Question: Jacking up Model A

A-Jay

A-Jay

Senior Member
OK Guys I know this is kinda basic, but is it OK to use a floor jack at the bottom of the differential, near the drain plug on the rear end assembly to raise the car to set it on jack stands.
I have two sets of stands, the short set (2.25 ton) for the pair, only will extend up 17+ inches do you guys think these are big enough for the front or rear to get the wheels off the ground for a winter brake,wheel bearing,front end check. Thanks for your replys
 
You can jack it on the differential housing with a floor jack. While the short jack stands work fine on the front axle, I prefer the heavy duty taller ones on the rear axle. The short ones will work, but must be extended farther than I like.
 
I have no idea if it is OK to jack the pumpkin, but I have been doing it for years to my A's for setting a pair of rear stands and no problems, no leaks of the differential gaskets. I do keep the bolts on the axle housings tight and check them often. I set the front pair by floor jacking the center of the front axle, never a problem there, either. I figure it's less stress than jacking a 1/4 and twist-stressing stuff. A's are pretty flexible, though. Too flexible by today's standards. As for your 17" stands, that's plenty. I never like to be on the last click or notch on a pair of stands, though. If I'm crawling under I also slide a couple of stacked 6x6's under too, 'just in case'.
 
ALWAYS ! Have at least two methods of support when working under ANY car ...When I was a teenager I helped my buddy work on his Model A brakes ...He had it already jacked up when I got there and we both slid underneath to adjust the front brakes ...We got out and about 5 seconds later KA-WHAM ! the Model A fell off the jack ! :eek:...Since then I ALWAYS use at least 2 sets of supports usually jack stands and wheel ramps for working under the car ...HAPPY HOLIDAYS FORD BARNERS !:) B0B in Michigan
 
B0B said:
ALWAYS ! Have at least two methods of support when working under ANY car ...When I was a teenager I helped my buddy work on his Model A brakes ...He had it already jacked up when I got there and we both slid underneath to adjust the front brakes ...We got out and about 5 seconds later KA-WHAM ! the Model A fell off the jack ! :eek:...Since then I ALWAYS use at least 2 sets of supports usually jack stands and wheel ramps for working under the car ...HAPPY HOLIDAYS FORD BARNERS !:) B0B in Michigan
Click to expand...

PS I forgot to mention YES ! I often jack up the Model A under the center of the front axle or rear axle ...I have done that for many years without any problems
 
Those smaller cheaper stands are only good enough for garden tractors, or possibly storing the A over winter. Do not trust them for any vehicle maintenance.
 
I always jack the rear with a floor jack under the differential. No problems so far, but I don't leave the car jacked up for a long time with the jack under the differential. I get it on axle stands right away.

Dick
 
I use a soft pine 2X4 on top of the jack saddle when jacking up the diff. That seems to keep the saddle from dinging the drain plug, etc. I also keep the jack 1/2 inch below the diff when the car is on the stands.

I never get under the car unless there is someone at home who can come running and use the jack to get the car off of me, as if that might be possible when the wheels are off. I also keep my cell phone in the tray on my creeper.

I had an F150 fall sideways off a bumper jack years ago and have been very cautious ever since.
 
My Dad taught me at a young age that when putting blocks under a car to work on it (we couldn't afford jack stands then) to try and knock it off after setting it on blocks. If it didn't fall off then it was safe to crawl under it.
 
I know everyone jacks at the differential,, except me or my family.. I was taught by family and then military to jack the axle housings.. The only time I jack the differential is on independent suspension.. Habits are hard to break..
 
Always have a safety backup support plan in place when under the car. I have seen several close calls over the years.

I jack the rear up on the dif housing but put a plywood block between the jack pad and the dif. I work quickly to get it on the jackstands and then release the jack slowly.
When under the car in the rear I always use the stands and the jack. I just stug the jack up to the dif enough to secure it in case something gives way.

I jack the front at the middle of the axle also with a plywood block in between, insert the jackstands quickly on both sides and let off the jack pressure slowly.

Never had any problems....
 
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I have used the differential housing and center of the front axle. Since thinking about it from a structural perspective, you are introducing a bending moment to the axle housing tubes and thus tension in the banjo housing top bolts. The tension is about either 3 or 6 times 1/2 the weight on the rear crossmember. But that shouldn't be too much to hurt things.
 
The posts on this subject re-ignite a fear in me of straining the axle housings at the bells. (Ouch! Strained bells. 'Careful with the jacking.) The back of the car, minus the weight of the differential, etc. would weigh around a thousand pounds, depending on body style, and that's the weight that would try to bend the diff ***'y up in the middle or down on the ends. I wonder what the service bulletins have to say about this, and I should have looked before commenting here. I have an ancient jack that rolls on three iron casters and has two screw jacks, one for each side, that work simultaneously, operated by one screw handle, so that when the car is jacked up by the outer ends of the housings it will roll around. The old friend that gave it to me told me that is an A or "T" jack.
 
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