Jacking points on 1995 Explorer?

[12smile]

I'm new to the forum and there are some great tutorials here.

I've bought / restored /sold over 100 air cooled VWs and I know were to jack them up....I'm replacing the front wheel bearing left side on a 1995 EX XLT 4WD AUTO and I need to know the best place to jack the vehicle.

I was snooping around underneath and there is a crossbar roughly parallel to the steering knuckles that looks promising....However it is close to the radiator and I'd rather put the jack (full sized floor jack) under the area near the running board under the drivers side door towards the front.

It's a very elementary question but....I've never jacked this car up before.

Thanks.

 

[snoranger]

Put it under the frame... Either the rails from the side or the front crossmember ( directly under the engine, the steering rack is mounted to it) , or under the control arms.

For the rear... Under the center of the axle.

If I'm doing front end work, I jack it up by the front crossmember and put the jack stands under the control arms.

 

[12smile]

Sounds good. I was leaning toward frame at side and I didn't know what all was connected to that front cross member.

I have a pair of ancient steel milk crates that I like to kick under the car in addition to solid jackstands....they theoretically would work like air bags.

Thanks

 

[koda2000]

on the front lower control arms there are jack points. they protrude from the front of the control arms. if you jack from there the wheel comes off the ground almost immediately. the front cross member is not a good jack point, as it is not strong enough to support the weight of the vehicle w/out denting. the owners manual specifically says NOT to jack the rear from the center of the rear diff (not sure why). it recommends jacking from the under the center of the rear springs. i find there is also a good jack point on the frame rail behind the front wheels. i use these points for my jack stands when working on the front suspension.

 

[coppe]

The recommended jacking spots, apart from being structurally adequate, will lift the car faster, as you are lifting it from the last movable part of the suspension, if you jack it from other places, you will first need to jack it enough to get all the suspension normal drop up, and then, after,that, the wheels will begin to elevate, thus resulting in a higher jacked truck, which basically means it is less stable and might fall from the jack and cause an accident.

 

[12smile]

Thanks, I'm off to fix it.

Left front wheel bearing.