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Have a 2013 Nissan Leaf.

Curious if anyone has done tire rotation with a scissor jack stacked 2x4 cuttings as a jack stand(s)? I thought of it, but if you are using a scissor jack on the jack points on the side of car, once you have it up, there is no obvious other point to put the jack stand - it's where the scissor jack is! Don't think we should put the jack stands other than those designated support points.

I could borrow another scissor jack and forget the jack stands, this way I could raise the left front, right rear, do the swap, then the next set the same way. Is this a good idea? What about torquing the chassis diagonally like this - is it OK?

Anyone gone through this process without buying a floor jack and 4 jack stands?

EDIT: The Nissan Leaf does not come with a spare tire...!

EDIT 2: The Leaf doesn't even come with a scissor jack, had to use the one off the other car I had...

hder
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4 Answers4

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You can do the whole thing with one jack and no axle stands.

Just rotate each wheel using the spare wheel, temporarily.
No need to torque up the spare wheel nuts, it's not staying on.

Spare to front, front to back, back to front.
Same thing with the other pair to swap.

Then put away the spare wheel.

Weather Vane
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Do not use make shift jackstands such as 2x4's, concreteblocks etc. It is extremely unsafe. Trying to use two scissor jacks on diagonal corners of the body is also unsafe. The car can fall onto the unsupported corner. A service manual (not to be confused with the owners manual) will show jacking and support points. This involves using either a suspension support or unibody-frame member. A search of Nissan Leaf jack and support points shows several diagrams. However you need to be familiar with what you are viewing to place the stands correctly. Also be sure to use a tire chock block on the end of the car not being raised.

mikes
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Strange that you get a jack, but no spare tire.

I would try getting/borrowing a spare tire (even just the space-saving one as a stand-in) as you rotate the road tires using the pantograph-type jack.

Cesar Borja
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I would not stack 2X4 higher than 3 pieces ; they are not stable enough for any side force. I have screwed 3 pieces together for stability . Brick and cinder block are too brittle . I have cracked both. I recommend thicker wood or jack stands. I found some short lengths of 8X8 wood that work well ( 2 piece stack, max). Also additional jacks like hydraulic, and screw , not bumper jacks. I have done this several times , however jack stands and floor jack were on the team. I had a car fall in about 1955 and decided not to do it again.

blacksmith37
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