bending the front axle?

Wooops! - Now I'm really a bad boy; I have been jacking the rear of my roadster at the center of the axle (the underside of the punkin) for years. No problems.
 
Patrick L. said:
I asked on the original post, I've not had a problem jacking any front axle in the middle.. I do not however jack a rear drive axle in the middle..
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See, this is how this Sh--, Stuff starts. I'm not sure this is serious, has to be a joke. Just how, sir, do you recommend jacking up the rear end? One side at a time?
 
In my little mind, I would think if a person were to use a proper floor jack, that with a cup-shaped head about 6" in diameter, and were to jack up either end of the car from the middle and the lowered it onto two jack stands per axle, there would not be a problem. I would not use an old hydraulic jack or screw jack with a small head, like a 2" diameter or less... too much point load concentrated on one spot.

Richard
 
I have jacked up every kind of car I ever worked on by the center of the rear and the front axle if it had a straight axle or independent suspension. The only car I ever damaged like this was an Oldsmobile Acheva that I jacked up under the aluminum oil pan and cracked it. I'll never do that again!
 
RcT said:
I would not use an old hydraulic jack or screw jack with a small head, like a 2" diameter or less... too much point load concentrated on one spot.

Richard
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Ever seen the one that came with the car from the factory? That should disprove that theory.
 
Fred K-OR said:
Wow, I think I am out of here.
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Stick around Fred, you might pick up some more stuff to worry about! Oh god, what is that noise, that grinding sound when I shift, that slight whine I think I hear, what was that clunk was it my car or a rough spot in the pavement. Is my rear axle bent from jacking it in the wrong spot?

I think I better get outta here!
 
just plain bill said:
Stick around Fred, you might pick up some more stuff to worry about! Oh god, what is that noise, that grinding sound when I shift, that slight whine I think I hear, what was that clunk was it my car or a rough spot in the pavement. Is my rear axle bent from jacking it in the wrong spot?

I think I better get outta here!
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Ya have all of the above!

Over and Out!
 
RcT said:
In my little mind, I would think if a person were to use a proper floor jack, that with a cup-shaped head about 6" in diameter, and were to jack up either end of the car from the middle and the lowered it onto two jack stands per axle, there would not be a problem. I would not use an old hydraulic jack or screw jack with a small head, like a 2" diameter or less... too much point load concentrated on one spot.

Richard
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Another re-engineering comment. Just how many individuals do you think had a floor jack in their garage during the time from the 30's through the 50's Actually very few had a hydraulic jack until the imports started to flood the market. All the average guy had was a screw jack or a jack that came with a car. Scissor jacks were slick. Try it with 2 bumper jacks, 1 would usually slip out Or maybe a 4x4 and some blocks to pry the car up. I think you would use that old jack if it was all you had or had access to, maybe borrow it from your neighbor or maybe his brother in law., That was how life was until after WW2 and the economy started to grow, Depression's are great levelers
 
just plain bill said:
Another re-engineering comment. Just how many individuals do you think had a floor jack in their garage during the time from the 30's through the 50's Actually very few had a hydraulic jack until the imports started to flood the market. All the average guy had was a screw jack or a jack that came with a car. Scissor jacks were slick. Try it with 2 bumper jacks, 1 would usually slip out Or maybe a 4x4 and some blocks to pry the car up. I think you would use that old jack if it was all you had or had access to, maybe borrow it from your neighbor or maybe his brother in law., That was how life was until after WW2 and the economy started to grow, Depression's are great levelers
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Bill, I do not disagree with you. I was just mentioning, in my opinion, what the safest way would be to raise the car off the ground now. And I also know that Ford jacks supplied with the car were of the type I mentioned... I agree a lot of old jacks were that way, and a lot of cars probably fell off those jacks and, just maybe, they might have caused some damage to the car, if placed improperly.

Richard
 
Some of the above posts is why I [and maybe others] do not spend too much time typing here.. I do what do because its how I was taught and have read how to do things.. I'll continue to do what I do..
 
The vehicle can be and should be jacked anywhere along the front axle beam or rear axle and supported with jack stand(s). You are not going to be able to bend the front axle or rear axle housing solely by jacking the vehicle at any point along the axle no matter what size jack you use. The front axle is not only designed to hold the entire front weight of the vehicle but also designed to resist forces acted upon it during normal operation such as vertical forces from the usual bumps in the road. The same for the rear axle housing. If they weren't designed correctly the first bump you hit would bend your axle or rearend housing.
 
Shame on me!!!! I jacked up the front end today under the axle with my new 3 ton h/freight jack and greased it. Shame Shame Shame
Paul in CT
 
I do find it interesting how delicate some owners feel their cars are. Think those of us who drove one when we were teenagers as a primary car worry much less about these fragile old cars.
 
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