Vehicle Lifting: Service and Repair

Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle

Caution: To help avoid personal injury, always use jack stands when you are working on or under any vehicle that is supported only by a jack.

Caution: To avoid any vehicle damage, serious personal injury or death when major components are removed from the vehicle and the vehicle is supported by a hoist, support the vehicle with jack stands at the opposite end from which the components are being removed.

Notice: When you are jacking or lifting a vehicle at the frame side rails or other prescribed lift points, be certain that the lift pads do not contact the catalytic converter, the brake pipes or the fuel lines. If such contact occurs, vehicle damage or unsatisfactory vehicle performance may result.

For lifting the vehicle, various lift points are recommended. Before you begin any lifting procedure, be sure the vehicle is on a clean, hard, level surface. Be sure all the lifting equipment meets weight standards and is in good working order. Be sure all the vehicle loads are equally distributed and secure. If you are only supporting the vehicle at the frame side rails, make sure the lifting equipment does not put too much stress on or weaken the frame side rails.

If you use any other hoisting methods than those called out, take special care not to damage the fuel tanks, the exhaust system or the underbody.

Frame Contact Hoist






Front Hoist Pads

Important: The front hoist pads must not contact the rocker panels, the front fenders, or the floor pan.

Position the frame contact front hoist pads under the front frame between the lower control arm and the frame pad or the front frame pad when using a tip-up hoist pad.

Rear Hoist Pads






Important: The rear hoist pads must not contact the body rocker panels or the floor pan.

Position the body/frame contact rear hoist pads under the rear spring, just behind the hanger, for the tip-up pad only.

Suspension Contact Hoist






Front Lift

Position the suspension contact front lift (1) under the outer edge of the front suspension lower control arms (2).

Rear Lift






Position the suspension contact rear lift under the axle housing tubes on each side of the differential (1,2).

Jacking

Important: The floor jack pad must not contact rocker panel or the floor pan.

When you are lifting a vehicle with a vehicle jack or a floor jack, block the wheels at the opposite end from which you are lifting. Use jack stands to provide additional support when the vehicle is lifted to the desired level.

Under the Frame Rails





Position the floor jack pad under the frame rail pad (2,3).

Under the Front Suspension Crossmember






Position the floor jack pad under the center of the front suspension crossmember (1,2).

Under the Rear Differential






Position the floor jack pad under the center of the rear axle differential (1,2).

Under the Rear Spring Hanger






Position the jack under the rear spring hanger (2,3).

Jack Stands

Important: When supporting the vehicle with jack stands, the jack stands should be placed under the frame, the front suspension crossmember, or the rear axle.