Jeep Cherokee Forum

Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999-2004: How to Jack Up Your Car

Jacking up your vehicle is a fairly simple task, no matter your experience working on your vehicle. Keep in mind that you must position the jack and jack stands beneath the jack points of your vehicle.

By William Henderson - August 28, 2015

This article applies to the Jeep Cherokee WJ (1999-2004).

Whether you need to change a flat or change your oil, knowing how to jack up your vehicle is a skill that all Cherokee owners should have. Your Cherokee likely came with a jack kit, but if it didn't, you can find an aftermarket jack at most auto parts stores. When you're done, remember to store your jack kit in a place you easily can access. There's nothing worse than planning to lift your vehicle and realizing you don't have all the components you need to safely do it.

Materials Needed

  • Jack stand(s)
  • Wheel block(s)
  • Jack kit (which includes the tools you need to jack up your Cherokee)

Step 1 – Prepare to jack up your Jeep Cherokee

Locate your jack kit, which you likely should keep in your Cherokee at all times. Park on a level surface—like in your garage or even on a level driveway—and make sure you have enough light. Put your car in "park." If you have a manual transmission, leave it in gear. Engage your parking brake as well. Block the wheel opposite and diagonal from the end that you plan to jack up. Unpack your jack kit, which should include a lug nut wrench and your jack handle that will most likely be dismantled. You'll put this together in Step 3.

Figure 1. Block the wheel opposite and diagonal from the end that you plan to jack up.

Step 2 – Loosen lug nuts

Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel you plan to lift. Turn the lug nut wrench counterclockwise, but do not remove the lug nuts at this point. Perform this Step if you plan to remove wheel. If you aren't planning to remove wheel, then skip this step and move to Step 3.

Figure 2. Loosen lug nuts, but do not remove.

Step 3 – Assemble handle

Assemble the jack handle together. Your jack kit or owner's manual has information for assembling your jack handle. Once you've assembled the handle, connect it to the jack itself.

Figure 3. Assemble jack handle.

Step 4 – Position jack

Position jack beneath the jack point on the end you plan to lift. Your owner's manual has information about these jack points, but many Cherokee owners recommend placing the jack beneath the axle tubes or the frame itself.

  • Figure 4. Position jack beneath the jack point on the end you plan to lift.
  • Figure 5. Front lifting point.
  • Figure 6. Rear lifting point.

Step 5 – Lift your Cherokee

Crank the jack by hand until it touches the jack point. Use handle to raise jack, which will in turn lift your Cherokee. Stop jacking up your Cherokee when you have enough room beneath the wheel for your lug nut wrench.

Figure 7. Crank jack by hand.

Step 6 – Position jack stand

Position jack stand beneath the frame of your Cherokee. You can also position it beneath a component of your suspension. The weight of your Cherokee should rest on the jack stand and not on the jack itself. If the jack stand doesn't touch the frame of your Cherokee, then lower your Cherokee until it does.

Figure 8. Position jack stand beneath frame of vehicle.

Step 7 – Make sure your Cherokee is securely in place

Push on your Cherokee to make sure it is resting securely on the jack stand. If it is not secure, then lower vehicle and repeat Steps 5 as well as 6, and then push on your Cherokee again. The more secure it rests on the jack stand, the less likely it is to fall off of it while you're beneath it.

Step 8 – Lower your Cherokee

  • Remove the jack stand.
  • Use the handle to lower the jack.
  • Disconnect the handle from the jack.
  • Disassemble components of jack handle.
  • Put components of jack kit back together and put jack kit in a place (like your Cherokee itself) where you can easily access it.
  • Disengage your parking brake.

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