Jacking a car up safely.

1. Make sure that the car is parked on level ground and that the ground is pretty firm. Set the handbrake and also put the car in gear. If it is an automatic place it in Park.

2. Place a brick or other type of 'chock' either side of the wheel diagonally opposite to the jacking point.

3. Place a good quality car jack under the cars chassis nearest to the wheel to be jacked up, there may be a specific point that has been manufactured into the chassis to accept the jack.

4. Now use the jack to raise the car.

5. If the car is to be worked on for some time or if you need to get under the car even for a short time always place an axle stand under a suitable point on the chassis, and lower the jack until the axle stand takes the weight of the car, jacks are designed only to be used in an emergency and not for long periods.

6. Once the work has been completed you can lower the car, if you have placed it onto an axle stand you will first need to raise the car slightly off the axle stand before pulling it from under the car.

7. Once the car is back on the ground the chocks can be removed.

8. Have a final look around the car before driving it to make sure that any tools etc have been cleared away.

9. when you drive away you may feel the suspension 'settle', this is due to the weight of the car having been removed from the suspension as it was being lifted by the jack. The weight of the car will settle back onto the dampers and springs and again find it's proper level as you go over bumps in the road.

There are various types of car jacks, Bottle Jack, Trolley Jack, Racing Jack, Screw Jack.