Jacking under differential
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 30
Jacking under differential
I replied to an interesting thread that was one of those auto selected random suggested threads put underneath something I was reading in this section. I replied and it turned out to be in the f150 section.
Anyhow I never thought about it before but it makes sense and I've been doing it forever. Given the weight of our trucks I need some safe methods to be jacking it up. I do not want bent axle tubes
Anyhow I never thought about it before but it makes sense and I've been doing it forever. Given the weight of our trucks I need some safe methods to be jacking it up. I do not want bent axle tubes
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Yes they do, but the truck's weight was never designed to ride at the center of the axle. It rides at the edges of the axle, which is very close to the wheels. Supporting the truck from the differential puts a LOT more stress on the axle.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 22
From: very South Texas
I know my truck is 2,600 at the rear axle.
I do jack from the differential ... EMPTY only.. and for a few minutes.
just to place twin jack stands under the spring mounting points.
with weight, a 12 ton bottle jack under 1 side only... again at the spring mounting point.
Never jack a trailer except from the spring mounting point... they will bend the first time you try. well except on the OLD ones.
I do jack from the differential ... EMPTY only.. and for a few minutes.
just to place twin jack stands under the spring mounting points.
with weight, a 12 ton bottle jack under 1 side only... again at the spring mounting point.
Never jack a trailer except from the spring mounting point... they will bend the first time you try. well except on the OLD ones.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 984
Likes: 8
It's been an on going point of conversation for ages. Jacking under the diff is one on those things that not suggested to do that everyone has done for ages. No ill effects that have have ever heard. If the tubes and center section are that weak there would be other issues. Unloaded obviously... Wouldn't ever think about it loaded.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 614
Likes: 1
Yeah, I've jacked my '04 dually cab&chassis by the diff housing, primarily because the axle is so narrow, it works the best to have room to put a stout axle stand under the spring perch. Under the axle tube, the jackstand doesn't always fit between the tire and the wheels on the jack.
A 'regular' dually wouldn't have this problem as the axle is wider.
A 'regular' dually wouldn't have this problem as the axle is wider.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Both Toyotas we have owned as well as my wife's current Honda have center jack points at the front and rear. Would be quite handy if Ford made this a standard thing.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
I used to lift at the differential until it deformed my aluminum housing and ruined the seal between the case and the cover.
Additionally, when the weight of the vehicle is on the wheels, that weight is supported by a short section of axel tube then the springs and to the frame. There is no weight supported by the differential. But when you lift the vehicle by the diff, the springs, shocks, and 100+ pound weight of the wheels pushes down on the axel tubes, flexing the seals at the diff. I haven't worried about them bending, but rather about damaging the seals between the diff and the axel tubes.
If none of that is enough, the manufacturers manual specifically addresses this and says quite explicitly to not do it. I like to think I'm a pretty smart feller, but I don't think I know more than the engineers and designers that are responsible for the vehicle.
Additionally, when the weight of the vehicle is on the wheels, that weight is supported by a short section of axel tube then the springs and to the frame. There is no weight supported by the differential. But when you lift the vehicle by the diff, the springs, shocks, and 100+ pound weight of the wheels pushes down on the axel tubes, flexing the seals at the diff. I haven't worried about them bending, but rather about damaging the seals between the diff and the axel tubes.
If none of that is enough, the manufacturers manual specifically addresses this and says quite explicitly to not do it. I like to think I'm a pretty smart feller, but I don't think I know more than the engineers and designers that are responsible for the vehicle.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 614
Likes: 1
There are no seals between the differential and the axle tubes on, well, the vast majority of solid axle diffs. I suppose there might be some oddball one that has a seal there, but most of them have diff fluid running to the end of each axle to lube the bearings there. And you'd have to botch the lift to wreck the pinion seal. I suppose if you manage to jack on the diff cover....
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
There may not be a gasket or O-ring, but there is a seal between the tube and pumpkin. On my Jeep the tube was steel and the diff housing aluminum.
Doesn't take a lot of imagination to see what wriggling a steel tube in an aluminum housing can do.
As for me, I'll follow manufacturers guidelines.
Doesn't take a lot of imagination to see what wriggling a steel tube in an aluminum housing can do.
As for me, I'll follow manufacturers guidelines.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
With as many times as I have drug my rear differential through dry dirt ruts and over rocks on my F350, F150 and Ranger loaded and unloaded and even with the help of a tractor and log chain it doesn't scare me at all to use a floor jack to lift in the center of the differential.... That said be very careful with not catching the differential cover with the floor jack, if it catches the differential cover it can bend it and leak all of the oil out in a very short amount of time and don't pull a high centered truck backwards for the same reason.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
I replied to an interesting thread that was one of those auto selected random suggested threads put underneath something I was reading in this section. I replied and it turned out to be in the f150 section.
Anyhow I never thought about it before but it makes sense and I've been doing it forever. Given the weight of our trucks I need some safe methods to be jacking it up. I do not want bent axle tubes
Anyhow I never thought about it before but it makes sense and I've been doing it forever. Given the weight of our trucks I need some safe methods to be jacking it up. I do not want bent axle tubes
Lots of folks do, and get away without damage, but it would be irresponsible of me to recommend you do anything other than what the manufacturer says to do. I would feel responsible if you got hurt or your truck got damaged because of something I recommended.
