Do you need to change your Suburban's oil or oil filter? If so, you will need to safely lift the vehicle, and that should not be done with a jack alone. Lifting and supporting a Suburban with only a jack is highly risky. The vehicle could slip off, and that is a safety hazard for anybody working on the vehicle. There is a safe way to lift your Suburban in your home garage. It involves using jack stands. A Chevrolet Suburban can way up to 8,600 pounds (for 2500 models), so you need to ensure the stands you use can accommodate that load.
Consult your owner's manual before you start. The Suburban has specific locations intended for your jack. These lifting points will not only be in different spots for other Chevrolet trucks and sport utility vehicles, but they will be in different spots according to your Suburban's drive type. Four- and two-wheel drives feature different jack-up locations. Step 4 provides more detail on the Suburban's jacking points.
Look at the ground beneath your Suburban. If it is not completely flat, you will need to drive it to a level surface. Mostly, this is a concern if you are outside, not in your home's garage. Before lifting, you need to place the Suburban into "Park" if the vehicle features an automatic transmission. If the vehicle has a standard transmission, then you need to move the shifter into "Reverse." Activate the emergency brake before turning the engine off and withdrawing the Suburban's key from the ignition.
Select a wheel to lift first. Then, immobilize the wheel diagonally opposite. For example, if you are beginning with the right-front wheel, you need to place wheel blocks before and behind the left-rear. This is an added safety precaution meant to minimize the chances of the Suburban accidentally rolling during the lifting process.
Place the jack near the wheel you are about to lift. For the front wheels, use the frame rail near the wheel. In some models, like the 2500, you will need to locate where parts of the frame rail overlap. Use the axle as the jacking point in the rear. Look for a pad on the axle; it is intended for this purpose.
Turn the crank on your jack (or pump a floor jack) and steadily raise the first wheel off the ground. Simple flat repair requires the wheel to be only an inch or two off the ground. Using jack stands, however, requires a higher elevation. Once you have the Suburban high enough, move a jack stand into place under the axle or the frame rail itself. Lower the Suburban onto the stand.
Repeat these steps for the remaining wheels, until the Suburban's four tires are off the ground and the vehicle is secured on jack stands.
