Floor Jack Question

[flyer92]

OK, I know this is a pretty lame question with a simple answer so please don't beat me up.

Just got a new floor jack and want to jack the entire front end of my stock, 2-door Sport. The front diff is offset to the driver side, so I can't jack from that point, but there seems to be sufficient bare axle tube available at the center point. This is the obvious contact point, but was just curious if jacking in this spot might damage something.

I know...dumb question, but I've always just used a scissor jack at each end and never had to think about this before. Appreciate any advice from our experts here on the forum, and thanks in advance for your help.

Sponsored

 

[58Willys]

Jack one side up, support it with a jack stand under it, and then jack the other side and support it with a jack stand. I would not lift in the middle of an axle tube, especially the long side of a front axle, just not worth the risk of stressing the axle housing.

 

[limeade]

The only place I would not use is the FAD housing. Other than that, any spot on the front axle is fine, including the tube.

I'm not following the logic of not using the tube as a jacking point. When jack stands are used under the axle, they are under the axle tube. The absolute weakest point of a JL front axle is the FAD housing. Otherwise, the tube is sufficiently strong enough to support the partial weight of the Jeep as you lift it.

The problem with using the axle tube is it is higher than other places (such as the control arm mounts) and therefore you will use more of the lifting height just to raise the front end. This comes into play when you are trying to lift the frame rails high enough to support with jack stands and your jack doesn't have a high lifting range.

Conversely, sometimes you have to place the jack to lift from a certain location since it cannot occupy the same place as where you are putting the jack stands.

 

[ScotM]

If you don’t want to do the axle, these are safe points on the jeep

 

[flyer92]

Thanks guys. These are two very different answers, and exactly the concerns/considerations that caused me to post my question in the first place. Definitely agree about avoiding the FAD too. Perhaps not a lame question after all, but I do appreciate the great input.

 

[flyer92]

If you don’t want to do the axle, these are safe points on the jeep

Thanks for the pic! Since I'm only interested in the front end at this point, do you have a photo that shows the front a little better? Kind of difficult to see the actual contact points up there, but no worries if you don't have a photo from the opposite direction.

One other question....while these points may be safe to use together with the weight evenly distributed across all four, does that necessarily mean that they are safe to use individually?

 

[NeilP]

Here's one more option that is a step above a floor jack, but not nearly as good as a lift. QUICKJACKS

Someday, I WILL have a garage big enough to have a lift!

 

[ScotM]

Thanks for the pic! Since I'm only interested in the front end at this point, do you have a photo that shows the front a little better? Kind of difficult to see the actual contact points up there, but no worries if you don't have a photo from the opposite direction.

One other question....while these points may be safe to use together with the weight evenly distributed across all four, does that necessarily mean that they are safe to use individually?

I used them individually, but take a look at this link https://thptnganamst.edu.vn/actualizar-61-imagen-jack-points-jeep-wrangler/

 

[melendez69]

Thanks guys. These are two very different answers, and exactly the concerns/considerations that caused me to post my question in the first place. Perhaps not a lame question after all, but I do appreciate the great input.

A whiles back I picked up a couple of crossbeams from HF & fitted them with wood blocks. This may be overkill for some, but it works for me.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-and-jack-stands-do-i-need.33710/#post-766085

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

OK, I know this is a pretty lame question with a simple answer so please don't beat me up.

Just got a new floor jack and want to jack the entire front end of my stock, 2-door Sport. The front diff is offset to the driver side, so I can't jack from that point, but there seems to be sufficient bare axle tube available at the center point. This is the obvious contact point, but was just curious if jacking in this spot might damage something.

I know...dumb question, but I've always just used a scissor jack at each end and never had to think about this before. Appreciate any advice from our experts here on the forum, and thanks in advance for your help.

If you are able to fabricate stuff you could create something like this.. .it allows me to jack up either the entire front or rear of the rig...

Here is the related forum thead:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/pumpkin-jacking.91305/post-2314551

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

Thanks guys. These are two very different answers, and exactly the concerns/considerations that caused me to post my question in the first place. Definitely agree about avoiding the FAD too. Perhaps not a lame question after all, but I do appreciate the great input.

It’s covered in the manual. Axle tube is correct.

 

[GATORB8]

Normally push under the diffs or out by the LCAs. No matter what, jackstands and chocks.

 

[flyer92]

It’s covered in the manual. Axle tube is correct.

Thanks...I'm totally aware of the normal jacking points covered in the manual and perform this operation often. However, they are only for jacking one corner at a time. Even then, the two front corners are somewhat confined and don't accommodate a floor jack very well. Both of these issues were the basis of my original question, but I do appreciate you weighing in nonetheless.

 

[flyer92]

Normally push under the diffs or out by the LCAs. No matter what, jackstands and chocks.

Absolutely agree on the jack stands and chocks. I can't use the front diff because it is too far off center for a balanced lift of the entire front end. Even if I wanted to lift the front corners individually, the axle ends near the LCAs don't provide enough clearance for the pad on a typical floor jack....and you can't jack from the same location where you need to place a jack stand. Unfortunately, there's just not enough real estate at the front axle ends.

 

[Flip]

If you don’t want to do the axle, these are safe points on the jeep

Nice! You lucky dog!

Sponsored