Precise positioning of dimensional parts in height, vehicle maintenance with the need to lift its body, components and assemblies above the supporting surface require a mechanism specially designed for these purposes called a jack.
This device is familiar to every car enthusiast.
In addition, most of its varieties can be found in service centers and tire shops.
The main purpose of a jack is to lift a load resting on it to a small height.
The operation of the mechanism is most revealing in hydraulic models, which are based on the principle of communicating vessels and Pascal’s law is implemented.
All types of jacks have one thing in common - the use of a lever in one form or another during operation.
For hydraulic models, this is, respectively, a hydraulic lever.
At its core, a jack is a technically simple mechanism.
It differs from other lifting devices in its mobility and in that it is located directly under the load, and during operation does not require auxiliary devices, such as chains or ropes.
Mainly used:
- In construction, for example, when lifting parts of a structure, large blocks.
- When repairing cars. Indispensable when performing tire fitting, where it is used to lift the car body, which allows you to free the wheel from the weight of the vehicle.
- As a lift for moving and mounting large parts and equipment on supports.
Each type of jack has a unique design and is designed to perform specific tasks.
Device and characteristics
A classic hydraulic jack consists of the following elements:
- The supporting base is the base of the body.
In addition, the design provides for the presence of several valves:
- Pumping valve - is responsible for moving fluid from the reserve tank to the working cylinder, blocking its reverse movement.
- Safety valve – prevents the jack from being overloaded. Works like a bypass valve in a hydraulic system.
Material
It all depends on the design and load-carrying capacity of the jack.
Trolley models for passenger cars are often aluminum, while hydraulic truck versions use hardened steel and cast iron.
The material and its thickness directly affect the load-carrying capacity of the mechanism as a whole.
Dimensions, weight and load capacity of jacks
The lifting capacity of a jack is its main characteristic, which is determined by the design.
As a rule, the larger the size of this mechanism, the greater its load capacity.
Thus, a hydraulic bottle model with a lifting capacity of 2 tons and its small height (on average 150 - 180 mm) weighs 2 - 3 kg.
At the same time, a long rack version designed for the same load capacity can have a height of up to 1 meter or more, and its weight is about 10 - 15 kg.
It all depends on the design and purpose of the product.
The most lifting jacks are hydraulic, where some models are capable of lifting and holding weights of up to 100 tons.
Screw-type ones have the smallest load capacity - up to 1 ton.
Another characteristic that must be taken into account when choosing is the lifting height of the jack.
It represents the maximum distance between the upper pickup point and the support of the product.
Is the sum of the following characteristics:
- The pick-up height is the smallest distance between the top pick-up point and the base support. Drawing a parallel with a car – its ground clearance.
- The working stroke of the rod is the greatest distance between the upper and lower positions of the jack (vertically).
The stroke of the rod directly determines the height to which it is possible to lift the load relative to the original location point.
Types of jacks and their prices
Based on the principle of operation, the following main types of jacks are distinguished:
Mechanical
A technically simple lifting device, which in most cases is equipped with passenger cars. The work is based on the application of mechanical force to move a working mechanism, for example, a screw stud.
Hydraulic
It works by pumping a liquid, such as hydraulic oil or brake fluid, into the working cavity. Single-valve models are equipped exclusively with a valve that prevents the reverse outflow of liquid, and two-valve versions are additionally equipped with a bypass safety valve, which prevents damage to the jack itself if the permissible load is exceeded.
Pneumatic
The lifting mechanism is activated by pumping air into its cavity.
Some models are capable of operating from vehicle exhaust gases (connected to the exhaust pipe), while the industrial air version requires high-performance compressor equipment.
Electric
This is no longer a type of jack, but a way of operating a working mechanism. In other words, even mechanical models, where the mechanical force is applied by the electric motor shaft, can be considered electric. Some models can be powered by a car cigarette lighter.
Electrohydraulic
The hydraulics are driven by an electric drive. A striking example of the previous point. Some models are additionally equipped with a manual drive.
Pneumohydraulic
The hydraulics are driven by an air compressor.
The following types of jacks are distinguished by design:
Rhombic
A pantograph type tool is pure mechanics.
The lifting part resembles a diamond shape, where each side is movably connected to the adjacent one.
The lateral opposite corners are closed by rotating the pin, causing the upper and lower corners to diverge.
Other names: trapezoidal jack, trapezoid.
Price – from 600 rub.
Tablet
The hydraulic part is in the form of a low-profile cylinder, connected to a separate hydraulic drive.
The cost starts at 3.5 thousand rubles, and depends on the carrying capacity.
Rack and pinion
It is based on a gear rack along which the lifting mechanism moves. Another representative of mechanics. Price – from 3 thousand rubles.
Klinova
The drive can be mechanical or hydraulic.
Another name is an expanding wedge.
The cost is around 10 thousand rubles and more.
Bottle
It got its name because of its design with a sharply prominent main working cylinder. The operation is based primarily on the hydraulic principle.
Such a jack is often called telescopic, since the rod in the initial position is hidden in a cylinder, literally, like the knees of a telescopic fishing rod.
There are single-rod and double-rod.
The last option has another name - double-plunger, and it is notable for the fact that the stroke of its rod is twice that of a similar single-rod model.
Sometimes there are three-rod versions.
Price – from 500 rubles.
Lever
The design is based on a rack, which is extended by means of a swinging drive lever.
Cost – 3 thousand rubles and more.
Screw
The rotation of the screw is converted into forward motion of the lifting platform.
Pulling
They use pulling force in their work. To lift loads, they are suspended from a strong support.
They are also used for tightening metal structures and parts of ship hulls. Some models have a hook or other mechanism to secure the load mounted directly on the rod. The chain version involves attaching the hook(s) to the rod by the eye using strong chains. The cost often reaches 100 thousand rubles or more.
Rolling
The classic design is a lifting lever mounted on a frame with wheels, equipped with a thrust heel. Driven by a horizontal hydraulic cylinder.
This design is called “frog”.
Another option is a scissor mechanism, where the mechanism folds into a body - a frame, like scissors.
There are models on sale with a switch for lifting and lowering modes.
A similar mobile jack is used for working with cars; it can be short-, medium- and long-wheelbase, and is selected depending on the depth of the location of the vehicle’s nickels, into which the lift rests when lifting.
Cost – from 1 thousand rubles.
Selson jack
Representative of pneumatics.
This is a kind of pillow with a rubber-cord shell, which increases in height when air is supplied.
Such an inflatable jack is quite expensive - around 30 - 35 thousand rubles.
By purpose, the most popular jacks are:
Automotive . It is used in car repairs and tire fitting.
Cable . A specially designed lifting mechanism designed for lifting cable drums.
. For lifting freight and passenger cars, as well as locomotives.
Traveler. For lifting individual elements, as well as the assembled structure of the rail-sleeper grid.
A screw version used in the construction of wooden houses and log buildings.
For furniture. A technically simple product in the form of a lever, with the help of which the furniture elements are slightly lifted off the floor, and the so-called transport platforms included in the kit are inserted into the formed gap.
Such sets are designed for independent transportation of furniture.
Specialized jacks
The following tools are mainly used in car repairs:
Auto tipper
Designed for lifting a car from the side, with emphasis on the wheels opposite to the installation of the mechanism.
Repair stand
Also known as a car rack, it is a device that performs a safety function for additional support of a car raised by other devices. The support stand under the car prevents it from falling by firmly fixing it at a given height. Not intended for lifting loads
Transmission stand jack
Used for installing and dismantling a vehicle's gearbox.
This transmission option is specific and highly targeted equipment.
Yamny
An auxiliary mechanism for hanging car axles on a pit or scissor lift. Another name is ditch jack.
According to design features, they are distinguished:
- Two stage with two grabs located at different heights. This two-level bottle-type mechanism combines a classic and low-lift jack, described below.
- With a low paw - has a minimum pick-up height, up to 20 millimeters or less. A characteristic feature is a pick-up arm protruding to the side, which hooks the load under its lower edge. Hence another name - toe jack.
- Low profile – for lifting a car with low ground clearance.
Purely conditionally, jacks can be divided into:
- Household – relatively cheap models designed for lifting light weight loads, in particular cars. These are so-called garage jacks - inexpensive mechanisms that allow you to independently repair vehicles at home, including replacing wheels. In general, we are talking about budget products.
- Professional – hydraulically reinforced structures designed for quick lifting of light and heavy loads. They are used in modern service centers, repair shops and even industrial enterprises. This includes highly specialized models.
Accessories
You can find various accessories for the jack on the market, for example, a rubber grip pad, a support and an adapter.
The latter consists of two support platforms mounted on a bar, which, in turn, is mounted on a rod.
This is a kind of jack “splitter”.
Advantages and disadvantages of different jacks
Each type of jack has pros and cons, which determine the advisability of their use in specific situations:
- Rack and pinion - suitable for working with low-lying loads, but are unstable, have a small support area, and also inconvenient dimensions. To lift a car, the latter must have special recesses in the bottom.
- Diamond screws – compact when folded, reliable, stable. But they are characterized by a low lifting height.
- Hydraulic – stable, compact and convenient, provide quick and easy lifting of the load. In addition, they have a high efficiency index and a high load capacity. But they require regular maintenance, have a short service life, and are not capable of lifting loads to great heights.
- Pneumatic – easy to use, stable on any soil. At the same time, pillows are easily damaged by cutting or sharp objects. When using compressed air, a separate compressor is required.
The choice of a jack should be made based on exactly what tasks you plan to solve with the help of this tool.
To lift cable drums to a small height, it is used as a release device when rewinding and laying cables.
Basic operating principle of cable jacks: the jack axle is threaded through the central hole of the cable drum, centering cones or bushings are installed on the axle, the clamping shoes are moved along the axle to the cheek of the drum and secured with a clamp. Cable jack stands are installed on both sides of the drum, providing a working gap between the drum cheek and the stand structure (usually 100 mm), a significant increase in this gap will entail an increase in the bending moment on the axis, and as a result, possible breakdown. Next, the cradle is combined with the axle and the lifting mechanism is activated, be it a screw pair, hydraulics or a lever system. The lifting is carried out to a height that provides compensation for the unevenness of the drum cheeks plus a guaranteed gap between the cheek and the surface on which the racks stand, usually about 50 - 100 mm
Main components of a cable jack:
- lifting mechanism,
- lodgment,
Cable jacks are classified:
1. According to the principle of operation:
- Screw cable jacks are jacks that operate as a screw pair (screw-nut) and, as a rule, in the process of lifting the cable drum, the nut has a rotational movement, and the screw has a translational movement. Screw cable jacks, in turn, are divided into:
- pushing
- pulling.
- Hydraulic cable jacks are jacks that use a hydraulic cylinder or hydraulic jack as the lifting mechanism. The cable drum is lifted by reciprocating movements of the handle of a hydraulic station or a hydraulic jack.
- Lever cable jacks are jacks in which the cable drum is lifted using a lever; the required force is developed due to the difference in the arms of the handle and the cradle relative to the fulcrum.
2. According to the design of the cradle:
- with moving elements - these are cable jacks that provide easier rotation of the axis installed on them; they are used when it is necessary to provide low resistance when unwinding the cable; the disadvantages of such a cradle include the inertia of the system, that is, when unwinding the drum, taking on a certain rotation frequency, due to its large mass has decent inertia and, as a result, stops for a long time after removing the pulling force;
- with a fixed axle installation location.
3. According to the axle design
- cable jacks with bearings
- cable jacks without bearings.
Cable reel accessories are:
- Clamping shoes on the axle - to prevent the drum from moving along the axle during cable rewinding
- Centering cones - for smooth and safe unwinding of the cable and centering the cable drum relative to the axis on which the drum is installed
- Wheel supports - for ease of movement
Cable jacks provide the ability to unwind cables from cable drums of various sizes.
A wheel wrench and a jack are standard equipment from the manufacturer for a new car. This alone indicates the importance of the mentioned products for ensuring the movement of the machine. However, the wide variety of such products can confuse even a trained car enthusiast. However, it is necessary for any driver to know what car jacks are, what they are capable of and how to use them.
How to choose a car jack
To make the right decision and choose the right tool, you need to have an understanding of its characteristics and use cases. The main purpose of such a product is to lift the car when changing a wheel. However, this is not the only application; it can also be used to remove a stuck car. This situation occurs quite often, especially for those who travel on less traveled roads.
If the car is stuck, a jack is often a lifesaver. To get out of the mud with its help, you need to lift the car above the road and place logs and boards under the wheels, along which the car can easily overcome the dangerous place. Already based on these two examples (changing a wheel and pulling out a stuck car), we can conclude that car jacks must provide the following parameters:
- load capacity. This refers to how much weight can be lifted and held for a long time;
- lifting height, i.e. how high the car can be raised;
- pick-up height - the minimum possible distance from the ground surface to the plane on which the load falls when lifting in the lower position;
- own weight.
What are they?
The designs of such products, as already mentioned, are quite diverse and numerous, which is why it is sometimes quite difficult to choose the most suitable one. To make this task somewhat easier, let's look at some of the most common ones.
Automotive screw jacks
Such screw devices are among the most popular; an example of such a product is shown in the photo. 
Their carrying capacity ranges from five hundred to one thousand kilograms of cargo. For a long time, it was screw jacks that were included in the delivery package of Zhiguli, and then Niva. For Niva, the lifting height is more than half a meter, which is often decisive in freeing a stuck car and is an advantage of products of this type.
Other benefits that car screw jacks have include:
- little effort required to lift the car;
- light weight and the ability to compactly place it in a regular place (for Niva);
- affordable price.
One of the disadvantages is the small support area, which is why screw jacks can sink into soft ground when lifting the car. In addition, it must be taken into account that they also have insufficient stability due to the small support area.
Automotive rack and pinion jack
The rack jack is shown in the photo 
It has a large lifting capacity; a modern rack and pinion jack can lift a load of up to two and a half tons. Structurally, it represents a gear rack along which a ratchet mechanism with a grab handle attached to it moves. A rack and pinion car jack can lift a car up to a height of one meter. This advantage over other similar products makes it indispensable for off-road conditions.
Therefore, the rack and pinion, despite its significant size and weight, is quite popular, especially among lovers of bad roads. An additional advantage that the rack-and-pinion version of the device provides is the ability to use it as a hand winch.
Diamond car jacks
It is precisely these diamond-shaped jacks, an image of one of which is shown below, that are included in the delivery of modern cars. 
They are small in size, compact and do not take up extra space in the trunk, having quite a decent carrying capacity (up to two tons). On the one hand, the short stroke and pick-up are a disadvantage, but on the other hand, such diamond-shaped car jacks allow you to perform wheel replacement work on passenger cars with low ground clearance.
Electric car jack
A fairly predictable stage in the development of such technology. The electric jack shown in the photo below is essentially a combination of a conventional mechanical product and an electric motor with a gearbox. This electric jack has a lifting capacity of up to two tons and is powered from the car's network. It is controlled from an additional remote control and connected to the network through the cigarette lighter. 
The advantage that an electric jack undoubtedly has is its ease of use. It can operate either from the battery when the engine is turned off, or from the generator. The electric jack is capable of functioning in the toughest conditions a driver may find himself in.
Inflatable car jack
A similar device, capable of lifting a load of up to four tons, is shown in the photo below.
An inflatable jack is a balloon with strong elastic walls. The inflatable jack must be inflated to operate. This can be done using air or car exhaust gases. Air is pumped by a pump or compressor powered from a used car. The advantages of an inflatable jack include a large support area and a small pick-up value. 
The disadvantages that an inflatable jack has stem from its design. It is quite difficult to maintain constant pressure in the volume, which will result in a decrease in the lifting height. In addition, the inflatable jack requires careful handling, because there is a high probability of damaging the casing. And it is worth keeping in mind that the inflatable has a limited service life due to the wear and tear of the elastic material. Nothing like this happens with metal products.
Pneumatic car jack
A pneumatic jack resembles a rug in appearance.
It is also brought into operation using air supplied from a compressor or pump. However, a pneumatic jack is most often used at service stations or by rescuers during repair and restoration work. A pneumatic jack has a significant support area and a small pick-up value, which explains its demand in such cases. At the same time, it is quite difficult to use pneumatic for any other tasks. 
Car jacks
Products such as rolling jacks are hydraulic. In an automobile hydraulic jack, hydraulic oil is used as the working substance. When it is pumped from one vessel to another, pressure arises on the piston, due to which the load rises. Rolling jacks are usually used in service stations and tire shops to quickly lift cars. They are distinguished by significant loading capacity and ease of use, since they can be quickly installed under the car or moved to another place thanks to the existing wheels. 
Rolling jacks have another type, the so-called transmission jacks. As the name implies, they are designed for servicing transmission elements, in particular for removing the gearbox from a car.
All rolling jacks have this name because they can be rolled under a car. To lift the load, you need to pump the handle several times.
Which to choose?
When determining which product to use, you need to focus on the range of tasks for which it is intended and the characteristics of the car. It is necessary to make sure that the weight of the load will not exceed the load-carrying capacity of the device; the design of the jack is suitable for the existing platforms on the bottom of the car, or specially provided installation locations. Then you can rest assured that your car will not fall if you have to change a tire.
The dimensions and dimensions of the device will be of no small importance, because It depends on them how much space the device will take up in the trunk.
Whether you want it or not, you have to use a product such as a jack, and the ability to carry out successful repairs on the road sometimes depends on its correct choice.
Presentation on the topic: “Hydraulic jack in everyday life” The work was completed by: 7th grade student Ulanov A. Checked by: Shevtsova L.N.
A hydraulic jack is... A hydraulic jack is a device for lifting various loads. It differs from other lifting mechanisms (winches, cranes, etc.) in that the jack is located below, and not on top of the load being lifted. This allows you to do without various auxiliary structures, chains and ropes.
Characteristics of a jack Hydraulic jacks, as the name suggests, operate on liquid. The principle of their operation is based on moving the jack piston with the help of a drive pump that creates pressure of the working fluid (hydraulic oil), due to which the load is lifted. The load is lowered by moving liquid from the working cylinder into the pump reservoir.
Advantages of hydraulic jacks Quick and easy lifting; Excellent load stability in the raised position; Convenient and small in size design.
Using a hydraulic jack A jack can be used as an independent device when performing repair or construction work, or as part of more complex mechanisms (cranes, lifts, presses, etc.)
Use of hydraulic jacks in everyday life For machine repairs In construction
Use of hydraulic jacks in everyday life When repairing communications To pull out poles
Culinary use of a jack press By making a simple device from a tray, an old aluminum pan and a wooden block, you can easily press juice from grapes or apples.
Culinary use of a press from a jack And if you work a little with wood, you can build a real oil mill from a homemade hydraulic press
This is interesting... LEGEND IDEA There is a legend that in ancient times the jack was used in military operations as a tool that was used to break down the gates to a besieged city. For this reason, the design of the jack was classified. According to legend, the jack design was sold. According to another version, a wandering artist painted a portrait of a nobleman who was leaning on a jack. After which the artist reproduced the drawing and gave (or sold) it to the warring party. The idea of creating the world's first automotive hydraulic lift was born by accident. Its author, who was involved in car repairs, during a visit to the hairdresser saw how the master easily fixed the chair at the desired height. Less than a year later, in 1925, Lunati produced an automobile platform lift.
When operating a car, a nuisance such as a tire puncture may occur. No one is immune from this, since our roads are generously strewn with nails and reinforcement in the most unexpected places. The procedure for replacing a wheel requires the presence of several important parts: a wheel wrench for unscrewing the nuts and studs that secure the wheel to the hub, a pair of gloves for work, a spare spare wheel to replace and, of course, a jack. The jack can be used for different needs, so the range of jacks is varied and a competent approach to choosing this device is required. The average car enthusiast will certainly think about which car jack to choose. First you need to determine for what purposes it is needed? What exactly will you do to them? You need to decide for yourself which jack is better right away, because there is a risk of choosing the best jack in all respects, but it will not fit your car.
There are different types of jacks on the shelves of car stores. You need to figure out which jacks are designed specifically for you and for a permanent presence in the trunk of your car.
Special purpose
One of those jacks that the average driver doesn't need is a rolling jack. Of course, it has its advantages. One of them is greater power and, accordingly, load capacity. This jack is capable of lifting a very heavy car. Another plus is that you don’t need to carry it by hand, but just roll it under the car, this is a big plus, because rolling it is easier than carrying it, and such tools are rarely clean. The rolling jack is easy to use because it only requires a couple of strokes of the lever to raise the car to the desired height. Lowering the car to the ground is also convenient, because this action does not require any effort at all.
However, such a jack has several big disadvantages. Firstly, the rolling jack is very heavy. Carrying a jack weighing 10 kilograms in the trunk, and even carrying it in your hands if the need arises, is quite problematic. Secondly, such a jack is very inconvenient due to the fact that it is oversized. Even when folded, its dimensions are quite large and will take up a decent part of the usable volume of the trunk of your car. Thirdly, for such a jack to work, a flat surface is required.
Typically, such jacks are used at service stations and in tire shops, where their large dimensions do not play a role and there is a flat area.
Rack and pinion jacks fall into the category of jacks that are unnecessary for the average car owner. Rack jacks are used mainly for passenger all-terrain vehicles when driving on sandy soils. The advantage of such a jack is that it can lift a car by hooking it onto the power bumper. This is very convenient when the car is stuck in the mud along the edge of the doors, and there is no way to install a jack under the bottom.
Such a jack can be used as a winch to pull a car out of the mud, if you have the necessary tools, a fulcrum and skills. A rack and pinion jack has a large load capacity, which directly depends on the height of the jack, plus such a jack has only one support point, which is again convenient for off-road conditions, where it is not possible to find a flat area. But this type of jack is inconvenient for the average driver who is not looking for adventure where there is no smooth, durable surface. This jack is very bulky and heavy; it will take up a lot of space in the trunk of the car.
Hydraulic. There is a type of jack that is intended only for trucks. This is a hydraulic jack. The advantage of such a jack is that, being small in size, it is capable of lifting a very large car. The power of such a jack is enough to lift a truck weighing 20 tons, for example, such as a KamAZ. It is clear that he will not even feel the load from lifting cars. But it is also clear that an ordinary person simply does not need such a jack. The average car enthusiast simply does not need it. In addition, such a jack is very expensive. Why overpay 2-3 prices for unnecessary functions.
Screw. In an auto parts store, an inexperienced buyer may be offered to buy a screw jack. It is undoubtedly better and more practical than other types of jacks, and its advantages include lifting the car to a greater height. A jack of this simple design was used back in the Soviet Union and was equipped with VAZ cars. But, alas, the time of this jack has long passed; due to its imperfect design and fragility, it left the shelves of car stores. Therefore, if you do not understand this issue, ask your friends who are knowledgeable about this issue to go to the store with you. There is a great risk of buying products praised by the seller, the design of which has long been outdated.
There are highly specialized jacks that have no equal in their segment. For example, a telescopic jack. The advantage of this jack is its ability to lift the car to great heights. This jack is needed by those who have a car with high ground clearance. An ordinary jack simply will not reach the threshold of such a car, let alone raise it to the required height. This type of jack has a large reserve of power, but is quite expensive and heavy. Accordingly, it is not very convenient to use. In addition, the bulky design will take up a lot of space in the trunk of your car.
Convenient jacks
The first easy-to-use mechanical jack is bottle jack. The convenience of this jack is that it has a modest size, high load capacity and is easy to use. This type of jack is popular among ordinary drivers. The mechanism is simple and reliable. The bottle jack uses an oil pressure system that makes it work. Its modest size and light weight practically make the bottle jack a leader in terms of convenience. The large contact patch allows you to quickly find a comfortable position under the bottom of the car. The price is low compared to other types of jacks, approximately 1,500 rubles.
The best jack in terms of price-quality ratio is diamond jack. The jack is simple and consists of only a few parts. It is the diamond jack that still holds the leading position in the market. The price of a jack is approximately 600-1500 rubles. For this money you get a simple jack. So simple that there is simply nothing to break in this system. The jack has the most modest dimensions and when folded takes up so little space that it can be placed in the spare wheel niche. The weight is extremely small and is about 1 kilogram. Such a jack will serve you for a long time, and you will remember about it only in moments of need. The power of the jack allows you to lift a car weighing up to 2 tons. Undoubtedly, the diamond jack is the right choice among all the contenders. A convenient and easy-to-use jack is the best option among all offers on the market.
What kind of jack do you need?
How to choose a jack specifically for your car? If a jack is needed for seasonal wheel changes and replacing a flat tire, then the main criterion here will be the jack's load-carrying capacity. In order to choose a jack based on this parameter, first find out the curb weight of your car. This is easy to do, you just need to look at the technical passport of your car. You need to choose a jack with a power reserve. This is necessary so as not to overload the jack and not have a large reserve of power left. Plus, the less stress you put on the jack, the longer it will serve you.
You should not choose expensive jacks from high-profile foreign brands. The simplest domestic jack will serve you for many years, delighting you with trouble-free operation. Cases of jack failure are very rare. The simpler the design, the less likely it is to break.
Now look under the car and look at the jack socket. What is the shape of this nest? This question will be decisive when choosing a jack. The supporting contact patch must be suitable in shape, otherwise there is a high risk of jamming the socket for lifting the car or the bottom of the car.
Choosing a jack is not so easy. There are a lot of offers on the market and making the right choice is very important. After all, if you buy a bulky and heavy jack that is inconvenient to use, then you simply will not use it. And it will take up space in the trunk for a very long time.
Video
More information about the types of jacks, their advantages and disadvantages in the video: