Jack stands

A jack stand is a rigid metal support, usually adjustable in height, that sits under a vehicle's frame or a designated lift point after the vehicle has been raised with a floor jack. Once the stand is in place and the jack is slowly lowered onto it, the stand carries the full weight of the vehicle instead of the jack.

This distinction matters because a hydraulic jack is designed to lift, not to hold weight for an extended period. Jacks can seep down over time or fail suddenly, and neither a floor jack nor a scissor jack should ever be the only thing supporting a car while someone is working underneath it. Jack stands are the piece of equipment that makes that kind of work safe.

A pair of stands is rated for a combined weight, so it is worth checking that rating against the actual weight of the vehicle, not just assuming any stand will do. They should also be placed on a level, solid surface and set on the vehicle's actual frame rail or reinforced lift point, since resting them under sheet metal or a plastic panel can let the vehicle slip.