Toyota Camry: How to Jack Up Your Car
Jacking up your car is an easy task, but a few key steps must be taken for safety. Read more to find out.
This article applies to the Toyota Camry (1997-2011).
Jacking up your car is one of the most basic steps to normally kick off any sort of repair that involves getting underneath your Camry, or removing the wheels for something as simple as changing a flat. Before you jack up your Camry, it is important to think about what kind of repair you will be working with. Will you be working by front or rear axle? Will you be removing just one wheel or both? Depending on that, you will know where to properly jack up your car as well as what kind of jack to use. You can utilize a heavy duty floor jack or the jack provided in your spare tire repair kit.
Materials Needed
- Floor jack or spare jack
- Jack stands
Step 1 – Choose jack
Once you decide what type of repair you will be performing, and before you decide the jacking location, you must decide which kind of jack you will need to use. The biggest difference between a heavy duty floor jack and the spare jack in your Camry is the mounting base or pad. The floor jack has a large diameter, flat base used to land on frame rails, control arms, and other wide and strong body members. The spare jack is much smaller in size; its mounting base or pad is much smaller in size and can only be fitted on the factory designated spots, as it wont support the weight of other areas or will not grip properly.
Figure 1. Landing base of a heavy duty floor jack. 
Figure 2. Notice the size and pad difference of this spare jack.
Step 2 – Find jacking spot
Now that you know which jack to use for the job, find the proper jacking spot. Follow this list to find the proper location for your job.
- To remove the front wheels, place spare jack on the grooves located ahead of front wheels below the front doors.
- To remove the rear wheels, place spare jack on the grooves located ahead of the rear wheels below the rear doors.
- To lift both front wheels, place floor jack on the front frame cross member in between the engine and radiator.
- Tto lift both rear wheels, place floor jack on the flat part of the rear axle/differential.
Step 3 – Secure vehicle
The biggest rule to follow while jacking up your car is never work underneath a car supported only by a jack. Jacks can easily slip or give under pressure and cause injury or death. Unless your repair job is to quickly change a flat tire, a jack stand is highly recommended.
Featured Video: How to Jack Up a Toyota Camry
Related Discussion
- Floor Jack and Jack Stand Position - Camryforums.com
