where to jack it?

[evilmike198]

'04 XLT V6 4x4

ok. are there any center-line jack points on the explorer? i grow tired of going to every corner and jacking it from the frame rail whenever i have to do work on my truck that requires me putting it on jacks. i do have four ramps that i put in front of each wheel that i drive up onto if i don't have to work on the wheels. but i'm looking to raise both front and rear wheels at once.

my other car is a 3 series and it has a rubber pad just behind the engine to raise the front of the vehicle, and another rubber pad just in front of the rear differential to raise the rear.

does the explorer offer any such locations? is the front cross member strong enough to support the weight of the truck? i looked, but couldn't find a suitable location to raise the rear of the vehicle. is there one?

please advise.

mike

 

[robmurt04]

Normally I just do it in the bathroom

 

[DenverExp]

I have this same question.

 

[evilmike198]

robmurt04: haha. fair point.

what i'd like to do is be able to place my floor jack on some point under the front and rear of the truck, raise it and then be able to put jack stands on either side of it to support the weight. then move onto the other end of the truck and do the same. this way the truck is fully raised and supported at all four corners by the jack stands while i work underneath.

mike

 

[goatman]

robmurt04: haha. fair point.

what i'd like to do is be able to place my floor jack on some point under the front and rear of the truck, raise it and then be able to put jack stands on either side of it to support the weight. then move onto the other end of the truck and do the same. this way the truck is fully raised and supported at all four corners by the jack stands while i work underneath.

mike

You're on the right track.

I lift the front a the main cross member in the center and place jack stands under that cross member. Then I lift the rear with the rear end housing. This gives three points of contact and four corner access.

 

[jrford]

the owners manual only shows the frame rails as jack points. imho, i wouldn't jack the diff up, its alum; Maybe the front cross member would be ok although i don't.

What i wound up doing is just buying another jack for $40 at harbor freight so i have two scissor jacks. Makes it real easy and quick to rotate tires that way.

 

[evilmike198]

jrford: i agree with you, i want to stay away from using the rear differential as a jack point as much as possible. i'm sure it might be able to support the weight of the truck, but i don't want to take my chances. knowing my luck as soon as i start to jack up the rear of the truck from the differential it would slip and fall off the jack, burst into flames, and burn down my house. ugh...

i may just do what you did, though--buy another, cheap, floor jack and use it on the frame rails to support the rear of the truck...who knows. i'll think of something.

mike

 

[gsmaclean]

You can do what my ex-father in law did: Dig a pit in your garage.

 

[Uafan]

 

[goatman]

jrford: i agree with you, i want to stay away from using the rear differential as a jack point as much as possible. i'm sure it might be able to support the weight of the truck, but i don't want to take my chances. knowing my luck as soon as i start to jack up the rear of the truck from the differential it would slip and fall off the jack, burst into flames, and burn down my house. ugh...

i may just do what you did, though--buy another, cheap, floor jack and use it on the frame rails to support the rear of the truck...who knows. i'll think of something.

mike

Well I'll tell ya'... there is a lot more stress on that differential in torque then I'm putting in it lifting. I had her up on her three point stance again this weekend trying to figure if I have a wheel bearing going and to rotate the tires.

Sorry Uafan... I should have taken some pics.

 

[gijoecam]

Well I'll tell ya'... there is a lot more stress on that differential in torque then I'm putting in it lifting. I had her up on her three point stance again this weekend trying to figure if I have a wheel bearing going and to rotate the tires.

Sorry Uafan... I should have taken some pics.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. The diff carrier was not designed to support the weight of the rear of the vehicle. It's not a load-bearing structure and jacking by it is NEVER a good idea.

Also, working UNDER a vehicle while it's up on a hydraulic jack is never a good idea either. Hydraulic jacks don't take side loads very well, and can easily have issues being pushed to the side... they can bind, or even leak and collapse. (I've seen it happen) As cheap as jack stands are nowadays, is it worth the risk?

-Joe

 

[jrford]

Only time the diff would be safe is if it was a cast iron Solid Axle that is designed to take the full weight of the truck. The Ex diff is only design to hold torque 300's lbs worth while the solid axle is for 2000's of lbs of truck weight. Anyways the service manual says no way. But that dosn't mean you can't get away with it but i wouldn't those things run $400 used, while the jack is only $40.
jim

 

[evilmike198]

Only time the diff would be safe is if it was a cast iron Solid Axle that is designed to take the full weight of the truck. The Ex diff is only design to hold torque 300's lbs worth while the solid axle is for 2000's of lbs of truck weight. Anyways the service manual says no way. But that dosn't mean you can't get away with it but i wouldn't those things run $400 used, while the jack is only $40.
jim

agreed.

mike