Pumpkin Jacking....?

[limeade]

Thanks for the tips! That’s while on the ground correct?

You can do it while on the ground or with the axle on jack stands. With either of the techniques, you’re effectively moving the body and frame, not the axle.

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[cv2065]

You can do it while on the ground or with the axle on jack stands. With either of the techniques, you’re effectively moving the body and frame, not the axle.

Thanks again. I just ordered an adjustable track bar for the front. Hopefully that will help a bit.

One other question. My front sway bar links don't seem to be aligning once I have everything buttoned up. The sway bar is about an inch or so too low to connect to the links. I used a dead blow to try and bring it up a bit but doesn't move. I was thinking of loosening up the sway bar itself and moving, but not sure if that's the right move? My sway bar is very stiff (new jeep) and hasn't moved at all throughout the install. Thanks again!

 

[ValkyrieFalling]

I've seen and heard of others jack on the pumpkin but I won't do it... just seems like a bad idea. I'm in favor of using the jack points described in the user manual - under the axle tube - then placing the jack stands under the frame. Seems like the most trouble-free approach to me. I also have a thick, rubberized pad on the floor jack's contact disc so it's not steel on steel. There's a little give at contact. Good luck.

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Where on the frame do you place the jack stands? Also, wouldn’t the jacking points described in the manual be the best location for jack stands?

 

[jbcrane]

Where on the frame do you place the jack stands? Also, wouldn’t the jacking points described in the manual be the best location for jack stands?

I mis-spoke earlier, I meant the axle tube, not the frame - my apologies. It depends on how long the vehicle will be jacked up. If just briefly - like rotating tires - I'll use a floor jack beneath the points described in the manual - directly below the spring perches - and not use jack stands. Since writing the above I've also swapped out the differential covers with Dana Advantek nodular iron covers making the pumpkins more rigid. Because of that I'm OK using the floor jack on the pumpkin if I need to get jack stands under the spring perches. Hope that makes sense...

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

I would not lift the JL from the pumpkin .. especially the front with a heavy engine, and how much heavier JLs are now with all the crap we install on them.. LOL ... imagine the torque / bending forces... no bueno...

I fabricated this using a 3 Ton Floor Jack, Cross Beam, and scrap metal..

I can extend the cross beam arms and I lift the JL from right under the springs.... of course this is just
temporary as I then secure the JL on Jack Stands.. I never get under the JL by using this
contraption... LOL.. I have used it hundreds of times with no issues... I have no idea
if there is an equivalent product on the market... I have seen the ones for lifting Transmissions
and axles... but that is just to transport and lift the trans / axles into place .. they are not meant
to lift the entire Jeep ...

 

[five9dak]

I've jacked on the pumpkin of every solid axle vehicle I've ever owned - completely fine.

 

[ValkyrieFalling]

I mis-spoke earlier, I meant the axle tube, not the frame - my apologies. It depends on how long the vehicle will be jacked up. If just briefly - like rotating tires - I'll use a floor jack beneath the points described in the manual - directly below the spring perches - and not use jack stands. Since writing the above I've also swapped out the differential covers with Dana Advantek nodular iron covers making the pumpkins more rigid. Because of that I'm OK using the floor jack on the pumpkin if I need to get jack stands under the spring perches. Hope that makes sense...

Makes sense in your case because you‘ve upgraded the pumpkin. But if not upgraded, and you want to use jack stands, is there a way to safely lift the front and place jack stands beneath the points described in the manual?

 

[Mx5red]

I just lift from the pumpkin in the rear, and use a leaf spring perch in the front, straddling the axle tube in between the pumpkin and the FAD… just enough room for the HF Daytona cradle not to contact anything, though it’s close and I have to watch as I raise the jack to not catch the edge of the FAD or something..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/how-to-put-the-jeep-on-jack-stands.24148/post-2121454
I struggled with this until I bought some leaf spring perches… 3” I believe fits the Dana 44 tube.
My HF jack has a pretty big rubber pad and the spring perch fits on there, and is thin enough to go next to the pumpkin in the middle of the axle. Lifts the front level and I can slide stands on the sides just like the rear axle.

 

[Mocopo]

I lift from the pumpkin. But you also don't need to lift very high. As soon as the tires are off the ground, jack stands under the frame, remove the wheels, now you can raise and lower your axle as needed. Once it's in the air, i like to use 2 jacks under the axle when I'm working on the suspension, one on each end, because then you can raise one side while you lower the other. This makes it easy to line up track bars, end links, etc.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

I use the front and rear pumpkins after I replaced the diff covers with 1/2” thick ring and 3/8” thick cover.
Normally I use the frame and axle tube near the areas where under the springs welding points.

 

[blnewt]

I have weld-on LCA skids on my F&R axles, makes good lifting points, and I typically use two floor jacks in the front to lift it equally then place jack stands at the rear control arm mount if I'm working under it, or if I'm keeping tires on I'll lift, then use ramps under the tires. To lift the rear I use the pumpkin, and put stands under the axle tube, or lift one side using the LCA axle mount (since I have those skids welded to them) if I just need one corner lifted.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I would not lift the JL from the pumpkin .. especially the front with a heavy engine, and how much heavier JLs are now with all the crap we install on them.. LOL ... imagine the torque / bending forces... no bueno...

I fabricated this using a 3 Ton Floor Jack, Cross Beam, and scrap metal..

I can extend the cross beam arms and I lift the JL from right under the springs.... of course this is just
temporary as I then secure the JL on Jack Stands.. I never get under the JL by using this
contraption... LOL.. I have used it hundreds of times with no issues... I have no idea
if there is an equivalent product on the market... I have seen the ones for lifting Transmissions
and axles... but that is just to transport and lift the trans / axles into place .. they are not meant
to lift the entire Jeep ...

I have one of those from harbor freight. I have 3 floor jacks. One of which I've made extensions for.

 

[blnewt]

I have one of those from harbor freight. I have 3 floor jacks. One of which I've made extensions for.

Nice setup there!

 

[Gmanjeeper]

I just lift from the pumpkin in the rear, and use a leaf spring perch in the front, straddling the axle tube in between the pumpkin and the FAD… just enough room for the HF Daytona cradle not to contact anything, though it’s close and I have to watch as I raise the jack to not catch the edge of the FAD or something..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/how-to-put-the-jeep-on-jack-stands.24148/post-2121454
I struggled with this until I bought some leaf spring perches… 3” I believe fits the Dana 44 tube.
My HF jack has a pretty big rubber pad and the spring perch fits on there, and is thin enough to go next to the pumpkin in the middle of the axle. Lifts the front level and I can slide stands on the sides just like the rear axle.

On a couple of occasions, I put a 4x4 piece of treated wood on the saddle of my floor jack and then jacked up the whole front end from the axle tube just to the passenger side of the pumpkin - this is basically the middle of the axle tube. I raised the vehicle just enough to put Jack stands on both the driver and passenger sides of the axle tube near each wheel and then I removed the Jack. Short of using the frame to either use as a Jack point or to put the Jack stands, this seems to be the best approach?

 

[Mx5red]

On a couple of occasions, I put a 4x4 piece of treated wood on the saddle of my floor jack and then jacked up the whole front end from the axle tube just to the passenger side of the pumpkin - this is basically the middle of the axle tube. I raised the vehicle just enough to put Jack stands on both the driver and passenger sides of the axle tube near each wheel and then I removed the Jack. Short of using the frame to either use as a Jack point or to put the Jack stands, this seems to be the best approach?

That's my thought

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