My owners manual states that you should not jack up the vehicle by the rear axle. Any suggestions? I need to adjust my parking brake. Seems like when I get my tires rotated that they jack by the differential casting. Jack stands under spring perches?

I lock mine in 4wd and jack the rear up by the diff. Jackstands can go anywhere under the axle tube as long as they contact safely.

I lock mine in 4wd and jack the rear up by the diff. Jackstands can go anywhere under the axle tube as long as they contact safely.

i try not to lift it on the pumpkin, if i have to i will but most times i jack one side up under shock mount and jackstand it.

Empty truck is no problem lifting from the diff housing. The dry rear axle weight of my truck is 2,860# so its a long ways from the 6,084# gross limits. The front axle is 4,440# dry weight so its not suggest to single jack the front in the center because all the weight. But now if the truck was loaded with cargo I would not lift from the diff at all but as close to the springs as possible.

I lift mine on the axle tubes as close to the springs as possible. Do you guys still use the factory jack? I'm thinking it's not too great of a jack and should get a small hydro jack, but, wouldn't that leak under the back seat?

Yea. I still use the factory spare tire jack with no issues.But use my 3.5 ton floor jack for service work but use jack stands for security and safety.

My factory jack doesn't go high enough, lol. I have used a hi-lift jack on the hitch to lift the rear off the ground before also.Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

The factory jack works fine for a flat, but I dont use it for any service work. Hydraulic jack and jack stands for service work.

The OEM one isn't tall enough. It technically is for me (2wd) but it wasn't when I my tire blew and I was in the ditch. I don't trust idiots on the road and I pulled off the shoulder and into the ditch and jacked it up. I was on an exit ramp so probably overkill but eh. Anyways I ended up digging up some dirt to get the tire off the hub. All I would do different is bring like a 4 x 4 x however long block of wood with me and it would work fine. It takes forever since you manually screw it but it does do the trick. A 4wd truck if they use the same jack then I could see being a problem.

A 4wd truck if they use the same jack then I could see being a problem.

Um, Isn't the jack put under the axle? Aren't the tire heights about the same no matter what truck it is on?

Um, Isn't the jack put under the axle? Aren't the tire heights about the same no matter what truck it is on?

Every inch counts, even if it's just an inch taller that could mean an inch too short of jack. I was trying to think of why I didn't have it under the axle and I forgot it was the front that blew out. I couldn't get it under the A arm or whatever that is because the flat caused to drop to the ground so much. Meaning I had no choice but to jack it somewhere that required the full flex of the suspension before the tire would come off the ground. Thats where the jack came up short. Even a block that was long that I could set the truck on then add a block under the jack to jack it up some more would be a good idea. Or just don't let the tires wear to the point of blowout.

This has gotten more attention than I figured it would. Thanks for the info. I figure that I always have a chain saw in my truck. So I can cut a round of wood for the OEM bottle jack. Jacking by the receiver hitch sounds like a good idea. Although if your intention is to lift the tires off the ground, axle will require a lot less effort. So you're saying its not a good idea to lift from the pumpkin (I assume we're talking about the ring gear area)? Jacking by the shock perches is considered OK? Jack stands under the leaf spring perches is OK?My first attempt to adjust the parking brake fell short when my floor jack was not heavy duty enough. I'm also working on gravel. Not the best medium for vehicle maintenance. But it's what I've got. Need to buy a more suitable jack.

I keep a piece of 1/4 inch plate steel, about 1 square foot in my truck as a base for the jack. Works to keep them from sinking in gravel or dirt. Even really hot asphalt. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

i always avoid the shock perches...i like to put the jack under the leafs and a stand on the other side and remove the jack. i have used the pumpkin but no where close to the cover pan. when i changed the fluid out of the diff, i noticed that it is VERY thick and its never caused me a problem, but if part of the jack landed on the cover it would probably be damaged or warped afterwards.

i always avoid the shock perches...i like to put the jack under the leafs and a stand on the other side and remove the jack. i have used the pumpkin but no where close to the cover pan. when i changed the fluid out of the diff, i noticed that it is VERY thick and its never caused me a problem, but if part of the jack landed on the cover it would probably be damaged or warped afterwards.

With the jack on the perches, where are the stands going?

on the other side of the jack, just a little closer to the center. keeps the stands away from the drums enough i can get in there to rotate that star wheel and slide the drums off.

I got a 30 ton bottle jack today. Only $2.66 per ton. Has an 8" base for stability. I have no concrete, so a floor jack is not so feasible. Lifts about 9". I'll do my parking brake adjustment this weekend. Thanks guys!

I'm guessing you have disc brakes on the rear, if you mentioned it i missed it but from the year you should. You might want to pull the tires and rotors and check the parking brake shoes before you adjust them. When I replaced my rest wheel bearings I found my parking brake shoes in pieces sliding around in the drum.Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

Yes, disc brakes all around. The parking brake works a little, just that the pedal bottoms out before I can get enough holding power. I'll check it out. I got a new Harbor Freight electric impact wrench and deep well sockets. I'll pull off the drum and see how they look. Thanks.

Yes, disc brakes all around. The parking brake works a little, just that the pedal bottoms out before I can get enough holding power. I'll check it out. I got a new Harbor Freight electric impact wrench and deep well sockets. I'll pull off the drum and see how they look. Thanks.

If yours are anything like mine were the first time i took the wheels off i had to break out the 3/4 air impact to get them off. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2