Sheldon

Hi guys, I want to pull the wheels off my '13 Lariat and paint the brake calipers plus the frame and any other metal that's getting rust on it. Just to make things easier it'd be good If I could jack the back of the truck up, remove both wheels at once and then clean both sides at the same time, do any masking then paint a couple coats without removing each wheel seperately and doing one side totally before moving to the other side.

Was wondering if I could place the floor jack under the center of the differential to lift the back of the truck then place my jack stands under each end of the axle or will it damage anything ?

I realise when I do the front I need to lift each side individually.

05 super

I do that 😁

RLXXI

You sure can. I've been lifting vehicles that way for over 35 years with no issues.
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PerryB

A lot of people do that, there are also a lot of older trucks that leak from their axle bosses because they're sprung. You all can put the jack wherever you like, I don't put it under the diff housing. Basic physics.

gone postal

Been using the pumpkin as a jack point since I was knee high to a grasshopper with no issues.

The axle tube would be a different story, and would likely cause the issues perry is alluding to.

PerryB

The axle tube is the better place to put the jack, the further away from center the better. It takes the stress off the housing bosses. A lot of people have been using the pumpkin for decades, but being an engineering nerd it bothers me. On a welded housing like the 9" it doesn't bother me so much, but on a pressed/plugged axle like the 8.8 or 9.75, the stress on that joint gives me concern.

rocky raccoon

I lift on the pumpkin too. Put a board on the jack saddle. Don't forget to chock your front wheels.

STingray1300

Structurally speaking, lifting at the pumpkin is an unsound practice. It stresses the tube attachments at the pumpkin in a way it was never designed for. I know a lot of people do it. And, as they say: "nothing has ever happened". And, nothing WILL ever happen... until it does. Better to lift one side, place a jack stand under it, then repeat on the other side. Besides, it's safer that way.

Sheldon

Thanks for the info guys

soaringfalcon

iTrader: (1)

Structurally, you can jack on the pumpkin with no issues
From a safety standpoint, it's not recommended due to the small contact area and the possibility of the jack slipping during the jacking process.
Personally, I chock the front tires and use a non slip rubber platform on my jack. Once lifted, I place a jack stand on each side of the frame and drop the truck on the jack stands.