 years. Nothing has broken yet and everything was well worth the money.

I highly recommend buying those rubber jack stand adapters so you can place the jack stands over the pinch welds.

Jayhovah · 09-10-2019, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tRidiot

That's really good to know. I was afraid I would need longer ramps, how low do you sit? I was concerned if I lower mine much more, I would not be able to use short(ish) ramps.

I'm at stock height =(

tRidiot · 09-10-2019, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CM370z

I highly recommend buying those rubber jack stand adapters so you can place the jack stands over the pinch welds.

Are you talking about these things?

https://www.amazon.com/QUNSUN-Adapte...%2C155&sr=8-16

There're a ton of those, they seem pretty basic, I'm not sure if any one type or another would be better. I didn't even know those existed, lol. Thanks for the tip!

SouthArk370Z · 09-10-2019, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tRidiot

... The problem is, slick garage floor and they tend to want to slip out from under, etc. ...

Glue some rubber or other non-skid material to the bottom of your MDF.

09-09-2019, 08:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
tRidiot Base Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: OK Posts: 178 Drives: '09 370Z Sport Rep Power: 9971	Recommend me a decent floor jack? So I'm putting coilovers on, just for aesthetics, essentially. I need new shocks anyways, so why not. But, I imagine I'll probably need to adjust them a little to get the stance I am looking for. My driveway is on a slope, but I have a 2-car garage I can get the car into and turn it at an angle - my garage has 2 smaller doors instead of one large one. I'm looking at some of the low-profile jacks at Harbor Freight and I like the price, but I am a little concerned about quality and durability. Now, I won't be using this a TON, I mean I'm not a pro mechanic. I can change oil, an alternator, a water pump, etc. But I'd like to be able to get under my car and learn a bit more, especially about the suspension. And this may open up some more opportunities for me to do a little of my own work. So, looking at what is available on Harbor Freight's website, they all seem to be in the range of 3¼" or so, which I don't think will even fit under my car right now. I am slightly lowered on Swift Spec-R springs and I believe I am just under 3". I'd like to come down a bit more, which will make it harder. Are there any jacks out there (that aren't prohibitively expensive?) that will fit under 2½" or so? Because of having to pull my car into the garage and then turn it to fit kind of catty-corner or half-sideways, it makes it difficult to get lift blocks in position. I'm open to ideas. And that lift system is kind of out of the question at the moment. lol

09-09-2019, 09:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
gomer_110 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Perrysburg, OH Posts: 17,992 Drives: '11 Nismo #528 GM Rep Power: 36940	The harbor freight jacks are all I buy. Great bang for the buck. Only thing is that a very small percentage will die shortly after purchase. I've bought 4 of them over the last 8 years. Only the very last one that I bought a month ago has failed. wideglideleon likes this. __________________ '11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Uprev \| CSF \| Zspeed \| Z1 Motorsports \| AST \| Swift \| SPC \| SPL \| Whiteline \| Hotchkis \| Bride \| Schroth \| Robispec \| Cusco \| Nismo \| Volk \| Forgestar \| Hoosier \| RJM '17 Titan Bone Stock

09-09-2019, 10:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
wanker Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Diego Posts: 443 Drives: 2011 370Z S/T A7 Rep Power: 2901	I have the low profile HF Daytona Jack. It's outstanding. wideglideleon and ZontheRocks like this.

09-09-2019, 10:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	I picked up a 3.5 ton low profile ARC floor jack from Northern Tool about 7 years ago on sale for around $100 IIRC. One of the two pistons stopped extending fully a couple of years ago but it just means a couple of a extra strokes for the same lift height. No issues with it under medium use over the years. Last year I purchased the extended reach low profile HF Daytona jack on sale for ~$160. It is very nice and definitely of superior quality (hence the price difference). Totally worth it. __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

09-09-2019, 12:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324197	Hydraulic jacks are not very complicated machines and are easy to rebuild with no special tools (except maybe a small magnet to remove steel check balls). Rebuild kits are readily available for most jacks, even the older ones. You can save a lot of money by buying a used jack and rebuilding it. My "other" floor jack is one that a buddy gave me because it would leak down (he bought another jack and this was just taking up space). All I did was disassemble/clean/reassemble and I had a working jack. An inner tube (or other heavy-duty air bag) might get you off the ground far enough to get a regular floor jack underneath the car. Some short ramps might give you enough clearance. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

09-09-2019, 10:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
tRidiot Base Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: OK Posts: 178 Drives: '09 370Z Sport Rep Power: 9971	Good to know the Harbor Freight ones are good.

09-10-2019, 10:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324197	Although a long ramp will help (less angle), it's the height that is most important. You need one short enough (vertically) that it will get under the body work but still provide enough lift to get your floor jack under the car. If you are real low, it may not be possible. Fab up a set of test ramps with lumber to see if it will work. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

09-10-2019, 10:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
CM370z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Riverside Posts: 405 Drives: Nismuse Rep Power: 25	I have been using a Harbor Freight 2.5 ton low-profile floor jack and 4 Harbor Freight 2-ton jack stands for the past 5 years. Nothing has broken yet and everything was well worth the money. I highly recommend buying those rubber jack stand adapters so you can place the jack stands over the pinch welds. SouthArk370Z and wideglideleon like this. __________________ Motordyne \| Fast Intentions \| Berk \| Stillen \| Amuse \| Nismo \| Ferrada \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \| Airlift \| SPL \| EcuTek

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