Where can i place the floor jack?

[PLRBEAR]

Hi fellas, i tried searching for this but didn't find any links in the threads that gave me a straight answer.

I'm just wondering if it's fine to jack the vehicle up, putting the floor jack under the rear differential. I use the cross member for the front, and used the differential for the rear once. Upon reading the owners manual, i came across the part where they tell you not to lift the truck up via the diff. If not the diff, then how???

 

[Brian1]

I use the shock mount to raise the rear.

 

[97XLT]

I use the shock mount in the back also

 

[BajaXplorer]

Why does it say NOT to use the pumpkin?
That doesnt make sense to me?
I know the only vehicle your not supposed to do that with is the 96-2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the V8 since they use an ALUMINUM dana 44 rear that has steel axle tubes pressed in. it does tweak easily but the 8.8 Ford rear should be fine?

 

[jimbo74]

by trying to lift the car up in the center like that you could potentially bent the xxle tubes......

use the shockmounts....

 

[BoatsRcool]

well haha I use the pumpkin all the time.

 

[PLRBEAR]

Maybe a trailer hitch will solve my problem....hehe.
Damnit....the shock mount doesn't look like it'll take the weight, and the last thing i want to do is have a bent (or worse....BROKEN!) shock mount. Jeez....that would be hilarious.

 

[KJB]

When lifting in the rear I put the jack under the spring pad. That is where the weight of the vehicle is supported anyhow. I wouldn't recomend lifting it by the differential casting, it's not made for that and it may cause a leak or worse.

 

[jimbo74]

i used to work at a tire place...all Xs were lifted by the shock mounts....company policy...never 1 bent or damaged.....

 

[BajaXplorer]

I lifted my Ranger by the pumpkin and every other vehicle by it. As long as you put jackstands under the axle tubes(you do use jackstands for safety dont you?)

I'll keep lifting it that way. I doubt it will hurt anything.

 

[PLRBEAR]

Yeah, i used to pumpkin once and didn't think it was such a great idea. I definetly won't go that route again. I'll try out the shock mount and see how it goes. Thanks for all the speedy replies..i need to check my brakes and rotate my tires.

 

[BoatsRcool]

if you think about it its not going to bend the axle. The shocks are holding up sides, and the sway bars...

 

[Laura69]

Jack Placement

Leave it to a woman to read the little slip enclosed with the jack...<ahem>...but the rear states to jack it from teh rear axle tube.

Granted, this sounded rather surprising to me when I read it but I did it the other day and all seems well thus far. Of course, I have a decent floor jack and, yes, jack stands. Would hate to actually have to use the emergency jack...

Of course, on the front there are jacking points. I note that it says to NOT put it under the differential. Pardon my ignorance, gentlemen, but would that be your "pumpkin"? <grin>

Well, that's my .02 for what it's worth.

 

[PLRBEAR]

Hehe...yes maam, the pumpkin would be the differential. I've consulted my Chiltons manual and it says to jack it up via the axle tubes for the rear, i'm just trying to figure out if there's enough space for the jack stands. I always use jackstands when i have to work under the vehicle. There was this aquaintance of mine that died from using just a jack. Jack failed and he was crushed by his Del Sol. The freaky thing was that he was born in the same year, month and day as i was......EEeeeeeWwwwwww! LOL!
On a more serious note, many people are still ill-informed about such safety issues.
Anyways......i'll have a look and see what i come up with.....i'm trying to be efficient and jack up both sides of the rear at the same time....just like i do for the front using the cross member. Thanks for the replies ladies and gentlemen. ;-)

 

[Laura69]

That's a big 10-4 on the room for the jack and the stands. I had to jack it closer to the - ahem - pumpkin and then sort of slide the stand in from the front of the rear tire. If that makes sense. No room beside the floor jack to squeeze it in.

You know, if you *have* to be crushed to death by a vehicle, I'd pick my Explorer over a Del Sol...<grin>

 

[Jim F]

I found that there is no room for the jack stand if you use the floor jack to lift on the tube. I use a piece of wood just big and tall enough to fit inside the 4 leaf spring bolts and lift from that point. This method gets the floor jack as far away from the "pumpkin" as possible and allows the jack stand to be on the axle tube. From what I remember, the jack stand is about 2/3 the axle tube distance away from the pumpkin. This way I can jack both sides up and using two jack stands have the both rear wheels off the ground.

Now the front jack points are a different story. I have not been confortable using the front jack point "hooks" with a floor jack. When I have attempted it the jack lift goes one way as it rises and the hook wants to go a different way. Since the awkward and time consuming Ford jack goes straight up it is more reassuring in my mind.

 

[Laura69]

LOL...I'll admit I didn't like the looks of the wee hook in the front. I placed the "cup" of my jack rather more underneath the main portion of the hook and let the hook tail off the front of the cup. I figured the hook part is meant to bear the weight so whatever is holding the hook should be capable of it, too. Girly logic.