Jacking up the front end on 97..

[Sid Daley]

I've just invested in a 3 Ton floor jack after I put a
indent in my crossmember by using a bottle jack. I
guess the weight of the truck on that little concentrated
spot was too much. That part of the truck is OK but now
I'm trying to find the best location to use with a proper 3 Ton floor jack.
I'm thinking of putting a 2 ft piece of 2x4 across the
crossmember and then using the floor jack to raise it
up from there, I think by using a 2x4 I'm distributing
the weight enough to not damage anything.

Thoughts?

Sid

 

[mrboyle]

The 2x4 shouldn't be necessary with a floor jack. The pad on the floor jack should distribute the weight enough to prevent any damage to the crossmember.

 

[Texplorer]

There are jacking points on each lower control arm.

 

[BradE.]

The 2x4 method works pretty good with the floor jack. I've never liked using the factory jack points in the front, it just never seems stable. Kinda scary actually.

 

[Sid Daley]

I already dented my crossmember with the bottlejack
so now I'm a little paronoid thinking maybe Ford built
the crossmember out of sheetmetal. LOL

I took a picture of what I did and it appeared to work
but I'm still concerned that the crossmember could
buckle under the load of the truck. I can't believe that
Ford didn't incorporate a better spot to jack up the
truck.

http://www3.telus.net/M-Design/DSCN2614.JPG

Sid

Originally posted by mrboyle
The 2x4 shouldn't be necessary with a floor jack. The pad on the floor jack should distribute the weight enough to prevent any damage to the crossmember.

 

[Sid Daley]

Is the factory spot that hook like thing off to
the left just below the drive axle ? If that's
the factory recommended spot that's very
scary..

http://www3.telus.net/M-Design/DSCN2614.JPG

Sid

Originally posted by BradE.
The 2x4 method works pretty good with the floor jack. I've never liked using the factory jack points in the front, it just never seems stable. Kinda scary actually.

 

[jasonb]

mine dented some there also.. from using a floor jack like the one in your pic! not bad.. but i could see if bending ever so slightly. i did the 2x4 trick and it seemed to work.

 

[Hartman]

Yeah the middle part of my crossmember is dented in a bit too. I use a piece of wood as stated.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

I also use a block of wood on my floor jack. Once the truck is up, I put jackstands on the A-Arms right where they meet the crossmember.

There are jacking points on the frame, behind the wheels. Its not as conveinent for jacking the front evenly, but works very well for a single side.

 

[DocVijay]

Same thing happened to me. I'm starting to see a trend here.

 

[Sid Daley]

I swear that crossmember is made out of
soft steel..

Sid

Originally posted by DocVijay
Same thing happened to me. I'm starting to see a trend here.

 

[udmsvt]

sorry guys, but you couldnt pay me to jack under a crossmember. i am always on the fram or under a shock mount (like my manual suggests)....except of course while doing the body lift

 

[Sid Daley]

I'd prefer to not use it as well, but once
Ford went to ILS in 95, I think that move
effectively removed a few jack points that
may have been available before ILS.

Sid

Originally posted by udmsvt
sorry guys, but you couldnt pay me to jack under a crossmember. i am always on the fram or under a shock mount (like my manual suggests)....except of course while doing the body lift

 

[udmsvt]

probably true...i havent seen the underside on grn 2+, but i could see how things would change. nonetheless, that would still not be my jackpoint of chioce.

 

[Sid Daley]

I know, but if you ever get the opportunity to
look under a ILS Explorer you'll see that it's
virtually insane as far as getting a floor jack
under..

Sid

Originally posted by udmsvt
probably true...i havent seen the underside on grn 2+, but i could see how things would change. nonetheless, that would still not be my jackpoint of chioce.

 

[udmsvt]

i guess you are right...i shouldnt speak about something i dont know about.