Hi everyone,
I just purchased a 3 ton jack for my 99 Expy (4x4) and I was wondering what the best location was to raise the front. I also purchased a pair of 3 ton jack stands. I tried the side rail below the front doors and that raised it well, but I want to make sure before I do any work under the vehicle.
Thanks,
Keith

 

Can't go wrong with the frame.

 

Personally I'd be carefull with the side rails, I don't know about the Expys but some times you can crush the sheet metal right there pretty easily.

I'd stick with either the frame, or the suspension A-arms, depending on what you're trying to do.

 

always lift from the frame and never support the a arms with jack stands it is very dangerous.

 

I thought that the side rail was part of the frame. Am I wrong? It definitely wasn't sheet metal that I was jacking up. I need to get underneath to change out my starter.
Keith

 

What side rails? lift from the frame rails you can't miss them.

 

Maybe that is what I meant. Sorry about that. Do the frame rails run front to back? That is what I jacked up.
Keith

 

Yes, they run the length of the truck. When I lift our expy, i either jack under the rear diff, or under the engine crossmember.

 

I always heard you were not supposed to jack up a vehicle from the rear dif. Not exactly sure why not, it's just what I hear.

Tucker

 

did anyone care to read the directions that came with the stock jack? Up front you are supposed to jack the A arms, there is a little lip where you are supposed to place the jack. In the back, you should jack on either side of the differential.

 

Let me clarify my post, I was referring to the center of the dif.

Tucker

 

OK, MOOK929RR, but if you jack up the A arms (lower control arms) at the lip for the stock jack, where would you place a jack stand?

 

so then raise the truck by the side rails as you did before, and then lower it onto the jackstands that you place under the lip of the A arms... You have a jackstand under each a-arm, and the front of the vehicle is safely off the ground.