Hello, my former truck was 41 YO and had NO current features or sensors that my new F150 does. I've noticed in my new owner's manual, it gives me a specific SPOT where I may place my jack to elevate my truck to change wheels, etc. On my old truck, I could place my jack under the front frame, or even the "swing arms" (the flexible arms that connected my wheels to the frame). I often preferred to place my jack here because when jacking from the frame, I had to elevate the truck so much higher because as the frame went up, the wheels would "sag", whereas if I used the swing arms locations, just the wheel would come off the ground. So, my question for you all is, has anyone else used different jack locations on their truck, other than the one (located just under the front doors) specified in the owner's manual? Thanks for any and all help!!

 

Just for tire rotations I set the rear on jack stands, pull the rear tires off, and set them next to the front where they're going to be installed. Then I jack up under the control arm of one, pop the tire off and the other on, and lower. Yes it's best to use a stand and if it winds up killing me I'll come on here and let everyone know.

Doing brakes which I haven't yet I'd do the same and then put a stand under the frame and lower.

If I just need the front end up and don't need a tire off I've got a set of Gorilla ramps and jack up each control arm and set the ramp underneath and lower.

 

I dont use the scissor jack that those lift points are made for either.

 

I find a low spot in my yard, drive diagonally over it, until the tire I need to remove is hovering over the low spot and then remove it. Lets the frame do some flexing as well. 'Nuff said. Next querstion.

 

At home I use a floor jack, under A-arms in front and under the rear axle in back. For unexpected jacking on the road I carry a bottle jack.

 

On any solid axle truck, I have owned the jack always goes under the axle. On the front of our trucks, I would have the jack under the chassis mounting point for the suspension arm. If removing a tire or rotating tires, as others have said, axle jacks are cheap insurance

 

My truck and a swedish suv in the family fleet both have long suspension travel. I bought ramps to quickly raise the front, then, with the tallest hydraulic jack at HF, I raise the truck at the frame points and let settle on to stationary jacks. safest. imho, I dont believe any front control arms are designed to hold the weight of a vehicle. They are designed for lateral stress. My manual specifically says NOT to jack at either the control arm or rear diff. Welcome to the 21st Century

 

If you can’t jack under the rear differential then where else do you jack? I’m used to Toyota trucks where it is ok to jack under the rear axle because there is no removable differential cover to damage

 

Which manual? The SUV? It is most likely not a solid axle so the differential is rubber mounted and doesn't support the weight of the vehicle but is rather mounted to it. A solid axle is fine to jack by the pumpkin. A warning for a solid axle would be to avoid or watch for tipping, not for possible damage.

Likewise there are are multiple types of control arm or suspension setups so warnings for lifting are relative to the type and location. You don't put a jack under just any part of a regular A arm, you put it under the spring pocket or where the strut attaches on a standard A arm.

There's also a difference between jacking from a certain location and supporting a vehicle from it. My dad's last new vehicle purchase was a 1972 Gran Torino. It ate axle bearings and rear tires. It eventually got a new rear end courtesy of Ford and they finally decided that the issue was that during transport when they chained down the rear end they tightened it too much and stress during transport bent the housing.

 

yada, yada, yada............since you're quick to snap with incorrect assumptions and you're too lazy*$$ to look it up yourself, I'll do the work for you. On page 419 of the Ford F150 Owner's Manual (copyright Ford Motor Company 2020 - just in case you need that information for clarity) "Use the frame rail as the front jacking location point, not the control arm." Additional, picture of jacking the rear axle by the axle and, specifically, not by the rear differential. Keep the uninformed, false and inaccurate advice to yourself. Good luck with your warranty.