These 5 mistakes will ruin your air jack

20 August 2025 by Tomasz Szymański

It’s Saturday, peak season. A delivery van pulls in with a flat tire – quick job, you think. You reach for your air jack… and nothing. Silence. Just like when you ask your employees who messed it up… and no one answers.

In most cases, it’s down to a few simple mistakes. Here are 5 of them that can wear out your air jack faster than you’d expect. And of course, we’ve added some easy tips on how to avoid them. Let’s start with the basics.

Mistake no. 1: Lifting the car in the wrong spot

An air jack is strong, but it’s not a miracle worker. If you slide it under the wrong spot on the car, you can damage the rubber pad or bend the frame. Not to mention denting the car’s sill.

How to avoid it?

Check the car’s manual for the correct lifting points.
Make sure the rubber pad of the air jack is in full contact with the lifting point.
Place the air jack on a flat, solid surface to avoid damaging its structure during lifting.

Mistake no. 2: Lack of regular maintenance

You don’t have to clean your air jack every day – that’s obvious. But if you completely forget about it, don’t expect it to last for years. Dust, dirt, and metal shavings get into the valves, cause leaks, and suddenly it lifts slower… or, worse, not at all.

How to take care of it?

At least once a week, give it a quick check to make sure everything’s fine.
Once a month, give it a proper cleaning.
Check the valves for leaks.

Mistake no. 3: Overloading the air jack

An air jack has its limits, and you shouldn’t ask it to lift more than the manufacturer intended. Overloading stretches the air bag, weakens the frame, and can damage the valves.

How to avoid it?

Check the lifting capacity of the air jack before you buy it.
Choose a model based on the heaviest car you service in your car service

Example: A REDATS 2T air jack can handle a passenger car, but for a delivery van like a VW Crafter, it’s better to go straight for a REDATS 8T.

Mistake no. 4: Raising and lowering too quickly

An air jack works best at its own pace. If you open the valve all the way, the air hits the bag with such force that, over time, small cracks can start to form. The same goes for lowering – letting the car drop all at once is asking for trouble.

What to do instead?

Operate the valve smoothly, without sudden movements.
When lowering, control the speed instead of letting the car drop immediately.
If the air jack starts to “jerk,” check the valves.

Mistake no. 5: Working without securing the car (e.g., with jack stands)

An air jack is great for lifting a car, but it’s not meant to hold it up for a long time. If you leave the vehicle resting only on it, you risk damaging both the air jack and the car.

How to avoid it?

After lifting the vehicle, always place jack stands at the correct support points.
Make sure the stands are stable and have the right load capacity.

Summary

Remember that scene from the beginning – the van is waiting, and your air jack just stands there, refusing to move?
In most cases, it’s not bad luck – it’s the result of one of the mistakes we’ve just described.

So take care of your air jack like you would a reliable helper in your car service. Both will reward you with smooth, trouble-free work.

And if your current jack is already “acting up” every time you use it – check out the proven REDATS air jack models that can handle the busy season and beyond.