Jack points
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Louisville KY
the owner's manual says NOT to use the diff as a jacking point, but every other RWD vehicle ive owned, tahts where ive put the jack, but id be inclined to obey the manual, and the flat spot up front, i dotn know about, just make sure theres no rubber or hard fluid lines or anything around it. and, ive never actually had to jack my van up for anything yet.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 260
From: Oak Harbor, Washington
I always use the diff (in the center, under the pumpkin) to lift the *** end. Well, sometimes I use the receiver hitch instead. That leave the trailing arms clear to slide in the jack stands.
The front crossmember (that flat spot you mention) is very stout, and I use it to lift the front.
The front crossmember (that flat spot you mention) is very stout, and I use it to lift the front.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 463
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96 shorty, you can even lift the front under the spring cups (A-arms). I've done this with every Areo and it hasn't even bothered it. The thing that gets me though is the winners that have had our Aero's before we got them "used". You know how you can walk up to a nice Aero admiring the clean undented body to all of a sudden notice that the actual contour of the body is distorted and pushed up under because they didn't use the stock scissor jack correctly (they put the jack where the seem of the panels are welded together) D U M B. Kudos goes out to people that have attention to detail.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 260
From: Oak Harbor, Washington
Not just scissors lifts -- standard garage lift practice is to put the arm lifts on the pinch welds, which will NOT work on Aeros -- I damaged my own Aero doing this, and I've had tire stores, etc. damage one for me too. Aeros' rocker pinch welds just push up if used to lift the vehicle.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 392
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From: Louisville KY
so when i go to sears to get my shocks replaced, where shall i tell the techs to lift this van at? b/c ive noticed that somewhere along the lines of this van's life, someone has lifted on the rockers and pushed em up
FTE Community Team
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,854
Likes: 260
From: Oak Harbor, Washington
In back, the trailing arms -- and esp. their attachment points on the body -- are safe, as are lifting on the frame section.
In front, the arm lifts fit very well at the front plate where the frame section has a wing gusset that mates to the rocker.
In front, the arm lifts fit very well at the front plate where the frame section has a wing gusset that mates to the rocker.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,016
Likes: 208
From: SoCal
I would not recommend lifting by the trailing arms; they are stamped steel, and WILL deform with the load of the vehicle. Also, a lot of these differentials are using plastic covers, so it's not a good idea to jack on the diff pumpkin unless you are sure that you placed the jack only on the cast iron parts.
For the rear, jacking by the spring cups at the REAR END of the trailing arms should work. Or, jack on the axle tubes.
For the rear, jacking by the spring cups at the REAR END of the trailing arms should work. Or, jack on the axle tubes.
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