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Proper placement of floor jack for rear end?

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Old 01-06-2005, 11:03 PM
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Unhappy Proper placement of floor jack for rear end?

Just curious....................
I had my new 315s siped last week in anticipation of the snow/ice that has arrived here in Spokane and noticed that the guy at Les Schwab put two floor jacks under the front axle yet only one in the rear, directly under the diff. housing.

Is this o.k.????? The owners manual shows the correct location on the rear axle, one on each side on the axle, not under the differential.

Can anyone comment?

Thanks!

Tom
Old 01-06-2005, 11:44 PM
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You can do it that way but if it was me, I'd use 2 floor jacks - reason being is that the truck is more stabilized and less likely to "lean" or possible slip on the jack to one side or the other..
Old 01-07-2005, 12:24 AM
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Les Schwab doesnt have a hoist??
Old 01-07-2005, 05:55 AM
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I place the pad from my floor jack in the middle of the spring plate that the u-bolts pass through.
Then place jack stands under the axle tube for "Just In Case".
Old 01-07-2005, 06:40 AM
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Originally posted by Shovelhead
Then place jack stands under the axle tube for "Just In Case".
Do not use concrete blocks for jack stands they will break and collapse. Mr. Flashdancr did that while working on front brakes on his old Caddie. Jack slipped axle broke the block and his foot was under the rotor. Lucky he was outside and the ground was soft didn’t do to much damage to his foot. I hate to think what would have happened if he would have been under it. I see people using concrete blocks all the time and it make me cringe. Spend a few bucks and get good jack stands your life may depend on it. Sad thing is we had some he just didn’t want to take the time to go get them back from the neighbor.
Old 01-07-2005, 07:15 AM
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always use jack stands or big timber whatever you have jack could fail or slip off just good practice I keep some chunks of gluelamb beam in the bed just in case I get a flat
Old 01-07-2005, 09:31 AM
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I jack from the differential on the back then use jack stands.
Les Schwab has lifts but when they get busy and all are in use they break out the floor jacks.
Old 01-07-2005, 09:36 PM
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Jacking from the center of the differential on the rear is OK. Everyone is right, you do loss stability but unless your dancing around in the bed or running the engine with the tires moving, I wouldnt worry about it. They use two jacks in the front because the differential is off to the side, so I believe they lift from the suspension arms on both sides.
Old 01-07-2005, 11:29 PM
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they want all 4 off the ground at the same time so they put 2 in the front, eiaser to balance, and one is enough in the rear if you have 2 in front or the front is on the ground. 3 jacks is very stable, ive been in and out of my bed on 3 jacks. but if your going to be under it at all jack stands for sure. changing out tires shouldnt put you under the truck un less your getting your spare which is easier when the trucks on the ground any way. ill stop now
Old 01-08-2005, 12:40 AM
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I always use stands if the tires are comming off....

I had a jack twist sideways once and the car fell on my chest....luckly my brother was there to jack it back up....I was just my buddies little geo, but still, it pinned me to the ground pretty good, didn't break anything (thank god)...It was a stupid thing to do, I tried to save time and didn't place stands...I always use them now...
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